Written questions by Harding.

Communities and Local Government, whether the Government plans to bring forward legislative proposals to prevent leasehold agreements from imposing blanket bans on pet ownership where similar restrictions would not be permitted under the Renters’ Rights Act.

The government recognises that pets can bring joy and comfort to their owners, as well as supporting their mental and physical wellbeing. At present, the ability of a leaseholder to keep a pet will depend on the terms of their lease. Where a given lease restricts the keeping of pets, variation of the lease to enable leaseholders to have a pet may only be made by agreement with the freeholder. The government is considering the rights of leaseholders to keep pets as part of its leasehold and commonhold reform agenda.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the difference in pet ownership rights of leaseholders and tenants in rental properties, specifically regarding the provisions in the Renter’s Rights Act that prevent landlords issuing blanket bans on pets on equality of treatment between different forms of property ownership; and whether the Government will introduce measures to ensure leaseholders have equivalent rights to keep pets in their properties.

The government recognises that pets can bring joy and comfort to their owners, as well as supporting their mental and physical wellbeing. At present, the ability of a leaseholder to keep a pet will depend on the terms of their lease. Where a given lease restricts the keeping of pets, variation of the lease to enable leaseholders to have a pet may only be made by agreement with the freeholder. The government is considering the rights of leaseholders to keep pets as part of its leasehold and commonhold reform agenda.

Communities and Local Government, whether he has considered introducing lower-interest borrowing facilities for housing associations.

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement published on 2 July 2025 (HCWS771).

Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the level of the current Homes England grant rates on the delivery of new affordable housing in high-cost areas such as Elmbridge by housing associations.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 95055 on 5 December 2025.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to review grant funding levels provided through Homes England, in the context of changes in the level of construction costs and interest rates.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 95055 on 5 December 2025.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to provide targeted funding to support housing associations in addressing damp and disrepair issues in legacy stock.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 81035 on 20 October 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what her planned timeline is for the abolition of marriage value as set out in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 44852 on 22 April 2025.

Communities and Local Government, if her Department will take steps to (a) improve the transparency of estate charges for freeholders, (b) give freeholders the power to challenge estate charges and (c) give freeholders more powers to take over estate management through a Right to Manage company.

The government is committed to taking steps to bring the injustice of ‘fleecehold’ private estates and unfair maintenance costs to an end and we will consult on the best way to achieve this.In the interim, we will act to provide residential freeholders with greater protections by implementing the relevant provisions of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024. The implementation of that Act will require an extensive programme of secondary legislation, and we will set out the details in due course.