Estate Charges on Housing Developments

Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Housing and Local Government – in the Senedd at 2:59 pm on 16 September 2020.

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Photo of Julie James Julie James Labour 2:59, 16 September 2020

Yes, Hefin, I'm very well aware of the difficulties in a number of constituencies. Yours is particularly badly hit, I know, and we've had a number of meetings and a site visit at one point, I remember, and a number of other things on this. There are a few things that are also happening. So, we'll publish the results of our call for evidence shortly, and then we'll be able to look at what the programme going forward might be. I'm very encouraged by the fact that the Competition and Markets Authority investigation is rolling on, and I just said in response to an earlier question that we're very pleased that it's bringing people to the table who otherwise wouldn't have been brought to the table. So, it may be that people are more willing to talk once the investigation proceeds.

Also, we're currently investigating whether Wales should sign up to the new homes ombudsman arrangements, and, subject to a piece of work that my officials are doing, we may be able to recommend that we do that. Through Rebecca Evans, my colleague, I'll be asking the Llywydd to consider whether we can get something onto the floor of the Senedd once we've completed that piece of work. So, there are things going on, Hefin, but I do appreciate the amount of work that it's been for you and your office, and the concerns of your constituents, and we very much hope to be able to do something swiftly once we've got that piece of evidence in place.