April 2012 - Page 2 of 2 - Better Retirement Housing

Such a lonely and obstinate Shapps: minister alone against regulation

April 3, 2012 By Admin

The body representing the most powerful interests in British property fully supports greater regulation of the leasehold sector – leaving Housing Minister Grant Shapps isolated in blocking regulation. That was the main finding of LKP’s meeting with the British Property Federation’s chief executive Liz Peace and Ian Fletcher, who heads the BPF’s residential division. The […]

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Grant Shapps

April news headlines

April 1, 2012 By Admin

24.04.2012 Peverel and Tchenguiz named in Parliament Both Peverel and Tchenguiz were named in a wide-ranging debate about leasehold service charges in the House of Lords yesterday. Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation was also praised for its activities in highlighting exploitaton of residents in retirement developments. Read full report here 23.04.2012 Lords debate on leasehold […]

Filed Under: News

Better Retirement Housing, formerly the Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation, exists to promote good practice in the retirement housing sector.

The elderly should be able to downsize, enjoy the benefits of stress-free homes, and live communally.

The advantages of this form of living to achieve mutual reliance and combat loneliness are obvious.

Sadly, the UK’s retirement housing sector has been beset with poor practice and has an appalling reputation. It has been the subject of critical tribunal rulings, two investigations by the Office of Fair Trading, and one Law Commission report.

It has also been debated in Parliament, and at the All Party Parliamentary Group meetings organised by the Leasehold Knowledge Partnership.

That there is a problem is not disputed by impartial observers, although retirement housebuilders’ do their best to minimise the issues.

It is scandalous that the most vulnerable in our society have been beset by sneaky and dishonest fees widespread in leasehold, or systematically cheated, as the OFT found in the Peverel / Cirrus collusive tendering scandal.

However, we acknowledge that the retirement housing sector is varied and there are good operators within it. Better Retirement Housing is delighted that new overseas companies are moving into the market, and that care providers are producing housing solutions. This has introduced a welcome change of culture.

Nonetheless, the standard retirement leasehold flat remains a dubious proposition. It is absurd that it can be the single worst residential property investment one can make, with plummeting re-sale values bearing no resemblance to the local housing market.

The worst practices are made possible by leasehold tenure, and is widely acknowledged that in Scotland, where leasehold does not exist, retirement housing is more harmonious.

Better Retirement Housing aims to improve this sector and, with the Leasehold Knowledge Partnership, seeks to make reforms to residential leasehold law.

We assist with individual problems and provide an editorial service of the sector, which aims to be accurate and fair.

Sebastian O’Kelly
sok@leaseholdknowledge.com

Martin Boyd
martin.boyd@leaseholdknowledge.com

Press / admin / urgent 07808 328230