To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the arrangements to inform and protect elderly homebuyers purchasing lifetime leases; how many complaints were made to the Government concerning such schemes in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement. (142174)

The regulatory treatment of lifetime leases was addressed in the Government’s response to the March 2006 consultation document, “Secondary legislation for the regulation of home reversion and home purchase plans”. The Government response to that consultation is available at

http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk./media/880/39/responses_homereversion_130906.pdf

We do not have figures on complaints. Older people can receive free legal advice and information on residential leasehold issues from the Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE). LEASE is a non departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Communities and Local Government.