§ Mr. Weitzmanasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he is aware that certain lessees of residential property in blocks of flats are being served with demands and may be liable for large sums of money for the repair and maintenance of the demised property due to the failure to ensure such repairs and maintenance by the responsible persons before the lessees entered into their leases; and if, having regard to the liability which many lessees may find it impossible to meet, he will consider legislation to deal with the situation;
(2) whether, in view of the fact that some lessees of residential property are being served with demands for considerable sums of money said to represent a percentage of the total amount to be expended upon the repair and maintenance of the whole block of flats, when they 763W could not know the state of repair and maintenance other than that of their own flats when they entered into the leases, and, having regard to the financial obligations which may be imposed upon them, if he will consider appropriate legislation;
(3) whether, having regard to the large increase in service charges now being demanded from lessees in blocks of flats, he will consider the introduction of legislation to protect such lessees;
(4) if he will consider extending the effect of Section 124 of the Housing Act 1974 so as to protect lessees against large demands in respect of service charges, particularly by speculative landlords.
§ Mr. FreesonI am aware of the serious problems some leaseholders are facing over their service charges. I accept that, whilst some legal remedies are available —for example, where charges are unjustifiable, or to enforce repairing covenants —the present situation is far from satisfactory. It remains the Government's intention to look again at the existing legislative provisions, including Section 124 of the Housing Act 1974, but complex legal questions are involved which are not capable of easy solution.