A new inquiry has been launched into leasehold flats and houses by the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee.
It wants submissions about whether existing proposals go far enough in the way of reform – specifically, whether they do enough to help people already living in leasehold flats and houses.
It is looking to address unfair practices, including excessive service and admin charges, and large increases in ground rents.
The Government has already said it will stamp out the practice by which developers sell new houses as leaseholds, and is to consider proposals by the Law Society to make buying or extending leaseholds far cheaper.
Clive Betts, the committee’s chair, said: “With around 4m leasehold homes in England, they make up a significant part of the private home ownership sector.
“We’ve heard however that leaseholders often come up against significant issues which affect their rights, from high service charges with a lack of transparency through to excessive ground rents and barriers to buying freeholds.
“The Government has said it is committed to various reforms to tackle some of the troubling practices in the sector.
“As a committee, we will want to examine the effectiveness of the existing proposals, find out what more needs to be done to boost confidence in the system, and ensure fairness for both existing and future leaseholders.”
The deadline for written submissions is September 7.
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