I remember moving to London nearly 40 years ago and struggling to get my head around the idea of leaseholds. The maintenance charges for services here though isn't the same thing, and the article first conflated them, then struggles to separate them. I would be interested in why they have become so prevalent in new builds. Was there a change in regulations, or was it an existing loophole that is being exploited more?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68673216
