The taxpayer-funded Leasehold Advisory Service, LEASE, has announced this evening that its non-executive chair, Roger Southam, has resigned with immediate effect.
No explanation for the resignation is given, but it follows calls from the Leasehold Knowledge Partnership that he resign, questions in the Commons from MPs such as Justin Madders and LKP patron Sir Peter Bottomley and an eruption of April 1 emails to Communities Secretary Sajid Javid from the Facebook group, the National Leasehold Campaign.
Sir Peter said:
“A number of reasons have caused many in the leasehold sector to question how Roger Southam could be the appropriate person to chair the Leasehold Advisory Service.
“It may now be possible for LEASE to speak openly about the abuses suffered for too long by too many residential leaseholders.”
Today it was confirmed to LKP by property giant Savills that Mr Southam is no longer in its employ. He sold his property management Chainbow to the company just over a year ago.
Not the job of LEASE to warn ministers of leasehold houses scandal, Roger Southam tells BBC
National Leasehold Campaign tells Roger Southam to resign from LEASE
The emails urging Mr Southam’s resignation on April 1 can be read on the link above.
The LEASE statement published on the evening of Friday the 13th of April reads:
“Today we are announcing that effective immediately Roger Southam will step down from his position as Chair of LEASE.
“Details of an interim Chair will be announced in due course.
“In the meantime, the Board and staff will continue to drive the organisation forward in meeting the needs of leaseholders and park home owners.”
The leasehold and commonhold reform APPG co-Chair MP’s Sir Peter Bottomley, Jim Fitzpatrick and Sir Edward Davey along with vice Chair MP Justin Madders had long been critical of Mr Southams role and have called on the government to ask Mr Southam to stand down.
LKP welcomes the departure of Mr Southam, but remains deeply concerned by the long-standing management ethos of the Leasehold Advisory Service originally created Lord Young in the 1990’s. LEASE was set up as a temporary service to help inform all parties about the 1993 Leasehold Reform and Urban Development Act.
Related posts:
LEASE chair Roger Southam launched complaint to Parliamentary Standards Commissioner against Sir Peter Bottomley and Jim Fitzpatrick (and LKP, naturally enough)
DCLG rejects second complaint about Roger Southam as LEASE chair. He was appointed on merit, it claims
Roger Southam takes over as LEASE chair
Motion of no confidence in Roger Southam as LEASE chair
Roger Southam should not be LEASE chair, leaseholder tells housing minister
Sky told ground rent scams were ‘a bit more cash’ for beleaguered housebuilders
And no Lease?We don’t want Martin Paine appointed in his stead!
About time! Welcome news indeed. This is a real demonstration of what good professional campaigning and people power can do.
This is very welcomed news.
A brilliant demonstration of how leaseholders voices have been heard. Long may it continue because leaseholders are not going to go quiet.
Roger has made the right decision for the benefit of everyone including himself.
I did say I would be the first to congratulate him if he came to this decision.
So thanks Roger, you can now concentrate on the many other subjects you are an expert in. But please always remember us.
And please LEASE , give more consideration to the Leaseholders when making your next appointment., That is what your website says you do, and what the Government pays you for..
We need TRUE leasehold representation on the board. I could recommend a few if they needed any recommendations
Thank you Mr Southam for listening to leaseholders’ wishes – now we can hope for LEASE leadership that sits firmly alongside those sufffering leasehold abuses.
It’s about time this happened. How the government allowed him to be the chair in the first place is a joke. He needed to go as it was a huge conflict of interest having him in charge !
A welcome and long overdue development in the fight against leasehold abuse. The public will closely be watching any new appointments in LEASE in case there are any more shenanigans.
And About time too , conflict of interest was an understatement. Now let’s hope they actually employ someone that will actually help us leaseholders !! Seb , Martin polish up your CVs !!! If only this could happen !!!!!
Great news! Glad he resigned. Such a huge conflict of interest. Did the government not read his CV? How he was appointed Chair is beyond me…….
Fantastic news it was long ovedue.
Fingers crossed they appointment someone who understand the suffering of those that are trapped in this crappy situation.
Great news. Hopefully the new chairman will not have similar conflict of interest.
Well done to LKP and the members of the NLC for all contributions to this.
People power!
Chairman or chairwoman, now there’s a thought………..
Oh I agree chairman or chairwoman. Is chairperson a better description?
This is very welcome news, conflicts of interest in a government appointed organisation should never be allowed. There are some very well qualified people I can think of who understand the complexities of leasehold tenure who would advocate for leaseholders in an open and ethical manner who could take up the reigns of this post. Maybe LEASE even needs dissolving and a new organisation made to take its place.
Fabulous news ! With his history and current conflict of interest, it’s unbelievable he was ever appointed in the first instance
Now it’s time to appoint someone with true integrity………..
This is excellent! Just goes to show what a strong campaign we have, victory for people power. This is just the beginning!
I hope the next person to come in is trusted with the role. Glad to see this outcome and well done to all who have pushed for this for a long time. We must all keep fighting for change!
Roger Southams resignation has given me renewed hope that people power can change things for the better. Conflicts of interest were exposed. Voices were heard. Change is happening. It is my deepest desire that this good news is continued with Sajid Javid forcing an immediate ban on the sale of leasehold houses. Come on Sajid, give us something to be cheerful about. Make the developers stop this extortion and put things how they should be.
Just wondering? Does anyone know if the board members of Lease have similar conflicts of interest?
As I said on the previous Roger Southam article.
Some of the other LEASE employees/volunteers have experience in maximising profits for freeholders and debt collecting or work for companies who do so.
LEASE could do with a few new faces.
The USA and it’s allies used Roger Southam’s resignation as cover to launch their strike against Syria.
On a more serious note, Mr Southam has gone, but LEASE remains, as does it’s ethos.
Fantastic news?
Fantastic news, this has given me reknewed hope that leaseholders are beginning to be listened to. Now the focus needs to be on appointing someone with honesty and intergrity to this position.