§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the number of leaseholders who will be able to purchase their freehold after the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Bill receives Royal Assent.
§ Sir George YoungWe believe that there are three quarters of a million long leaseholders who will potentially benefit from part 1 of the Bill. We do not know enough about the numbers and composition of blocks of flats and their tenants to estimate how many individual buildings will be eligible. Whether qualifying tenants in such buildings choose to participate in collective purchase of the freehold is of course a matter for them. Any qualifying leaseholders who meet the residence criteria will be able to purchase a renewed lease, whether or not they also participate in purchasing the freehold.