March 19, 2024

How you get scammed on insurance

Buying a freehold and then adding to the ground-rent income by loading the insurance is such a well known money-making opportunity it even appeared in the Sunday Times personal finance section as a “good thing to do”. The absolutely brilliant bit about it is that leaseholders do not have to be told what the commission […]

Hanover: we wanted court case on exit fees, but OFT doesn’t

Devastating criticism of bungling OFT investigation by housing association that manages 17,000 retirement properties By “Barrack-room Lawyer” The Hanover Housing Association, which manages 19,000 retirement properties, has issued a devastating criticism of the Office of Fair Trading for its bungling investigation into exit fees. The transfer fees that leaseholders pay when retirement properties are bought […]

ARHM president Baroness Greengross says ‘sorry’ to Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation supporter

Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation supporter Brenda Banks was so indignant that Baroness Greengross, who is president of the trade body the Association of Retirement Housing Managers, dismissed complainers in retirement developments as “barrack-room lawyers” with too much time on their hands that she wrote to complain. Baroness Greengross Today, Greengross has replied saying: “I […]

Managing agents offered ‘incentives’ up to £250,000 to place gas and electricity contracts – spending your money!

By Barrack-room Lawyer A company offering bungs to managing agents if they sign up for new gas and electricity supplies is being touted to … all the members of the Association of Residential Managing Agents! An outfit called Energy Renewals is offering what it politely terms “incentive payments” of between £3,000 and £50,000 a year. […]

Baroness Hanham and Rupert Murdoch: spot the difference

One is parroting the non-policy of Grant Shapps, and the other has never met him or, if he has, asked no favours. Baroness Hanham and Rupert Murdoch By ‘Barrack-room Lawyer’ (As ARHM president Baroness Greengross defined OAP complainers in retirement flats with too much time on their hands) In last Monday’s House of Lords debate, […]

‘You are all barrack-room lawyers with too much time on your hands’ – says ARHM president

At the House of Lords debate on Monday, Baroness Greengross, a Crossbencher peer and the president of the Association of Retirement Housing Managers trade body, caused outrage by claiming complaining pensioners in retirement developments were “barrack-room laywers” with too much time on their hands. “She has a nerve,” said Julia Scott, who lives in North […]

A commission fit for a Kingsborough … Peverel’s way with insurance

In leasehold blocks, it is the landlord’s responsibility – and perk – to arrange the building’s insurance, though  as with everything else, it is the residents who pay. Where Peverel is the management company, it has until very recently used its sister company Kingsborough – which was also also part of the Tchenguiz Family Trust […]