An MP has welcomed housing reforms which could have prevented Brighton's Embassy Court from turning into "Bleak House".

Pavilion MP David Lepper told MPs the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill would have saved the seafront listed-building from shameful neglect by incompetent managing agents and freeholders.

But he called for additional measures to be added to the Bill to protect the city's 25,000 leasehold tenants.

These included powers for councils to register and regulate all managing agents and a demand for all new developments in five or ten years' time to be commonhold so they are managed by the leaseholders living in the properties.

Mr Lepper spoke out during the second reading of the Bill, which will give leaseholders the right to take over the management of the flats in which they live.

At present, management of developments, many of which are conversions of Regency or Victorian conversions, lies with managing agents or freeholders.

The MP told the Commons: "The symbol of all that has been wrong with leasehold legislation is Embassy Court, on the border of my constituency and Hove.

"It is a Grade I listed building and one of the few surviving examples of the work of the Thirties' architect Welles Coates. I remember it from the late Sixties with its gleaming white exterior and plush interior.

"Now the constant refrain I hear from visitors is 'When is that eyesore going to be demolished?'. It has a history of shameful neglect by a succession of incompetent and unscrupulous managing agents and freeholders.

"Embassy court became Bleak House over that 30 years, despite the pride and best efforts of many leaseholders, often of advanced years."

The MP criticised the pilot project running in the city for the registration of managing agents.

The scheme, run by the council, the leaseholders' association, the Association of Residential Managing Agents and the Leasehold Advisory Service, encourages agents to sign up to a basic charter of minimum standards.

Mr Lepper said around 18 had signed up but the scheme was "toothless" because it was only voluntary.

He wanted the council to be given powers to force agents to meet the standards.