The work of Martin Boyd, co-director of the Leasehold Knowledge Partnership, to provide accurate leasehold figures was drawn to the attention of the Commons yesterday.
Boyd used leasehold figures from the 2011 census and the National House-Building Council to conclude that there are 5.3 million leasehold properties rather than the 2.5 million repeated by government and its agencies.
The difference in figures has obvious importance in the formulation of policy – most recently because leasehold properties are excluded from the government’s Flood Re insurance scheme.
The LKP leasehold figures have been adopted by the British Property Federation and the Council of Mortgage Lenders.
Yesterday Sir Peter Bottomley (Worthing West) (Con) intervened in the Commons debate over the private rented sector: “I do not want to distract my hon. Friend from his speech, but may I bring to the House’s attention recommendation 37 of the report, which deals with data quality?
“It cannot be found in any of the English housing statistics the proportion of homes that are leasehold, which is something that gives rise to a whole set of problems.
“Martin Boyd of the Leasehold Knowledge Partnership estimates that the number is 5 million, but those homes do not get much attention, so perhaps the Select Committee will examine what more needs to be done in that area.”
Related posts:
Leasehold sector is 63% larger than everyone thought, says DCLG – accepting LKP figures
Bottomley questions Tchenguiz leasehold interests in the Commons
Number of leasehold homes is DOUBLE the figure the government believes, says the Leasehold Knowledge Partnership
Commons today repeats LKP figures on number of leasehold owners
Adriatic Land and other freeholders ‘acting like robbers’, Commons told
Bottomley questions Tchenguiz leasehold interests in the Commons
Well done Martin, it is good that we have people like you that are able to investigate difficult housing knowledge.
How can government make policy (Guiding Principle of Intent) when they do not have the facts to correctly make a correct judgement?
LKP and Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation outperform the civil service and LEASE and every other organisation. The Department of Communities and Local Government is in the grip of people ideologically opposed to reform of leasehold and has deliberately tuned out the ever mounting evidence of problems in this sector. It is also cosy with some of those responsible for the problems.
The legal community has given succour to some of the worst and most despicable predatory landlords in the country, not just ready but eager to victimise vulnerable pensioners. The Royal Institute for Chartered Surveyors has not distinguished itself in any way in failing in its code of practice (with which compliance by managing agents is supposedly mandatory) to prevent misuse of reserve funds. ARMA and fellow travelers have shown themselves to be incompetent and simply incapable of dealing even with the most egregious offenders among their members.
The clear indications are that voluntary regulation in this sector has failed utterly. Powerful vested interests win, again and again.
LKP and Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation and their supporters in parliament are beacons of truth, integrity and common decency.
Well said Paul, Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation/LKP have proved to be the only ones TRULY interested in helping leaseholders.
I am very happy to help and have been doing so for a long time.
I just expect to be paid 😀
You ‘expect’ to be paid AM.
That is clearly the difference between your comments and everyone else’s. It would appear you are speaking as a managing agent and NOT a leaseholder? Everyone else has experienced or have family members who have experienced leasehold abuse and why we are extremely grateful to Melissa, Sebastian and others who have WILLINGLY exposed these issues far more effectively in a few years than any of the bodies set up to do so have done in decades!
We see the conference season beginning yet again to keep this perpetual cycle in motion as they have vested interests and therefore do not want to see change.
I’m sure we are all more than happy to fund LKP/Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation for their hard work and do not ‘expect’ something for nothing!
I agree with all the comments above and we have to remember that all this work has been done on a voluntary basis for which I commend them both.
Where would we, the leaseholders be without them?… hung out to dry? We have to find a way of funding all the work that they continue to do voluntarily on our behalf…
i totally agree some method of funding Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation and lkp IS NEEDED i remember in the early days i submitted a small donation to Mellissa we could go along those lines. any ideas folks?