§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will seek to amend the Leasehold Reform Act 1967 to enable leaseholders to ascertain the cost of freehold purchase within the enfranchisement of the Act without the present necessity of paying in advance a statutory fee of £25.
§ Mr. Alec Jones:Under the Leasehold Reform (Enfranchisement and Extension) Regulations 1967 (SI 1967 No. 1879), a landlord may require a deposit from a tenant who has served notice of his desire to have the freehold of three times the annual ground rent, or £25, whichever is the greater, which will be set off against the eventual purchase price. This is not expressly a statutory fee payable on an inquiry as to the purchase price. In the majority of cases which have come to my notice, inquiries from tenants are answered by landlords without commitment. If the hon. Member has any particular case of difficulty in mind, I shall be grateful if he will send me the details.