 Tonia Antoniazzi MP has welcomed the announcement from the Labour Government that ground rents will be capped at £250 a year. She said this step is long overdue and will make a real difference to leaseholders across Gower.
The Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, and the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed, confirmed the new cap as part of a wider package of measures designed to strengthen protections for leaseholders. Ms Antoniazzi said the change will bring much needed relief to families who have faced unfair and escalating charges for many years. Tonia Antoniazzi MP said ”I have met many constituents who own leasehold properties, and their biggest concern is they feel like they are being taken advantage of because the system lacks accountability and fairness. This cap will save some families hundreds of pounds each year and finally brings an end to one of the most unfair aspects of the leasehold system. This is especially important here in Gower, where many leaseholders have struggled with unreasonable terms and rising ground rents. Labour is delivering the change that people voted for." Tonia also welcomed the Government’s commitment to stop the creation of new leasehold flats. This delivers on Labour’s manifesto promise to bring an end to the outdated leasehold model. Tonia Antoniazzi MP added "This support for leaseholders and help with the cost of living comes after many years in which the Conservative Government failed to act. The Green Party did not mention leasehold reform in its manifesto at all. Only a Labour Government is delivering the meaningful improvements that homeowners in Gower deserve." Alongside the cap, the Government has published the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill. This legislation will strengthen the rights and protections of more than five million leaseholders. The Moving to Commonhold consultation has also been launched to give residents and stakeholders the opportunity to help shape the next stage of reform. The announcement builds on the recently passed Renters Rights Act and on Labour’s planning reforms, which aim to ensure that everyone has a home that is safe, secure, and affordable. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said "This is good news for homeowners. We are capping ground rent at £250. That means that if you are a leaseholder and your current ground rent is higher than £250, you will pay less. Many people have told me this change will save them hundreds of pounds. This matters because the cost of living remains the most important issue facing people across the country. We promised that we would take this action, and I am very pleased that we are now delivering on that promise." Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Steve Reed said "People who own flats can be forced to pay ground rents that rise to completely unaffordable levels. We said that we would support leaseholders, which is why we are introducing the ground rent cap. This will save money for millions of leaseholders and give them more control over their homes. The leasehold system has damaged the dream of home ownership for many people. We are taking action where previous governments failed by strengthening home ownership and bringing an end to leasehold." Tonia Antoniazzi MP, Labour MP for Gower, said "This is excellent news for leaseholders in Gower who have been trapped in an unfair system for far too long. The Conservative Party promised to fix this problem in 2017 but failed to act. I am proud that the Labour Government is taking real action after years of Conservative inaction. When I stood to be your MP in July 2024, our manifesto promised this reform. I am delighted that this protection for leaseholders is now being delivered."  Tonia Antoniazzi MP has welcomed the Government’s new Animal Welfare Strategy, with its clear commitment to ban trail hunting and take further action to end puppy smuggling.
The strategy published by the UK Labour Government delivers some of the strongest animal welfare reforms in a generation, including a ban on trail hunting which addresses growing concerns that the practice has been used as a smokescreen for the illegal hunting of live foxes with dogs. More than 20 years after the Hunting Act came into force, the ban will help ensure wildlife is properly protected and the law is enforced as intended. The Strategy also builds on recent legislation to end puppy smuggling, which has targeted unscrupulous traders and helped prevent the import of underage, heavily pregnant or mistreated dogs. Many of these reforms follow progress already made in Wales, which has led the way on animal welfare in recent years. Measures such as banning electric shock collars and taking a tougher stance on animal cruelty have helped raise standards, and the new Strategy ensures England moves closer to those higher protections. Tonia Antoniazzi MP said “Banning trail hunting is long overdue. For too long it has been used to undermine existing protections for wildlife and skirt the fox hunting ban, and I’m proud to support action that finally closes that loophole. “I also strongly welcome the continued crackdown on puppy smuggling. These practices cause immense suffering and have no place in a modern society. “Wales has shown real leadership on animal welfare, and it’s right that these reforms help bring England up to speed, so animals are protected to high standards wherever they live.” The Government will work with animal welfare organisations, enforcement bodies and local communities to deliver the Strategy in full by 2030. Michael Webb, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Battersea said, "Battersea welcomes the Government’s new Animal Welfare Strategy. The reforms laid out in the Strategy will address some of the key issues that we as a charity have been campaigning for over many years, including regulating the rescue sector, tackling bad breeding practices and putting an end to puppy smuggling. “There is clearly still a lot of detail to work out, and the Strategy does not claim to tackle every problem animals face. However, Battersea is hopeful that it will be the catalyst for real, lasting change and ultimately make a brighter future for animals across the country. We look forward to working alongside the Government to ensure these promises are implemented effectively and ultimately safeguard the welfare of dogs and cats.” |
