Martin Paine and his wife Anne Kirmond have spent years as landlord causing distress to the leaseholds at Blythe Court and many other sites.
LKP first broke the story of the Panie’s ground rent exploits in January 2016 despite warning letters from solicitors Taylor Emmet LLP.
https://www.leaseholdknowledge.com/martin-paine
Since this story, we have covered the activities of the Paines on many occasions. The issue of onerous ground rents both at the Paines sites and on many other properties has since grown into a national story and has now seen the government take radical action. The government has set out they intend to stop all ground rents higher than a peppercorn on all new homes. They have also said they intend to change legislation to make the extension of existing leases easier, quicker and cheaper for all leaseholders.
Mr Paine and Ms Kirmond have perhaps seen the writing on the wall. Having created appalling ground rents at the Blythe Court site which in one case now amounts to £8,000 per annum they are trying to dump their ownership of the freeholds via auction on 22nd February 2018
http://www.a-rpropertyauctions.co.uk/current-auction
The garages are for sale in one lot 59
flats 1-6 at lot 77
It’s not the first time the Paine’s have attempted to sell via auction. Last year they tried to sell flat one that has somehow been acquired by the Paines following an earlier lease extension. That sale fell through after an early day motion by Sir Peter Bottomley MP
https://www.leaseholdknowledge.com/barnard-marcus-withdraws-blythe-court-flat-from-auction
Whatever happens at tomorrows auction the leaseholders have faced a harrowing time as a result of the Paine’s actions which must sit as one of the best examples of why it is so important the government takes action.
LKP acknowledges the work done on this matter by the Guardians Patrick Collison who has written a number of articles about this case and the issue of onerous ground rents on leasehold houses.
As a slight aside readers will be amused to learn Mr Paine has long been an avid supporter of the governments funded Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE) and was a regular attendee at their now-defunct annual conference and trade show for the sector that used to be run bu LEASE.
Mr and Mrs Paine are so confident about the quality of advice offered by LEASE their property management company, Circle Residential Management Ltd lists LEASE as the first point of contact. They boldly tell their blighted leaseholders:”LEASE, The Leasehold Advisory Service, is funded by Government to provide free legal advice to leaseholders, landlords, professional advisers, managers and others on the law affecting residential leasehold and commonhold. A useful site for all your leasehold queries.”
Related posts:
Stop auction of ‘worthless’ flat at Blythe Court and alert authorities, Commons asked
Hogan Lovells property solicitors report Blythe Court scandal on website
Barnard Marcus withdraws Blythe Court flat from auction
Martin Paine demanded ground rents of thousands from two London leaseholders
Guardian reports the Blythe Court ground rent scandal
New Housing Minister hits the ground running
No mention on whether any leaseholders exercised RFR?
If they did, new RMC freeholder presumably entitled to offer lease variations at cost to reduce ground rent for their freehold? Private contracts mutually varied.
Irony is an RMC would want some ground rent to cover non rechargeable D&O insurances and filing fees. Six flats paying £50 a year should do it.
Eeeeeewwwwww. What a seeminglingly vile Individual with a face only a mother could love!
I am a great believe in Karma……
I have had absolutely no dealings with Mr. Paine ( thank god) but even though I don’t, I wish him nothing but Ill for the systematic abuse and downright underhanded treatment of his tenants/purchasers.
Serious question:-
Does anyone who comments here have direct experience of a reliable managing agent (steady…) who respects a written contract (and codes etc)?
One of Sajid Javid’s ‘good guys’ would be grand.
Must operate in West Midlands area. Hard working, well-informed RTMC client.
Genuine question. Even receiving glowing references from other RMC/RTMs seems to prove no assurance. Some leaseholders are either easily pleased or maybe have no better experience to compare.
Obviously trawling the LKP accredited list too.
Managing agents who offer service complying to the RICS Residential Management Code are the ones to consider. .
Usually these companies have a surveyor working in the business and so may be what you should look for.
Dear Ollie
I have “ Interviewed” many leaseholders who have managing Agents that have been / are cloaked in the so called respectable RICS code.
I have come to the conclusion that the most Venal operators complete the online quiz to become an assoc RICS as it helps them fool innocent leaseholders into believing that the Agent is ethical………
I personally would steer clear of Agents with these Mickey Mouse monikers.
Hopefully strict regulation of managing agents will soon be introduced. Let’s see.
In addition to my previous comment.
“ A surveyor working in the business” is absolutely no guarantee that the leaseholder will receive an ethical service.
Ollie, I can assure you that being a member of RICS is absolutely meaningless.
I can tell you that after watching hands on how they operate, well more like, don’t operate
In fact, we should all know by now, that being a member of any of these “clubs” is absolutely meaningless.
It is people themselves that make or break other peoples lives.
I don’t need to be a member of ANY dam CLUB to operate in a fair and decent moral transparent manner.
As I have posted before, if I had to be a member of anything in order to be a managing agent I would close business. I don’t wish to have any association whatsoever with the vast majority of builders and agents who belong to these clubs for the boys.
Anyone who has the slightest faith in the RICS only has to look at the Benjamin Mire case to appreciate how ineffective and self serving they are?
NO.