Thousands of families in Shinfield, Loddon Park, and surrounding areas are facing 'unfair and opaque' property management charges, according to MPs and councillors. 

Property management charges can cover repairs and maintenance on leasehold properties - as well as ground maintenance on estates with freehold properties. 

But thousands of Earley and Woodley residents on new estates had seen their dreams of home ownership ruined by unfair charges, according to area MP Yuan Yang. 

Speaking in the House of Commons, the Labour MP called on the deputy prime minister Angela Rayner to meet with her and affected residents. 

It comes after Reading Central MP Matt Rodda said that a 'significant number of constituents' had recently contacted him to highlight problems with their leasehold accommodation. 

"It's definitely a big issue," said Andrew Gray, Wokingham Borough Councillor for the Shinfield ward.

Cllr Gray said he had recently attended a meeting with more than 90 residents who felt that they were paying sizeable fees - but with seemingly little to show for them.

The Labour councillor said: "We have been meeting with the management companies and taking along with us the residents."

Fellow Shinfield ward councillor Vishal Srinivasan said more than a dozen residents had contacted him over the last two months. 

The Conservative politician said: "I think if one or two people are affected, it's a minor problem. But when its everyone on an estate is - then it's a big problem. 

"Unjustified increases to service charges are completely unacceptable" said deputy prime minister Angela Rayner in response to the Earley and Woodley MP's request in the House of Commons.

Ms Rayner said: "Leaseholders have been ripped off for too long. It is this government who will sort it out."

But the government has announced delays to the current The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 - saying that its reforms won't be put in place until a number of issues have been resolved.

In a statement to Parliament last week, the minister for housing and planning, Matthew Pennycook, said the LFRA contained 'a small number of specific but serious flaws which would prevent certain provisions from operating as intended'.

The minister said the current act accidentally excluded tens of thousands of shared ownership leaseholders from rights to extend their leases, as well as a loophole that means the act goes far beyond the intended reforms to valuation. 

More homeowners will become eligible to take over the management of their building from spring 2025.