Question
The Housing Minister promised me in January that we would see protection from fleecehold exploitation in this Parliament. The Government are running out of time. When can my constituents in freeholds expect unfair service charges to be properly regulated?
Answer
I am hoping for an early Christmas present for the hon. Lady when we set out our leasehold Bill, and hopefully by the end of this Parliament we will be able, using secondary legislation, to get things through.50% vibes
Verdict: RED (22/100)
The reply gave only a soft, non-committal timeframe, saying the change would hopefully happen by the end of this Parliament through secondary legislation, and referred informally to a leasehold Bill. It did not give a concrete date and did not address freehold or fleecehold charges specifically. Because the answer is mostly hedged and only partly responsive, the person who asked would likely need to submit a follow-up for a firm timetable.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| When will unfair service charges on freehold properties (so-called 'fleecehold') be properly regulated, so that constituents can expect protection from them? | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply gives only a soft timeframe, 'hopefully by the end of this Parliament' via secondary legislation, and an informal 'early Christmas present' tied to a leasehold Bill, with no concrete date. It never mentions freehold or fleecehold charges, so the item is only loosely engaged with. |