Why do we have leasehold properties and service charges?

Many are concerned that freeholders or their managing agents are exploiting the current system and imposing unreasonable costs.

Some, including Peter Bottomley, former MP for West Worthing and a longtime leasehold campaigner, want to see the leasehold system scrapped entirely.

“There are still hundreds of thousands of leaseholders being exploited by extending their leases or in various other ways,” he said.

Freeholders and their agents, however, are adamant the system is not being abused and that they are simply “re-charging” the costs they face to the leaseholders.

They speak of spiralling energy, insurance and materials costs and warn of the dangers of going too far with any legislation.

Lawyer Mark Chick, a founder committee member of the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners, said: “Unfortunately, you’ve got to be a little bit careful about what you wish for.

“If people do self-manage they have to do that properly and do it well.”

In 2017 the Conservative government said it wanted to abolish leasehold on all new builds.

There have since been some important changes made in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act, external including rules on standardising maintenance costs and forcing agents to provide a full breakdown of costs.

However, these changes now need secondary legislation to come into force, which has not yet been put forward by the current government.