Speeches by Pennycook.

“The simple answer to that is that it is just a part of the SEA and programme consultation process under the relevant legislation that we have to consider reasonable alternatives. I do not think it undermines the independence of the new towns taskforce. When we established it, we did not say to the independent new towns…”

“I do not want to sound obtuse, but I cannot tell you when the substantive Bill will receive Royal Assent or when each piece of secondary legislation will be enacted; the timelines are variable. In my oral statement when introducing the draft Bill, I gave an estimate of 2028 for some of the provisions, such as those on …”

“We would not guide the tribunal to look at specific factors. The tribunal has the expertise to make those decisions and a range of powers, but I take the point about pets, which I have heard strong views on from various people.”

“It is actually in your gift because you can help me get the Bill through.”

“We published consultation on the draft programme and the SEA yesterday. Are you aware of that? No, you were not aware.”

“To Rachel’s point, this is one of those areas where we looked closely at what the Law Commission said. It explored whether commonhold associations could exist as another form of corporate structure or a bespoke corporate body, and ultimately decided that the appropriate balance lay with retaining it as a company limite…”

“Let me give you a top line, and then Caroline and Rachel can come in. We expect to issue guidance on a whole suite of issues relating to commonhold. The industry is already preparing its own guidance. We want to work closely with it to ensure that it is properly integrated with our efforts, but there will be all the ap…”

“That is the point. We want to give people the maximal range of options here. We think there are advantages and benefits that commonhold offers over share of freehold, but it is up to people in the buildings themselves as to what option they want to take forward. Over time, I would hope—this goes to the point I made in …”

“Our advice in all these instances would be to obtain legal advice, not least from the Government-supported Leasehold Advisory Service, as to the particular circumstances. But you are talking about disclosure just as a requirement for enfranchisement?”

“Are we talking about this Bill or are we talking as a general point?”

“We do want to address their concerns and the injustices that many of them face. In the development of this draft Bill, we have looked at what specific provisions we can bring forward. Obviously, we have brought some forward—the Bill is not silent on private estates, on freehold estates, and rent charges provisions are …”

“I don’t think I can sit here and make that commitment now. I think partly we need to see, particularly on the prevalence issue, what comes out of the consultation.”

“If you will excuse me, Mr Curtis, this is all extremely hypothetical. We have two consultations that got a significant amount of feedback. We have the Law Commission work on whether there is an appropriate form of enhanced residential freeholder control of freehold estates and what it would be. We have to see what come…”

“I will bring officials in here. I do not think I can answer that today. I do not know the Law Commission’s recommended approach on this point. It comes back to what you mean by ending the injustice of fleecehold. I would say that at the point that we switch on new consumer protections, we are taking action. We will tak…”

“What do you mean by the take-up?”

“We would obviously robustly defend an appeal case as well, yes.”

“What are you asking me?”

“One of the things that we want to get at is that, as I think the Committee would acknowledge, developers and other parts of the market will need time to familiarise themselves with the commonhold model and what that means. This is quite a big transition. That is why we are seeking views on transitional arrangements and…”

“I absolutely acknowledge that when it comes in is important. It is also important that we get a smooth transition. In the very high-level conversations that I have had with developers—we have had roundtables on this issue—none has said, “Please don’t do this. You will be taking us into a world where we can’t operate.” …”

“We will be ready for it. We will robustly challenge it, as we did that to the 2024 Act. I go back to the fact that we want to see these reforms in place as quickly as possible. That is why, returning to the particular choices we have made on ground rents, it is to the lasting benefit of leaseholders to ensure that all …”