Louie Burns, the MD of Leasehold Solutions, has questioned whether the Law Commission’s examination of lease extension and enfranchisement will bring about the “seismic changes” that are needed. Mr Burns has criticised the “vague platitudes” of the Law Commission, which set out its terms of reference at the end of last week for its Residential […]
Leasehold Roadshow heads for Leeds on February 27
The Leasehold Roadshow, which has made several tours of the North West, is heading for Leeds on February 27. The Leasehold Roadshow will be held at the Mercure Leeds Parkway Hotel, Otley Road, Leeds LS16 8AG from 10am to 6pm on Tuesday, February 27. To register: Leeds 2018 | The Leasehold Roadshow | Free info […]
Has Taylor Wimpey done just enough to avoid being successfully sued?
Taylor Wimpey’s deal with Adriatic Land to vary doubling ground rents to those linked with RPI are the minimum it could do to prevent being sued. Extending the deal even to those who have bought these leases on resale – ie not directly from Taylor Wimpey – covers that issue as well. But one hitch […]
Developer recommended solicitors could face £500m bill, says Daily Mail
The same small number of legal firms recommended by developers when selling properties with onerous ground rent terms could face legal bills of up to £500m, says the Daily Mail. Many buyers were lured by discounts on purchase prices and on legal fees for using the recommended solicitors. Louie Burns, of Leasehold Solutions, was quoted […]
Ask Louie Burns: The leasehold houses scandal and what you can do about it
Louie Burns, of Leasehold Solutions, here gives his assessment of the leasehold houses scandal and advice on what you can do about it. LKP unhesitatingly recommends that leasehold house owners contact Louie Burns, who has a proven track record of working with leaseholders to resolve their problems. He speaks frequently at sector events and is […]
Ground rent strike ‘a very real possibility,’ reports Daily Telegraph
Please fill in survey on leasehold house scandal and onerous ground rents for presentation at All Party Parliamentary Group meeting, March 22 The Daily Telegraph ran a powerful article by journalist Emma Lunn on the leasehold houses scandal on Saturday airing the possibility of a nationwide “ground rent strike”. The notion was aired by Sebastian O’Kelly, […]
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 […]
Taylor Wimpey ground rent explanation ‘not true’, BBC is told
The Taylor Wimpey ground rent scandal featured on BBC R4’s influential You & Yours programme yesterday. But its explanation that doubling ground rents compared to those linked to RPI amounted to “slightly less than 1% of the average sales value of the property” was dismissed as “not true”. The programme interviewed first-time buyer Clair Scott, […]
Sunday Telegraph says ‘New homes, yes, but not leasehold’
The Sunday Telegraph today questions whether the government’s £3 billion boost to house building should be for leasehold houses and flats. Further measures are expected to be announced on Wednesday. The article, by Fleet Street veteran Liz Hodgkinson, writes: “In spite of attempts to reform the sector in revent years, critics say it is getting […]
Informal lease extensions are pure poison!
Negotiating with freeholders to get an informal lease extension deal is utter madness for most leaseholders. You can trash the value of your flat with a bargain offer that seems too good to refuse … and for lawyers a quick deal is easy money, with no repercussions (for them). Louie Burns, of Leasehold Solutions, distils […]
The dirty tricks played with formal lease extensions
Louie Burns, of Leasehold Solutions, has written on the LKP website about the cheating played by freeholders with informal lease extensions. Here he turns his attention to the minefield of dealing with your freeholder to get a formal lease extension. Leaseholders have a legal right for a lease extension of an additional 90 […]
Spreading Paine: the freeholds owned by Martin Paine and his wife (Margaret) Anne Kirmond
Below are freeholds from the Land Registry featuring properties owned by companies belonging to Martin Paine and / or his wife Margaret Anne Kirmond. They appear to own the freeholds of 444 flats, and other assets on leases such as garages. The freehold owning companies are Mercia Property Investments Limited, F.t.z. Limited and Chamber Estates Limited. We […]
