Written question asked by Barry Sheerman (Labour) on Monday, 19 March 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 21 March 2007. It was answered by Yvette Cooper (Labour) on Monday, 26 March 2007 on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Freeholds

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what measures have been introduced to strengthen regulation concerned with (a) freeholds and leaseholds, (b) the relationship between landlords and tenants and (c) ground rents since 1997; and what plans she has to introduce further measures affecting these matters.

Answer: The Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 introduced a number of measures that made changes to leasehold legislation. These have helped redress the balance between leaseholders and landlords by strengthening and improving the law, and creating a fairer and more comprehensive system of rights for leaseholders. These measures include the requirement for landlords to serve a particular form of notice on leaseholder before ground rent becomes payable.We continue to work on the remaining provisions of the 2002 Act which will further improve the rights that leaseholders have. We will introduce them at the earliest opportunity.

Secondary information