Since I was first elected to the Assembly, leasehold reform has been an issue that has featured heavily in my postbag. Many residents have raised concerns over spiralling ground rents, restrictions on how and when homes can be modified and on falling property values.

It is estimated that there are more than 200,000 leasehold properties in Wales and latest figures show that in 2016 40 per cent of all property sales in Cardiff South and Penarth were leasehold.

I have held a number of leasehold advice surgeries for constituents to meet with representatives from Lease, the Leasehold Advice Surgery. One of the main concerns raised time and again is the huge hike in service charges imposed by property managers with charges in excess of £300 per month in some apartment blocks.

Several tenants have also experienced problems with repairs and maintenance not being carried out by the property managers despite the increased service charges.

It is clearly a growing problem in an area that has seen a massive increase in the number of blocks of flats built in the last 20 years.

Constituents have told me that they feel they did not get the advice they needed from solicitors and estate agents to make an informed decision when buying their homes. There have been concerns raised regarding the practice of developers recommending particular conveyancers to prospective purchasers.

Buyers are often unaware that their leasehold purchase can also incur extra charges, including escalating annual grounds rents, management fees and service charges. There needs to be greater clarity and responsibility on the setting of service charges and the actual services delivered.

It is a real problem for residents in the many flats across the constituency.

I strongly support reform of the UK’s archaic and grossly unfair leasehold system.

Last month, the Welsh Government announced a range of action to help tackle leasehold concerns. Going forward developers will have to present a genuine reason for a house to be marketed as leasehold, contracts will have to meet minimum standards, including limiting the starting ground rent to a maximum of 0.1 per cent of the property’s sale value and have to run for a minimum of 125 years for flats and 250 years for houses.

As ever, if anyone has any comments or views on this, please get in touch.