December 6, 2024

Leasehold mediation from commercial operators backed by government

Both Eric Pickles and Housing Minister Brandon Lewis gave a final “vote for us” message to leaseholders earlier this week with a resume of their achievements. In truth, they add up to very little and the only real reason not to vote against the government is because of almost no sign of life on leasehold […]

Law Commission investigates retirement transfer fees

The Law Commission is reporting its work into the issue of retirement leasehold exit fee here Anyone who has paid these fees, can contact the Law Commission on this email address: transfer_fees@lawcommission.gsi.gov.uk Following a considerable amount of activity by Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation, the issue of exit and subletting fees was taken up by […]

Cooee! Peverel becomes FirstPort and is heading for ARMA-Q … But will it be welcome?

Like the unwanted guest at a party, Peverel has put on some outlandish new clothes and now seeks to crash ARMA-Q. It is rolling out its new FirstPort brand, which means when you click on the Peverel website you are passed on to a new site. The change in name is taking place a year […]

CMA: easier right to manage, re-tendering property management when residents choose, changes to major works rules … but no statutory regulation of block managers

… And CMA may re-examine sector if no improvements Below is the press release of the Competition and Markets Authority, whose report into property management was released today at 11am. LKP / Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation will be providing a full analysis later. Jim Fitzpatrick, LKP patron and Labour MP for Poplar and Limehouse […]

‘Curtains for exit and sublet fees’ by Law Commission … but not until March 2017

Leasehold exit and sublet fees have been referred to the Law Commission, which will almost certainly be the end of them. This means anyone selling or renting out a retirement or non-retirement flat should keep all documentation with a view to making a claim in two and half years time.

AgeUK: Retirement leasehold IS NOT WORKING and needs urgent reform

– Self-regulation (by ARHM, ARMA, RICS) has failed – Leasehold tenure itself disempowers residents and makes them vulnerable – Commonhold should be explored – Right to manage needs to be made easier for the elderly – LEASE’s ‘problematic’ role serving all sides in leasehold – CMA’s skimpy Ipsos MORI poll ‘should not be used as the basis […]

Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation submission to CMA leasehold inquiry

Why did the CMA study take place? The CMA study into residential management services partly originated in the public criticism expressed over the Office of Fair Trading investigation into the Peverel / Cirrus collusive tendering scandal. Owing to the prime minister’s response to a direct appeal by Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation, this resulted in […]

Skimpy opinion poll used in CMA study of leasehold

– Only 131 retirement leaseholders quizzed – 17 leaseholders ONLY discussed Property Tribunal – MORI has to correct criticism of LKP leasehold figures (which are accepted by DCLG) – BUT poll does confirm that there is more contentment when leaseholder manage their sites in an RTM or RMC compared with those that are freeholder-controlled Alarm […]

ARHM’s pathetic response to the Peverel / Cirrus scandal

… while “under review”, Cirrus sponsors the ARHM summer conference and is doled out generous contracts   In the club: Richard Wheeldon, ARHM vice chair, part of the Cirrus review team and an executive of Housing and Care 21 housing association. It handed out a bumper contract to Cirrus in February, two months after the OFT […]

Engage Liverpool meeting with leaseholders and CMA

Engage Liverpool, which represents flat owners in the centre of the city, is holding an open meeting with leaseholders on May 21. It has invited Douglas Cooper, of the Competition and Markets Authority, to hear from leaseholders, particularly those who have experience of self-management. Engage Liverpool represents leaseholders who have bought flats in the city […]