Danny Beales MP for (Uxbridge and South Ruislip) (Lab) has introduced the Managing Agents (Regulation) Bill to Parliament that will create an independent regulator for managing agents. The aim is simple: to improve standards, make managing agents accountable, and better protect leaseholders.

The argument behind the Bill is that too many leaseholders are being badly let down by poor block management companies. People are paying over inflated service charges but often receive poor service in return, face unexplained costs, struggle to get repairs completed, and have little real power when things go wrong.

The proposed Bill would introduce several important changes:

• The introduction of an independent regulator to oversee managing agents

• Mandatory qualifications so agents meet proper professional standards

• A “fit and proper person” test to ensure unsuitable people cannot operate in the sector

• Ongoing training requirements to keep standards high

• A clear statutory code of practice setting out how managing agents must behave

• A licensing system so only approved agents can operate

• Enforcement powers, including the ability to remove poor-performing agents from the register

• A proper complaints and redress system for leaseholders