Film-maker and leasehold owner Renuka Wickramaratne has made a YouTube video on leasehold abuses.
She deserves huge praise for having made the video, which features issues in her own block of four flats in Chelsea which was written about on LKP here
It also features interviews with Sebastian O’Kelly, of LKP, and leaseholder Dennis Jackson, who had his Battersea £800,000 flat forfeited on January 30 this year … and managed to retrieve it after successfully asking Wandsworth County Court to lift the forfeiture.
The flats across the Thames in the video show Plantation Wharf, where Jackson has his home.
Disgracefully, both Sebastian O’Kelly, who was objected to as “press”, and Martin Boyd, also of LKP, who was advising Jackson, were ordered out of the court by the judge after a mischievous objection by the freeholder’s barrister Alexander Bastin. This scandalous story can be read here
This meant that Dennis Jackson was yet again completely alone in a court and the decision of whether or not to take from him everything he has was taken in a closed court.
This appalling state of affairs is the subject of parliamentary and judicial complaint, and with civil rights organisations and the media.
Leasehold forfeiture is an appalling feudal relic – not to be confused with simple repossession (you lose the lot) – that has no place in a modern society.
LKP thanks Renuka and all her team for producing the film.
Related posts:
Fury at ‘life-shattering’ forfeiture case held in a secret court
Leasehold pensioner reprieved from forfeiture … but the legal bill is £76,000 and rising
Battersea MP wades into Jackson leasehold forfeiture dispute
One in the Eye from LKP
Full LKP / Campaign against Residential Leasehold Exploitation briefing notes on leasehold for MPs
LKP: Start as we mean to go on …
Anyone watching this remarkable film can only be more determined to keep fighting until justice for leaseholders is finally achieved. We owe all the victims that much.
Michael
I seem to follow you around and that’s fine with me. I have today found CARL and spent time filling in the application form and spending time giving them the questions that would show Peverel in their true light. Alas to say when I pressed the enter button the information was lost and an error appeared. Is this happening all over, TTAS is no longer readily available are the residents beginning to become the scourge that we intend to be.
I did watch the video and accept that some of our leaseholders and my neighbours have lost the battle for life, but were a great support to the cause, when alive.
Chas
What a great way of showing what is really happening to Leaseholders in the UK today. This film tells it how it is and pulls no punches – a very well done to all involved.
As we know this country is run by politicians and solicitors and the way the LVT is currently run is testomony to that (Nicholas Kissin is an exception) and urgently needs looking at. If this unfairness continues in the Leasehold world then it will not be very long before any leaseholders that do not have their own Right To Manage Company or owns their Freehold outright will find it impossible to sell but then that is what this is really about isn’t it?
Scenario:
Leaseholders get in dispute with managing agents who are owned/controlled by their landlords…. Leaseholder either pay up or shutsup…..If they pay up then the MA or LL know they have a ‘Target’.
If they shut up they know they have a ‘Target’….
If they try and sell on a development that has ‘issues’ then they generally end up selling for a lot less than they would want to, just to get out (if they can).
The last scenario is the worst as Dennis Jacksons’ case will verify:
The Leaseholder decides to stand their ground and gets engulfed in a massive legal battle that they usually end up losing purely because of bad advice from bodies that were supposed to help them not get into this scenario…. Result… The managing agents or landlords get to repossess someones home just because the law says they can and they have an army of ‘proffessionals’ that have been trained to do so….
It doesn’t take long to upset someone to such an extent that many die with the stress and then the charges really start to add up again in selling fees for the family!!!!…. it is a disgrace
Great to see a video about the appalling way leaseholders are being treated, every day, no difference whether retired or working, or a war veteran. Appalling treatment for all leaseholders. As an Englishman I feel truly ashamed of our of this fuedal treatment. I would encourage all leaseholders to think about making a stand. Dennis Jackson’s story is sickening. He went into court without any legal representation but was up against a solicitor and a barrister. LKP are right to keep mentioning this case, as I believe this will be the straw that broke the camel’s back.
This is a really brilliant video that deserves a much wider circulation.
Is hard to believe. My heart bleeds for leaseholders who are victims and politicians and judging system is watching and doing nothing. Thanks to those who are supporting leaseholders we need to stand up and be loud and clear for gaining our rights.
Simin
Thank you for the comments our MP Philip Dunne has come on board and I have emailed and received a reply from Sir Peter Bottomley. What more can we do?
Chas
Sebastian,
Have the gremlins taken over TTAS and Peverel Action?
Chas