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<p>The Government is committed to reforming the leasehold system to ensure fairness
and transparency for leaseholders. Last year, we consulted on implementing the ban
on new leasehold houses and restricting ground rents on future leases to zero financial
value, and will provide a government response in due course.</p><p>We are working
with the Law Commission, who are taking forward a programme of work and recently consulted
on:</p><ul><li>making buying a freehold or extending a lease easier, quicker and more
cost effective;</li><li>reinvigorating commonhold, so that it is a viable alternative
to leasehold; and</li><li>making it easier for leaseholders to exercise the Right
to Manage, and take control of their blocks.</li></ul><p>The Law Commission are now
analysing responses and will report back to the Government with recommendations later
this year.</p><p>In addition, the Government has established a working group chaired
by Lord Best to raise standards across the property management sector. This group
will consider the transparency of service charges, and how they should be presented
to consumers, and the best means for challenging unjustified fees. The group is instructed
to report back in 2019 and the Government will consider its recommendations. We are
also ensuring all landlord freeholders belong to a redress scheme and giving freeholders
on private or mixed use estates equivalent rights to leaseholders to challenge communal
costs.</p><p>The Government recently announced an industry led Pledge so that leaseholders
with 10 or 15 year doubling ground rents can have their lease terms amended voluntarily.
We have also said that we will be clamping down on unjustified legal costs for leaseholders,
we will implement the majority of the Law Commission's recommendations on 'event fees'
in the retirement sector.</p>
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