§ Mr. Bill Walkerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will provide further protection against high service charges for public sector tenants who buy their flats under the right to buy.
§ Mr. John PattenI have reviewed the current provisions in the light of a number of cases in which purchasers have faced difficulty because of unexpectedly high service charges for repairs. I have concluded that public sector tenants should be more fully informed, before they buy, about the charges they are likely to face, and that a limit should be placed on charges for repairs during the initial years of the lease. I believe also that purchasers should have the right to spread abnormally large payments for repairs over a number of years.
These proposals are set out in a consultation paper which is being issued today. Copies have been placed in the Library.