Jim Shannon

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Stuart. I commend the hon. Member for South Devon (Caroline Voaden) for setting the scene so well. I recently met one of the management companies in my local area, where residents had lodged a list of queries after their management fees went up by a substantial amount. They asked where the money had gone. It is difficult to see why fences still need painting when there is a bill for paint, and it is hard to understand why there is a bill for the upkeep of a sign that does not appear to have been cleaned in years. The difficulty with these companies is that, with no regulation of them, residents feel they are being done over. It might be best if I quote one of my constituents and then offer a solution. My constituent said: “I am writing as a resident to express serious concerns regarding the management of communal land. Like many homeowners across the UK, I am facing high and increasing charges for substandard maintenance, with no option to switch providers. The company operates a monopoly in many estates, charging fees that are neither transparent nor fairly regulated. Residents are often left with poorly maintained green spaces despite paying substantial fees. Furthermore, there is no option for estates to collectively choose a different management company, leaving homeowners effectively trapped in an unfair system. I am asking for your support.” She is asking me for my support, and I am asking the Minister to address this issue. The solution my constituent suggests is introducing “a cap on the fees that land management companies like Greenbelt can charge homeowners” and creating “a legal mechanism that allows estates to vote on who manages their communal land, giving residents the freedom to choose better service providers.” She finishes by saying: “Many homeowners across the UK are affected by this, and I believe it is an issue that requires government action.” I look to the Minister to ensure that we address this issue UK-wide, and not simply in England and Wales. Residents across the United Kingdom face the same problems as residents in Strangford, and they must be addressed.