16.2.12 Report following our meeting in the House of Lords

Having sat in the gallery and watched Questions, we are happy to report that Messrs. Lawson, Lamont, Tebbitt, Whitelaw, the Archbishop of Canterbury and many others all seem to be in fine form.  We will post some pictures on the photo gallery page shortly. The action was very reminiscent of time spent in Arun Council Chamber, although the surroundings were a lot more magnificent.

We met Baroness Gardner, along with Baroness Masham, Lord Seldson and Lord Flight this morning to discuss steps that we can take to increase exposure of the necessity for leasehold reform, and learn how we may best achieve genuine progress. Leaseholders want to obtain some form of amendment to solve the mixed development right to manage problem, to crack down on unfair lease terms, and to control service charges to curtail the inexorable rises that are unjustified and way beyond the rate of inflation, and to ensure that spurious inter company commissions are outlawed.

These issues were discussed along with the review of Service Charges currently being carried out by the London Assembly. Baroness Gardner has now requested a short debate on the subject, and when it is tabled, we will arrange to be present to hear how it goes. We were left under no illusions of how difficult legislative progress may be to achieve, but that makes us more determined to keep up the pressure we are exerting. We also understand the process required, and have made several more valuable contacts whose support we will be seeking.

Many members of the House of Lords live in leasehold properties in the nearby streets, so there is a great deal of sympathy for the Campaign against Residential Leasehold Exploitation campaign and we think we can count on quite a bit of senior support when the debate takes place.  More news will be posted on our progress in due course.

As we left, we spotted David Hewett entering. Does anyone know who he was visiting or why?