Government Challenged on £500 Costs Limit in LVT

The Government has been challenged in the House of Lords on the existing costs limit in the LVT.  In a Parliamentary debate, Baroness Gardner asked Government Minister Lord McNally whether he was aware that “...when the leasehold valuation tribunal was set up, the aim was to make it within the reach of every leaseholder to be able, for the amount of £500, to bring his case to the tribunal?” and “...that now many landlords-whether they win or lose, even if they have no hope of costs-are charging their heavy legal expenses back through the management schemes in the blocks of flats?”. The Ministerial response explained: “We are looking at ways to make leaseholders more aware that...., they have ...power to take action to have it set aside by the tribunal.” In a preceding debate, Baroness Gardner also indicated that she would like to amend the Enterprise & Regulatory Reform Bill to include the regulation of managing agents.  Baroness Hayter has joined Baroness Gardner in encouraging interested parties to write to MPs or Peers they know, or to Mark Prisk MP, the Housing Minister, to express their support for the move.