Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Property Management Companies

Monday 7 April 2025 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Lincoln Jopp raised concerns about a significant increase in service charges without proper itemisation for residents in his constituency.
  • The Minister expressed commitment to protecting leaseholders from abuse by managing agents and poor service.
  • Darren Paffey highlighted the issue of high and unclear service charges for leaseholders awaiting fire remediation work.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Lincoln Jopp Con Spelthorne
Housing
Context

Jacqui, Gary and Simon in Fairwater Drive have faced a significant increase in service charges from £1,500 to £4,800 per year with no itemisation provided by the property manager.

Question

I met with Jacqui, Gary and Simon in my Spelthorne constituency. Their service charge is going up from £1,500 a year to £4,800 without any itemisation, making it impossible to know where to start with the property manager. Can he give some reassurance that their interests will not be put on to the back-burner and suggest when “in due course” might be?

Answer from The Minister for Housing and Planning (Matthew Pennycook)

I am sorry to hear about the experience of Jacqui, Gary and Simon. The Government are fully committed to protecting leaseholders from abuse and poor service at the hands of unscrupulous managing agents. We will look again at the recommendations of the 2019 Lord Best report and intend to consult on the regulation of managing agents this year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a specific timeline for action beyond 'this year'.

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Q2 Darren Paffey Lab Southampton Itchen
Housing
Context

Leaseholders in Southampton Itchen are facing significant increases in service charges due to fire remediation work, with one constituent's charge increasing from £800 a year to £3,300 without clarity on the expenditure.

Question

Many leaseholders in Southampton Itchen who are still waiting for fire remediation work to be done are now being clobbered by extortionate service charges. In one case, a constituent went from paying £800 a year to £3,300 a year, with next to no clarity that that money is being spent well. What conversations are the Government having with management companies that are letting service charges spiral out of control?

Answer from The Minister for Housing and Planning (Matthew Pennycook)

I recognise the challenges experienced by leaseholders. We will empower leaseholders to challenge unreasonable service charge increases, and my hon. Friend will not have to wait long for us to take action to that end.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide details on specific conversations or actions taken against excessive service charges.

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