Today in the House of Commons Sir Peter Bottomley MP called for a debate on leasehold issues. He mentions the need to reform the leasehold advisory service and the need examine the cost of lease extensions.
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I am intervening, at the suggestion earlier of the Leader of the House, having spent three and a half hours in the Chamber. This debate is largely about housing, but is it possible for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to hold a debate on leasehold? He could then look at whether the Government can intervene on the Mundy decision, which affects the extension of the leases of 2 million leaseholders, and carry on the work of his former deputy Gavin Barwell in reforming Lease, the Leasehold Advisory Service, so that leaseholders who, frankly, should be on commonhold can get a better service and avoid being abused, intentionally or unintentionally, by managing agents and freeholders.
I agree very much with my hon. Friend. It is very important to continue the work on leasehold reform, and we will certainly take it forward. Let me take this opportunity to thank him for all the work he has done and the contribution he has made to the debate on that reform.
On Monday next week the debate on the tragedy at Grenfell tower will be led by Jim Fitzpatrick MP.
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LEASE chair Roger Southam launched complaint to Parliamentary Standards Commissioner against Sir Peter Bottomley and Jim Fitzpatrick (and LKP, naturally enough)
Commons to debate leasehold reform next Tuesday. And Bottomley intends to name leasehold game-players …
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Attaboy Sir Peter Bottomley! I also am aware that the ‘Heroic’ Katie, founder of the NLC has re-sent the letter originally sent to Barwell regarding leaseholders view that ‘Southam’ is an inappropriate Chairman of ‘LEASE’. Let’s us hope that he goes the same route as the CEO of Kensington and Chelsea council!!!
I am aware that Katie has organised a demo on the 29th June in Manchester. I truly hope that the 4000+ NLC campaigners TURN UP and support her- if they are otherwise engaged they should send a proxy!! THEY MUST STEP UP TO THE PLATE. FINE WORDS BUTTER NO PARSNIPS.!!!!!!
I do remember
March 1 2017
In the House of Commons Prime Minister Theresa May added her voice to the many others behind LKP’s campaign to stop the sale of new build leasehold houses.
In Prime Ministers Question MP Andrew Selous asked about the practice of developers buying freehold land and selling on leasehold houses which he explained resulted in customers being “”ripped off”.
Prime Minister May answer made clear that as part of the White Paper “we will consult on a range of measures to tackle unfair and unreasonable abuses of leasehold”.
The Prime Minister ended her comments with these words. “I do not see why new homes should not be built and sold with the freehold interest at the point of sale.”
I have just been shafted £1452 by Freehold Managers plc for starting the work on my conservatory for a breach the lease. Their initial proposal would have cost me £50000 extra over the term of the lease.
Leasehold should be abolished completely.
Peter Bottomley I applaud you.
We need to stand by these campaigns. I am with Katie Kendrick and all the people working so hard. I am unable to attend the March on 29th but my heart will be there x
Scotland but also Northern Ireland have now abolished this shameful feudal system of tenure.
Millions of households have been deceived into believing they are “home owners” when under Leases they are merely tenants under residential lease terms.
England/Wales is the only country in the world where household repay a mortgage on a property they will NEVER own. Forfeiture clauses must be banned as a priority!
Legislation is not fit-for-purpose. Tribunals are not fit for purpose.
Parliament must act NOW to scrap/abolish this legislation that has been attracting the worst type of profiteers such as so-called “ground rent investors” who contribute nothing to society.
We cannot afford another wish washy or watered down “reform”.
People s homes cannot be turned into securities or cash-flow for the unscrupulous.
Commonhold= common sense!
Since Scotland has abolished leasehold, can someone explain as to why Firstport Retirement (Scotland) have described themselves as being appointed to manage a development by the freeholders?
NO. Let’s invesigate this development in Scotland and why they have allegedly appointed PEVEREL oops I meant firstport to manage their property.
It is because they are simply a load of crooks who those in authority ignore as they provide them with Donations of a Financial Kind!
Well said Lorimer C
You do not buy a £10 toaster and have to pay the manufacturer every year to to use it, so why a house at £100k + or whatever cost? Why is it acceptable to make a “homeowner” pay for permission to build an extension when you have to gain planning permission from the council anyway?
Leasehold is legalised robbery and the longer it’s allowed to go on the longer MP’s should hang their heads in shame.
END IT NOW.
Perhaps not a toaster but the business model is alive and well in some surprising places.
Example: Buy a John Deere tractor in the US (at least) and you do not own it outright. It comes with intellectual property in terms of the GPS based software capabilities that enable it to perform “precision agriculture” related tasks (such as fertilising or spraying exactly as required at a given coordinate, as assessed from a satellite or drone image). To continue using this you must pay an annual fee.
Intellectual property is the new leasehold. You never own it and only ever have a limited licence to use it. More and more consumers are having to choose which “feudal overlord” they trust to protect them from misuse of their data (see https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2012/12/feudal_sec.html). Data has replaced land or oil. Most consumers are as fleeced of their privacy as any leaseholder with a monetising freeholder but because it happens in small bites they don’t notice.
I agree and it has just cost me Six Grand for a Judge to find in Favour of the Management, who are self appointed to manage our Development despite the Original Developr stating in their Prospectus that should Retiement Care go Tits Up, then we could nominate our own Management Company! Judges obs, it doesn’t state that in the Deeds! So, not Valid! Barstewards have us in their grasp big time, so , Time for Reform or Rebellion!
Thanks for raising this again Sir Peter. Legislation needs to change and builders and solicitors held accountable.
We are indebted to LKP, NLC and the members of the APPG. Thank you for your efforts in raiising awareness to our plight and having the tenacity to bring about the change the housing sector requires. Let us drive out the greed these corporations wallow in and free us from thier sick demented leases.
Hear hear! Keep on keeping on. Change will come.
So pleased to see that the Leasehold scandal is still well and truly on the agenda despite the election distraction. The unethical business model of creating leases on new build homes will cripple the housing market in England and Wales if change does not happen soon and so the amazing efforts of LKP ; the National Leasehold Campaign and all members of the APPG on Leasehold reform are desperately needed. Well done and thank you to all involved
Thank you. My home is unsellable as I am unable to extend my remaining 60 year lease due to the retrospective enforcement of s172 exemption for Right to Buy houses within Schedule 5 of the 1985 Housing Act. Neighbours in flats are offered some protection via different legislation.
Many anomalies and injustices exist in Leasehold law so this news is very welcome. Thank you all.
Sir Peter Bottomley and the LKP are true legends.
I know people are frustrated and angry with the situation they find themselves in but we are now channelling that anger into determination and passion to bring about change. We will get their. As long as we all stick together and make some noise.
As kim has already said the NLC are holding a demonstration outside the housing conference in Manchester on 29th June from midday. ALL welcome. Hopefully we will get some media interest too. The housing minister is also due to speak on this day.
We will soldier on !!!
Xx
Thanks so much for keeping this issue front and centre. This leasehold scandal needs to end now! Thousands of families caught up in this nightmare.
Camden is evacuating over 800 flats.tonight. Apparently many are leasehold. How can it be sane that right to buy applied to tower blocks so that leaseholders pay huge major works fees only to find their homes are unsafe? Will they be charged again? The social tenants will be free of extra costs. What about resale values?
Leasehold is bad enough. Leasehold in tower blocks run by social landlords is absurd. Always thought so.