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Leaseholders' Rights Bill

I certainly hear what my hon. Friend says, and I understand that there can sometimes be that difficulty of interpretation. The hon. Member for Beckenham mentioned regulation by the Tenant Services Authority. I am assured that the TSA already regulates RSLs, and that the consultation will be on the extension of regulation to local authorities. In assessing the performance of a local authority or RSL, we would take account of the way in which it managed the relationship with its leaseholders, but we would not seek to regulate the legal relationship between the leaseholder and the freeholder—the local authority or RSL—which is covered by existing statute. Although in general a landlord must invite the leaseholder and any associations to nominate suitable contractors, there are exceptions. For instance, that does not apply when the works are to be carried out under a long-term agreement that has been subject to full consultation in the past. Leaseholders and any recognised tenants associations have 30 days in which to nominate as many contractors as they wish.