C O M M O N H O L D L
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Some months ago the Lord Chancellor's department issued a consultation document on the subject of Commonhold. It was intended that a Bill should be introduced in the Autumn of 1996, and in that event a commentary would have appeared here. The introduction of the Bill has now been postponed and it seems unlikely that it will appear before the next election. A Press Release was issued on the 6th December in the following terms-- |
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
347/96 6 December 1996
COMMONHOLD BILL
The Parliamentary Secretary at the Lord Chancellor's Department, Gary
Streeter MP, announced today that lack of Parliamentary time will
prevent the Government from proceeding with a Bill on Commonhold
which it had hoped to introduce this Parliamentary session.
In a speech to a conference in London called to discuss commonhold,
Mr Streeter said that the Government had intended to proceed with the
Bill on the understanding that it was basically a technical and
non-controversial item of legislation.
"Unfortunately", Mr Streeter said, "it has become apparent that this
will not be the case and that this necessarily short current
Parliamentary session will not allow time for it to proceed when
balanced with other Bills which have a greater priority.
"However," he said, "the Lord Chancellor and I, together with our
officials, will continue to perfect the Bill for introduction as soon
as time allows in a new Parliament."
Notes for Editors
1. A commonhold is a development consisting of two or more separately
owned freehold units, which are managed collectively. Collective
management may be necessary because the units form different parts of
the same building or because they share services and facilities and
so need a system for the communal management and ownership of the
common parts.
2. Commonhold should not be confused with leasehold enfranchisement
which enables long leasehold flat owners in blocks of flats
collectively to buy out the freehold owner and so gain control of the
freehold of their block.