Lease Extension Reform Debated in House of Lords

Peers took part in a second reading debate on the Leasehold Reform (Amendment) Bill.

This private members' bill, was introduced to the House of Commons by Conservative MP Philip Hollobone.  The bill received cross-party support.

The bill amends the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 in relation to the permitted signatories of notices.

Opening the debate, Baroness Williams of Trafford, who is sponsoring the bill in the House of Lords, said that the bill would correct an anomaly that currently exists in the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993.

Currently, leaseholders of flats who wish to extend their leases have to personally sign these notices. The bill would allow these notices to be signed on a leaseholders' behalf.

Conservative peer Baroness Gardner of Parkes, a long-term campaigner on the rights of leaseholders, welcomed the bill, but expressed surprise that it had taken so long. "Perhaps it gives us hope that someone is now looking at the problem of leasehold, which is crying out for reform."