My Department publishes guidance on gov.uk for residential and commercial leaseholders, including a ‘How to Lease’ guide for residential leaseholders.

The government-funded Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE) provides extensive guidance and free initial legal advice for leaseholders on residential leasehold enfranchisement, including through its website here.

The government is committed to implementing measures in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 to make enfranchisement cheaper and easier.

The Act sets the method for calculating the price of a statutory lease extension or freehold acquisition, known as the valuation process. It removes the requirement for marriage value to be paid, caps the treatment of ground rents in the valuation calculation at 0.1% of the freehold value, and allows government to prescribe the rates used to calculate the enfranchisement premium.

Valuation rates used to calculate the enfranchisement premium will be set by the Secretary of State in secondary legislation. We will consult on valuation rates and commence the relevant provisions as soon as possible.

As per my Written Ministerial Statement of 21 November 2024 (HCWS244), primary legislation will be required to rectify a small number of specific flaws in the 2024 Act before the Act’s enfranchisement provisions are commenced.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

The Government funds the Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE) to provide free and independent advice to leaseholders, including those affected by building safety issues. This aims to help them make informed decisions on next steps and engage confidently with freeholders, developers and managing agents. Advice is open to all and there is no limit on the amount of advice an individual can seek to support their chances of achieving the best possible outcome in their case.

LEASE give this practical legal advice through their website but also through one-to-one calls with dedicated building safety advisers, and online resources such as tailored articles, FAQs and factsheets. Calls are used to help individuals work through the issues and next steps in what can be very distressing circumstances.

LEASE takes its role in supporting them very seriously and staff have received training from ‘The Samaritans’ to equip them to identify where individuals are suffering mental health issues. LEASE staff are aware of the need to take action to safeguard customers as needed and where appropriate individuals are encouraged to contact The Samaritans or their GP. All aspects of the service are kept under review to ensure funding delivers what leaseholders need.

Government is working to make sure that all people, regardless of their residential situation, get the help and support they need with their mental health. Where residents of buildings with fire safety issues need mental health support, they should make contact with their GP to discuss these issues so they may be referred to mental health services as appropriate.

The data figures requested fall below the safe threshold at which the Department could consider this sensitive data to be anonymous. As such the data requested cannot be provided, due to potential risk of disclosure of individuals’ identity where bullying allegations have been made.