The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill [“013 of 2023-24”] had its second reading on 23 October last year. Since then the Bill Committee - a group of MPs whose job it is to scrutinise the legislation - have been holding hearings from outside witnesses. I was invited to have my say.
There are many issues being considered - including the merits or otherwise of leasehold and commonhold. I favour the latter, but that is not my issue for today. Instead I want to concentrate on property rights.
Property rights matter a great deal. Although they obviously rank below the right to life, or from slavery, the 1952 Paris Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms is unambiguous. “Every natural or legal person is entitled to the peaceful enjoyment of his possessions”.
It was put to me and others that this required the government to respect the property rights of landlords. We might not like it, but protecting human rights and freedom make existing leasehold and ground rents sacrosanct.