Leasehold Knowledge Partnership

The registered charity for leaseholders

Menu
  • Home
    • Site map
    • Archive of posts by category
  • What is LKP
    • Privacy and Data Protection Statement
    • Site map
  • HELP FORM
  • News
      • APPG
      • ARMA
      • Bellway
      • Benjamin Mire
      • Brixton Hill Court
      • Canary Riverside
      • Charter Quay
      • Chelsea Bridge Wharf
      • Commonhold
      • Communities Select Committee
      • Conveyancing Association
      • Countrywide
      • DCLG
      • E&J Capital Partners
      • Exit fees
      • Fleecehold
      • Forfeiture
      • FPRA
      • Gleeson Homes
      • Ground rent scandal
      • Cladding crisis
      • Hanover
      • House managers flat
      • House of Lords
      • Housing associations
      • Informal lease extension
      • Insurance scams
      • IRPM
      • Jim Fitzpatrick MP
      • John Christodoulou
      • Justin Bates
      • Justin Madders MP
      • Law Commission
      • LEASE
      • Leasehold Valuation Tribunal
      • Local authority leasehold
      • London Assembly
      • Louie Burns
      • Martin Paine
      • McCarthy and Stone
      • Moskovitz / Gurvits
      • Mulberry Mews
      • National Leasehold Campaign
      • Oakland Court
      • OFT / CMA
      • Park Homes
      • Persimmon
      • Peverel
      • Philip Rainey QC
      • Plantation Wharf
      • Prostitutes
      • Quadrangle House
      • Recognised Tenants’ Association
      • Redrow
      • Retirement
      • RICS
      • Right To Manage Federation
      • Roger Southam
      • RTM
      • Sean Powell
      • SFO
      • Sinclair Gardens Investments
      • Sir Ed Davey
      • Sir Peter Bottomley
      • St George’s Wharf
      • Taylor Wimpey
      • Tchenguiz
      • West India Quay
      • William Waldorf Astor
      • Windrush Court
  • Accreditation
    • Accredited Companies
        • Block Managers Limited
        • Clear Building Management
        • Diamond Managing Agents
        • Dixon Emerald Associates
        • HML Group
        • Home from Home
        • Home Management Group
        • JFM Block & Estate Management
        • Jones Associates Letting & Management
        • Norwich Residential Management
        • Premier Block Management
        • Red Rock Property Management
        • Sapphire Property Management
        • Town & City Management
        • Urang Property Management
        • Vestra Property Management
  • Fighting back
      • Lease Extension
      • Q&As
      • Right to buy freehold
      • Commonhold
      • Bottomley blasts leasehold crimes on video
      • LVT/Property Chamber Survival
      • Tribunal triumphs … and defeats
      • Recognised Tenants’ Association
      • Right To Manage
      • Video
      • Find MP … and see how many leasehold voters
      • LEASE: what’s the point?
      • Pensioners win £68,500
      • Most damning LVT ruling ever made
      • Insurance racket
      • Local authority leasehold
      • Remember to extend your lease
      • St George’s wins £1 million
      • Leasehold law: the reforms
  • Sub-letting
  • Press
  • Contact
  • Parliament
      • Communities Select Committee
      • APPG
      • APPG December 14 2016
      • Commons Debate 20/12/16
      • APPG April 19 2017
      • APPG July 5 2017
      • APPG December 14 2016
  • Right To Manage
  • Lease Extension
  • National Leasehold Campaign
    • Louie Burns
    • Ground rent scandal
    • Michael Epstein
  • Donate
You are here: Home / Latest News / Why are leasehold house owners mobilising while flat owners suffer in silence?

Why are leasehold house owners mobilising while flat owners suffer in silence?

April 21, 2017 By admin

 

More than 50 stakeholders attended the All Party Parliamentary Group on leasehold reform on April 19

Around 50 leasehold stakeholders and seven parliamentarians attended the All Party Parliamentary Group on leasehold reform on Wednesday evening.

The parliamentary turnout was lower than expected, owing to the election.

Sebastian O’Kelly, trustee of the Leasehold Knowledge Partnership, was the first speaker, welcoming owners of leasehold houses from the North West making their second journey to Westminster.

On March 22 the APPG was cancelled an hour and a half before it was due to start owing to the Westminster attack. This time the leasehold house owners arrived with five minutes to spare owing to the Euston fire.

Mr O’Kelly contrasted the powerful campaign focussed on leasehold houses with the far more widespread exploitation of flat owners which is so often below the radar of public opinion.

“The difference is this.

“In a block of flats you have to act as a group: if you highlight a dispute, you publicly run down the block. Some people – those having to sell – won’t appreciate this.

“Take Canary Riverside, in Jim Fitzpatrick’s constituency. One of the most poisonous leasehold disputes there is. The affluent leaseholders there will not speak in public. Also the freeholder has threatened 110 members of the residents’ association with defamation proceedings.

“Leasehold house owners are in a different position. If they want to demonstrate in Ellesmere Port or wherever, they can do so.

“They are answerable only to themselves.

“The developers and freeholders do not like this at all. They are used to divide and rule, stuffing right to manage applications, intimidating isolated individuals or nobbling control of residents’ management companies.

“The public anger at the leasehold houses scandal has taken them by surprise.”

Mr O’Kelly paid tribute to Katie Kendrick, who set up the National Leasehold Campaign Facebook group of 3,400 members.

He also praised her for getting a demonstration organised outside Redrow’s 2,000 leasehold houses site in Ellesmere Port.

He referred to dirty play here, too.

“It cannot be right that Clair Scott, a Bolton leasehold house owner, was intimidated by a defamation threat not to appear on a BBC radio show with me in January. It is not right that defamation solicitors were to be instructed by Linden homes against Louise O’Reardon.”

He praised both Sir Peter Bottomley and Jim Fitzpatrick for stopping this legal bullying in its tracks.

Related posts:

ITV News covers the leasehold house scandal, and homeowners stage mass demo on March 18 Ground rent protestors stage ANOTHER demonstration against leasehold houses and charges Will Astor should come to meet leasehold house owners in Ellesmere Port Leasehold house owners thank Brokenshire after Persimmon sells freehold to leasehold house for less than £3,750 Help offered to leasehold house owners facing onerous ground rents

Filed Under: APPG April 19 2017, Ground rent scandal, Latest News, News, Parliament, Redrow Tagged With: Canary Riverside, Clair Scott, Katie Kendrick, Louise O'Riordan, National Leasehold Campaign, Redrow, Sebastian O’Kelly

Contact LKP

Need help?

LKPhelp2The leasehold game is weighted against ordinary home-owning leaseholders, who aren’t professional players. LKP was set up to redress the balance, to help you win your disputes or at least avoid disasters.

If you have a leasehold problem, you can email sok@leaseholdknowledge or take a chance on calling 07808 328 230.

Or fill out this form, which ensures that you provide the essential information.

LKPnewsletter3

Professional services

The following advertisements are from firms that seek business from leaseholders. Click on the logos for company profiles.

Law

Right to manage

Lease extension / enfranchisement


capitalleasehold6-9ins

Insurance

Landscaping

limetree

LKP Managing Agents

Big managing agents are big because they have got business from developers or large-scale freehold owing companies. Doubtless they are very obliging.

Not a single one is big through consumer choice.

Managing agents accredited to LKP want business from leaseholders. Many are former leaseholders.

All have signed undertakings of good practice and have provided extensive references … from leaseholders.

They can also hand-hold leaseholders through right to manage at minimal cost.

Contact Sebastian O’Kelly at LKP for further details: sok@leaseholdknowledge.com, 07808 328 230

Please click on logos for link and details

Comments

  1. Kim says

    April 21, 2017 at 6:04 pm

    Flat Leaseholders should not suffer in silence, although they can be their worst enemy. Let me explain- I own a flat in a flat in a smart of London ( shared Freehold 7 flats) since I purchased the property 1997 it has always been managed in house and to great effect. 2014 we engaged a commercial managing agent. and the directorship of the Freehold company has changed, alas to naive clueless individuals. The managing agent who were previously ‘County Estate Management ‘ ‘ aka ‘Solitaire ‘ ‘Stonedale’ and affiliate to ‘Peverel’ OM and now ‘First port’. I am in a fortunate position i but have seen first hand by the action of our current agent the unscrupulous tactics they use. Let’s take them on and start a campaign . NAME AND SHAME. Stop whinging and let’s take these spivs on. I have nothing to gain but am ready to support others.

    • Michael Epstein says

      April 23, 2017 at 6:12 pm

      Kim,
      For many years and long before the campaign for those that were tricked into buying houses on a leasehold basis groups had been set up to fight the exploitation of leaseholders who lived in flats or retirement developments.
      The original Truth About Solitaire, Peverel Action(now called About Peverel) Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation and Leasehold Knowledge Partnership have been fighting a stalwart campaign both visible on the internet and also behind the scenes as well.
      Where there is a difference in motivation is that many flat owners want a “quiet life” whilst those in retirement developments did not choose a retirement development to end up in a huge legal struggle.
      Those who have bought leasehold houses have found themselves in a desperate situation that is an immediate threat to their financial security and simply cannot afford to take a back seat.
      The scams that they are facing are broadly similar to those faced by leaseholders in flats.
      Indeed the methods now being deployed against leaseholding house “owners” were honed originally on flat “owners” notably those whose freehold was owned by Tchenguiz Group Companies..
      There is a school of thought in some quarters that it is better to stay silent for fear of affecting property prices.
      This is an illusion. The reality is that property values actually are enhanced by up to 20% simply by getting rid of rip off managing agents.
      Flat or house on leasehold, our fight is the same.

      • Kim says

        April 23, 2017 at 7:03 pm

        Indeed Mr E, however the shafted leasehold house ‘tenants’ are taking the fight to the unscrupulous operators. Flat leaseholders gripe but then do nothing due to the fact that they are “Too busy” – “Too much Hassle” want a “quiet life” etc. Flat Leaseholders must take a leaf out of the NLC ‘s book. Take action E.G. Start a campaign/ protest outside managing agents ‘Registered’ offices. Otherwise they should stop griping. i gave several friends who were looking to buy apartments in London for their children-they wanted to know who the managing agent was and when told proceeded no further with the purchase.

        • Michael Epstein says

          April 23, 2017 at 7:20 pm

          Kim,
          Possibly one of the largest and most controversial managing agents was the once mighty Peverel( now called Firstport) group of companies.
          Since campaigning against them began they have lost several high profile developments(despite using every technical argument they could think of to prevent a Right To Manage), They have had to make record restitution’s to cheated leaseholders. They have been forced to “admit” to price fixing. Their holding companies were forced into administration. Their workforce has declined by at least 30%. they are still struggling under a burden of debt and paying penal interest rates on loans.
          I so greatly admire and support. the work NLC does,
          That said, it should be acknowledged that much of what NLC does has been learned from the original leasehold campaigners.
          It is not them and us (and I know you are not suggesting that for a moment).
          We are all united in the cause against exploitation. Your victory is our victory and vice versa..

          • Kim says

            April 23, 2017 at 9:23 pm

            Hear hear! United we stand and I certainly tip my hat 🎩 to the original campaigners who have done sterling work, particularly in shining a light under a rock to expose Peverel and their filthy tactics.

    • Wizzy says

      April 27, 2017 at 1:13 pm

      Hi Kim,

      I would like to see a nationwide campaign against leasehold flats. Its a real rip off. Like it has been rightly stated, leaseholders are their own worse enemies. The question is , how to we eradicate such a bad system.

      Desperate Wizzy

  2. Leasetenant says

    April 21, 2017 at 7:02 pm

    A survey showed 58% of leaseholders are dissatisfied.. I’m sure most of the million odd flat leaseholders would like nothing more than ownership of the land their home sits on and fair service charges.

    However, Mr O’Kelly is spot on when he says highlighting problems will cause neighbour problems and reduce the value of your flat. FEAR not apathy is the reason many flat owners don’t go public.

    Just as shocking as offshore freeholders is that Housing Associations like Moat and London & Quadrant are collecting ground rent freeholds on their London government sponsored regeneration projects e.g Greenwich Millenium Village.

    Gavin Barwell and Sajid Javid must know about the many legal rip offs.. Unless one of the political parties included leasehold reform and a Housing Ombudsman in their manifesto nothing will change.. Unfortunately ripping off flat owners has been supported by successive governments through doing nothing.

    • Kim says

      April 21, 2017 at 7:28 pm

      I am sorry to disagree with you leaseholder, but there is Nothing to fear but fear itself. Flat Leaseholders need to step up to the plate- stop whinging and DO SOMETHING. The legislation us quite clear and if you are being ripped off then ACT. The legislation is quite clear. Are you willing set up a campaign against leaseholder abuse with me? If yes then please reply via this site. ACTION NOT WORDS!

      • Michael Hollands says

        April 21, 2017 at 10:58 pm

        I am afraid that when it comes to abuse by Mamagers/Freeholders in Retirement Complexes then there is often fear on the part of the elderly leaseholders to take action.
        That is why they turned down the chance to act over the price fixing a few years ago.
        Whilst there may have been a small minority willing to fight, the majority would have been either too elderly to suffer the stress, or completely unaware that they had been scammed, or frightened of possible reprocussions.if they acted against their management company.
        It is for a stress free life that they choose this expensive lifestyle in the first place. Some of the more unscrupulous Managers know this, brainwashing these people into believing that’s what they are getting. By rocking the boat the leaseholder would only cause aggravation to themselves.
        Therefore the few who want justice often find themselves in the minority which means they would be outvoted.

      • Wizzy says

        April 27, 2017 at 1:15 pm

        Hi Kim,

        I am ! How do we go about it?

        Thanks.

        Desperate Wizzy!

        • Dollie says

          May 10, 2017 at 1:24 pm

          Dollie

          Hi Wizzy and others who want to make a stand; I am with you all the way. How we do that I wish I knew.

          I live in a M&S retirement development managed by, yes, FirstPort, and buying it was the worst thing I, and my family did. I have tried to rally people here and have been ostracised for it, and I was only trying to get a, ‘Residents Association’ going. Everyone moans, the majority dislike living here, but they refuse to do anything to help themselves. FirstPort are the some of the most nasty and frustrating people I have ever had to deal with in all my long life.

          Does anyone out there know anything about Appello, the company that manages the ‘Careline’ within the development? I have asked the area manager so many times “Does Appello ever go out to tender”, answer yes, then how does it always win the contract, no answer. I am sure Appello is somehow attached to FirstPort. This company has had four different names for their business in the four years that I have lived here.

          Anyone any ideas on how I can find out more?

          Thanks
          Dollie

  3. Kim says

    April 21, 2017 at 7:20 pm

    To clarify my previous post- The current managing agent of the building in which I own my flat are in my opinion, thoroughly unscrupulous. The CEO is a major player in buying up Freeholds/ Ground rents. Check out RCP holdings. Paul/ Clive Rayden.

  4. I liddle says

    April 21, 2017 at 8:58 pm

    I live on an estate with a mix of leasehold houses and small blocks of self contained flats all built in the early 1970s with 99 year leases. My sister who lives in a 3 bed semi purchased her freehold for approx £6000 . I paid £10000 to extend my lease under the 1993 act. My flat is worth less than half the cost of her house. She now owns the land that the house stands on, I simply have an extended tenancy with a peppercorn rent. Flat owners are treated despicably, and are disadvantaged in numerous ways. There is widespread ignorance regarding leasehold in general. Wouldn’t it be good if some of the personalities who have made their names on the various TV property shows got involved, or would it damage their careers.

  5. Kim says

    April 22, 2017 at 7:20 am

    I can understand that elderly and possibly vulnerable tenants in retirement homes not having the stomach to fight spivey Freeholders and their associated Managing agent companies, however leaseholders in conversions, purpose built block etc must walk the walk, galvanise and take note of the NLC approach. That is the only way to effect meaningful change. “Haven’t got the time” -“Too much hassle” – “Can’t be bothered” is really not an option I am afraid!!

    • Michael Hollamds says

      April 22, 2017 at 8:37 am

      The odds are stacked against the elderly in Retirement Complexes where the average age of leaseholders could be well over 80.
      The complaints procedure of the biggest management company (which has to be your first approach) is long winded and will almost certainly result in a rejection.
      Next step would be the ARHM, a completely ineffective organisation as I discovered myself.
      Then the Omnbudsman where you will probably discover he does not deal with the problem you have.
      All this process to get nowhere will take months, a stressful time for the over 80’s who cannot be expected to demonstrate with placards in the street.
      That is why we need Government legislation.
      At present there are thousands of M&S retirement properties which were built in the 1980’s with 99 year leases.some with just 70 years remaining.
      Many leaseholders are completely unaware that they should be extending, saying what is the point at their age.
      This is going to be the next big leasehold problem.

      • Kim says

        April 22, 2017 at 9:49 am

        Exactly, which is why Flat Leaseholders need to set up a campaign and demand that the government bring in legislation that sees managing agents strictly regulated. I am believe that the complaints procedure is devised to ground complainants down. Flat Leaseholders must get some ‘fire in their belly’ and do what the spunky NLC have done. The spivvy agents will then not be able to play the divide and rule game. Leaseholders will not feel isolated, bullied or frightened by empty threats of forfeiture etc for not paying monies that are not properly recoverable under the lease or legislation.. These spivs must be brought to their knees. Flat leaseholders have to act as one – look to the big picture and NOT “will it effect the value of my flat”.FLAT LEASEHOLDERS RISE UP. ( It’s the only way)

      • Michael Epstein says

        April 23, 2017 at 7:28 pm

        Michael Hollands,
        It should be noted as well that should a resident in a retirement development
        dare to challenge the managing agent, they leave themselves vulnerable to being targeted by the managing agent’s on site representative.
        One common tactic used is to “turn” other residents against them, by persuading them that the complainant is a trouble maker that is making it difficult to manage the development..

        • leaseholder says

          April 24, 2017 at 9:06 am

          I am afraid that you are right. ‘divide and rule’ is prevalent and it takes a brave leaseholder to make a stance. I can speak from personal experience.

          Tribunals are not always friendly towards leaseholders who refused to tow the line. I often thought that the judge in our case should have his own house managed by the managing agents he liked so much…

          It goes without saying that there are many more leaseholders than freeholders so if we had a true democracy, the legal position would be altered to address the imbalance strengthening the position of leasehold. . Ultimately, offer compensation to freeholders and allow all leaseholders to enfranchise, putting a definitive end to all the misery and exploitation.

          Managing agents to be answerable to those who pay for them, i.e. the leaseholders. it worked in Scotland, so there is no reason it cannot be done.

          • Kim says

            April 24, 2017 at 11:03 am

            Leaseholder, did you get any satisfaction from the FTT? Yes it does take a brave leaseholder to make a stance and jolly good on you for making that stance. Did none of your fellow leaseholders support you? FLAT Leaseholders must really consider banding together and taking on the Managing Agents. In the meantime have you not thought about a RTM? at lease that way you have control of your Managing Agent.

          • admin says

            April 24, 2017 at 6:21 pm

            Dear Leaseholder,

            I am not sure about democracy.

            A block of flats is a property asset. In many flats the freehold is worth a fraction – about 5% – of the collective value of the leaseholds.

            So from a shareholder point of view, it is a minimal investment to obtain control.

            On the continent, blocks of flats are broken up into shares, often thousandths,, with bigger, more valuable apartments having greater shares.

            This is the calculation for ownership of the block and service charges.

            We allow a minority shareholder control the place and the law backs him because he is the nominal “landlord”.

            So I would say it is not an argument for democracy. It is an argument in favour coherent allocation of capital.

All Party Parliamentary Group

Number 10 chief of staff Gavin Barwell ‘delighted’ to be invited to present award to LKP

The Leasehold Knowledge Partnership was presented with a prestigious award by the All Party Parliamentary Group for leasehold and commonhold reform, which represents 171 MPs. Former housing minister Gavin Barwell, the current chief of staff of Number 10, was to have presented the award to Sebastian O’Kelly, LKP chief executive, and to Martin Boyd, the […]

Boris Johnson signs up to the APPG as pressure grows on lawmakers to be bold on leasehold

By Harry Scoffin As the political arms race over leasehold and commonhold rages on, LKP is pleased to report that Boris Johnson has joined the All Party Parliamentary Group on leasehold reform. The decision by the presumptive prime minister to join the bipartisan caucus of parliamentarians is a coup for campaigners pushing for abolition of […]

Leasehold and commonhold APPG now has 167 members

Current number of members 167 + 11 friends Listed below are the members of the All Party Parliamentary Group looking into Leasehold and Commonhold reform in the new parliament. The list is updated as new members join and will be updated on this page throughout the parliament. Any member of parliament in the Commons or […]

Brokenshire announces £200m Grenfell cladding removal fund – hours after APPG meeting of leaseholders

UPDATING … A £200 million fund to remove Grenfell cladding from private blocks was announced this morning by Communities Secretary James Brokenshire on the BBCR4 Today programme. It can be heard at 07.10 here This action has been long predicted by LKP, believing that ministers’ appeals to freeholders and developers to “do the decent thing” […]

Leasehold Advisory Service has ‘been under review’ for 10 years. Here are the findings …

The Leasehold Advisory Service, the government funded Leasehold Advisory Service, has been under review by the government for much of the last ten years. This seems to suggest that something is wrong, yet the government’s long-standing support for the Leasehold Advisory Service continues. LKP has, after many requests, obtained the two most recent reviews of […]

APPG on leasehold reform AGM

Co-Chairs Sir Peter Bottomley MP, Sir Edward Davey MP and Jim Fitzpatrick MP of the Parliamentary All-Party Group on Leasehold and Commonhold Reform issue an open invitation  to attend the Group’s Annual General Meeting: Date: Thursday 1st November 2018 Time: 4:00pm Venue: Room Q Portcullis House The meeting agenda will include – Election of officers, […]

APPG July 11: Robust debate over retirement ground rents and event fees

By Sebastian OKelly, LKP trustee The controversial issues of ground rents and exit fees in retirement housing were discussed at this week’s meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on leasehold and commonhold reform. These were the main event in a meeting which also had an insider’s examination of leasehold insurance commissions, and why developers […]

Labour deputy Tom Watson joins APPG on leasehold reform – but select committee STILL won’t call in the housebuilders

Does the UK have the greediest, most venal and least competent housebuilders in the world? The Labour deputy leader Tom Watson joined the APPG on leasehold and commonhold reform yesterday, while the Communities Select Committee still has not called in the housebuilders. Mr Watson, the MP for West Bromwich East, joined on the prompting of […]

Justin Madders delays Leasehold Reform Bill and calls on the Government to provide justice for leaseholders

Labour MP for Ellesmere Port & Neston, Justin Madders has delayed the second reading of the Leasehold Reform Bill until  October 26 2018.  The Bill seeks to introduce a statutory formula for enfranchisement and lease extension similar to schemes in Northern Ireland and Scotland. It will end the incessant game-playing and revenues from the lease […]

APPG, December 6: Park home banditry; Law Commission; Planners barring leasehold houses; London deputy mayor; gargantuan Grenfell bills for leaseholders

We are all waiting for Sajid Javid The All Party Parliamentary Group on leasehold and commonhold reform met on December 6 at Westminster. Overshadowing all was the conclusion of Communities Secretary Sajid Javid’s report on “Tackling unfair practices in the leasehold market”: the review that he announced in the summer, that concluded in September, into […]

Views of Tory MP Crispin Blunt: Government should ‘nullify’ ground rents. End ‘feudal’ leasehold. Bring in commonhold. And stop developers’ and solicitors’ ‘unconscionable’ cheating of the naïve

A fulsome denunciation of the present rip-off leasehold system has been made in the starkest Corbynista terms … by Tory MP Crispin Blunt, who represents leafy Reigate, in non-leasehold Surrey. He says: “Present-day “onerous ground rents” are, more likely than not, the resultant of unconscionable conduct carried out by one sector of society who have […]

A second backbench debate on leasehold issues

An application for a backbench debate on leasehold issues is due to be heard on Tuesday 21st November 2017 http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/backbench-business-committee/ The application asks the committee to consider: The APPG on leasehold and commonhold reform continues to grow and to date has 127 members. Government recently issued both a consultation and a call for evidence on […]

We are being ripped off by private estate charges by developers and property predators just like leaseholders, says HORnet

Thousands of homeowners on new build estates are facing escalating management charges for unadopted roads and patches of ground. Speculators are hoovering up these assets for the lucrative income streams, enforced through covenants on freehold houses and lease terms in leasehold properties. A campaign group called the HomeOwners’ Rights Network is asking the All Party […]

MPs tell government consultation: End leasehold houses. Scrap new ground rents. Ignore pleas for self-regulation. Ban Help To Buy on rip-off leaseholds

Self-regulation and codes of conduct have failed. Bring in commonhold and end the leasehold rip-offs. APPG pays “public tribute” to the work of LKP in revealing these abuses “LKP have helped hundreds of leaseholders keep their homes and continue to do so with very limited resources,” it says. Leasehold Sector ‘cannot be trusted’ All Party […]

APPG tells MPs: Ban ground rents. Introduce commonhold. Summons housebuilders to select committee. End rip-off ‘fleasehold’ permission fees on managed estates

Ground rents should simply be banned; commonhold introduced and made compulsory; developers should be summoned for ‘Philip Green’ shaming by select committees; and rip-off ‘fleasehold’ permission fees should be ended. These were issues discussed at a standing-room only meeting of All Party Parliamentary Group on leasehold and commonhold on Monday, that attracted more than 100 […]

Commons Library’s excellent resume of leasehold problems will give MPs plenty of ideas for reform

The Commons library has done a superb job of spelling out the problems of leasehold. It is the first time we have seen a third party report into this sector with no regard to the  disingenuous interventions from self-interested professionals, trade bodies, dubious “stakeholders” or compromised quangos. Its report, published yesterday and written by Wendy […]

Mortgage lenders and conveyancers lay bare the rot of leasehold to MPs

… and MPs says profiteering freeholders will be treated ‘like Philip Green’ … LKP patrons call for another Commons debate on leasehold Mortgage lenders and conveyancers yesterday told MPs in the All Party Parliamentary Group that leasehold is in desperate need of legislative reform. The cautious Council of Mortgage Lenders, now renamed UK Finance, spoke […]

All Party Parliamentary Group: this is how to reform leasehold

The All Party Parliamentary Group on leasehold reform today calls for leasehold houses to be banned and for end to onerous ground rents. It can be read here This follows the work of the APPG and its secretariat the Leasehold Knowledge Partnership in exposing the scandal of leasehold houses. Today, Taylor Wimpey undertook to spend […]

STOP Selling new build leasehold houses demands Leader of the House of Commons

In the House of Commons today one of the latest members of the leasehold reform APPG spoke passionately about the scandal of leasehold houses. MP for South West Bedfordshire, Andrew Selous, raised the unacceptable practice of large developers buying freehold land on which they then sell houses on a leasehold basis.  This is currently taking […]

Commons leasehold debate. December 20 2016

The Commons debate on leasehold reform took place after the intervention of LKP patrons Jim Fitzpatrick and Sir Peter Bottomley. The debate can be seen here: http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/fc53bd87-8abf-4986-b7ce-6a7a488b8cfc The debate can be read here: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2016-12-20/debates/4F15110B-F6D5-4FA1-9154-536BD848130E/LeaseholdAndCommonholdReform The catalyst was the scandal of Taylor Wimpey selling homes between 2007-2011 with doubling ground rents and then selling the freeholds […]

Taylor Wimpey abandons the leasehold houses racket from January 1

Taylor Wimpey has undertaken to cease building revenue generating leasehold houses from January 1. The announcement comes in a letter to LKP MP patrons Jim Fitzpatrick and Sir Peter Bottomley, and was made before the All Party Parliamentary Group meeting last Wednesday. Taylor Wimpey says that it sold leasehold houses in the North West, a […]

Commons debate leasehold. Tuesday December 20

Commons debate leasehold. Tuesday December 20 The case made for the debate by Jim Fitzpatrick and Sir Peter Bottomley can be watched on parliament’s own TV here: http://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/5069cc08-aeee-4451-93d8-fef9b0802407?in=14:31:10 The Commons library briefing on the debate is here: http://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CDP-2016-0253

70 attend APPG on leasehold after ground rent scandal grabs media attention

… and Taylor Wimpey backs down on building more leasehold houses More than 70 stakeholders, MPs and peers attended last night’s meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on leasehold reform. The meeting, chaired by Jim Fitzpatrick (Labour, Poplar and Limehouse), was called at short notice following the upsurge of anger at Taylor Wimpey. The […]

Guardian’s Patrick Collinson says ‘time to reform leasehold in entirety’

The first speaker at the APPG was Patrick Collinson, Money editor, at the Guardian, who has been campaigning with this story over the past month and half. Although Mr Collinson kindly acknowledged the activities of LKP, he was first alerted to doubling rents by his 90-year-old father. The latter was advising Mr Collinson’s brother on […]

Housebuilder Bob Bessell says ‘no justification for ground rents at all’

Bob Bessell, founder of retirement housebuilder Retirement Security, told the All Party Parliamentary Group that he has never charged ground rents. His company, based in Stratford on Avon and founded in 1985, has built 1,600 retirement flats around the country at 30 sites. “I started as a social worker and I had to invent things […]

Philip Rainey QC: Are we creating homes or an investment asset class?

One of the leading barristers in landlord and tenant law questioned the purpose of ground rents and urged legislators to be bold in the wholescale reform of leasehold law. Philip Rainey QC, addressing the All Party Parliamentary Group meeting on December 14, quoted his historically minded colleague Philip Wood, whose book “The fall of the […]

Open Data Institute says data will be key to reforming leasehold

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on leasehold and commonhold reform invited Peter Wells, of the Open Data Institute to address the meeting on December 14 2016. The Leasehold Knowledge Partnership had been accepted as an accelerated start-up by the ODI. Peter’s speech in full: Hello, thank you for inviting me. I’m from the Open Data Institute […]

Questions from APPG attendees: Ground rent sale prices have risen tenfold since 2007

A number of key figures in leasehold were in the audience of the All Party Parliamentary Group and several asked questions. Ground rent sale prices have risen ten-fold since 2007 David Thomas, CEO of Barratt Developments In the North East and in the North West houses have traditionally been sold leasehold whether on the second […]

Commons to debate leasehold reform next Tuesday. And Bottomley intends to name leasehold game-players …

LKP’s patron MPs Jim Fitzpatrick and Sir Peter Bottomley have secured a three-hour Commons debate next Tuesday (December 20) to discuss reforming leasehold tenure. It is the first full-on debate over leasehold issues since the debates that led to the 2002 Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act. The MPs made the announcement to the All Party […]

Ban revenue-generating leasehold houses, says Justin Madders MP. Redrow responds

Labour MP Justin Madders has demanded a ban on the building of leasehold houses where there is no justification for them. Leasehold houses have proliferated as housebuilders exploit the housing crisis to make extra revenues by selling off the freeholds, often to shady investors based overseas who hide behind nominee directors. Worse, some housebuilders – […]

Taylor Wimpey CEO says doubling ground rent scandal under ‘review’. But Bottomley asks: ‘Have innocent homebuyers been shafted?’

This afternoon Pete Redfern the CEO of Taylor Wimpey has responded to the All Party Parliamentary Group on leasehold reform saying that the issue of homeowners with doubling ground rents is under “review”. Mr Redfern’s full letter is below. He points out that the doubling ground rent leases, which LKP is aware apply to leasehold […]

Bottomley tells Taylor Wimpey to explain ‘sharp practice’ ground rents – and asks for names of directors who approved them

Sir Peter Bottomley (right) has demanded that Taylor Wimpey explain its “unfair ground rent” provisions to the All Party Parliamentary Group on leasehold reform. Yesterday he told fellow MPs at the APPG meeting chaired by Jim Fitzpatrick, Labour MP for Poplar and Limehouse: “The ground rent increase may have been legal. It is clearly undesirable. […]

Pete Redfern: Stop pontificating about the housing crisis and sort out the ground rent scandal of Taylor Wimpey’s own making

This morning Pete Redfern, Taylor Wimpey CEO, was on the Today programme (BBC Radio 4) discussing the housing crisis. This afternoon MPs are demanding he explain a housing crisis of Taylor Wimpey’s own making: building leasehold houses and flats where ground rents double every ten years. This has left first-time buyers with homes that they […]

More Posts from this Category

DIrection

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Find Everything

Essential reads …

  • Ground rent scandal
  • Parliament
  • MPs’ APPG on leasehold
  • Benjamin Mire
  • Moskovitz / Gurvits
  • Oakland Court
  • McCarthy and Stone
  • Persimmon
  • Recognised Tenants’ Association
  • Cladding crisis
  • Canary Riverside
  • John Christodoulou
  • Peverel
  • Peverel Cirrus story so far
  • Charter Quay
  • Forfeiture
  • Plantation Wharf
  • Law Commission
  • Plantation Wharf
  • West India Quay
  • LEASE: what’s the point?
  • Tchenguiz
  • Sean Powell
  • Press
  • Exit fees
  • William Waldorf Astor
  • Martin Paine
  • LKP anthem
  • LVT/Property Chamber Survival
  • Most damning LVT ruling ever made
  • Pensioners win £68,500
  • Park Homes
  • Redrow
  • Retirement

Copyright © 2019 Leasehold Knowledge Partnership