March 18, 2024

What are Lord Best’s ‘modest proposals’ for leaseholders?

Chairman of the Hanover Housing Association Lord Best has “a number of relatively modest reforms which would make a difference to leaseholders’ lives”. Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation has contacted the cross-bench peer to discover what these might be. Lord Best has held a meeting of peers interested in leasehold issues. He referred to his […]

Urgent need to revisit leasehold reform, say Lords

The House of Lords had another short debate on leasehold reform last Thursday and urged the case for revisit the sector.  The debate was initiated by by LibDem peer Baroness Maddock, who said “further reform is still needed and is very much a live concern for the millions of people living in leasehold properties”. “The […]

Mark Prisk’s department sabotages attempt to license leasehold managing agents

A clever Lords amendment by Baroness Gardner that would see leasehold managing agents required to have a licence will be sabotaged in the Commons tomorrow. Instead, the Department of Communities and Local Government wants to insist managing agents belong to an ombudsman scheme. Ombudsmen are widely popular among the vested interests in the status quo […]

Progress report on our Houses of Parliament briefing

There is exactly two weeks to go before the LKP/Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation briefing at the Houses of Parliament things are moving along at a pace.  All MPs and Lords have now received a formal invitation to attend from Sir Peter Bottomley MP. Our speakers are lined up. Key members of staff from the […]

We are not going to protect leaseholders’ funds because … well, that’s what the last government wanted to do

The House of Lords was told today that key clauses in the legislation that would help protect leaseholders’ funds that are controlled by managing agents won’t come into force because this was the Labour government’s policy. This was the explanation from Baroness Hanham, Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government, why the Section […]

After £122,000 fraud, Baroness Gardner demands protection of leaseholders’ money held by managing agents

Following the conviction of fraudster Simon van Houten, 31, the Rendall and Rittner managing agent who “can expect a custodial sentence” for stealing £122,000 next Thursday, Baroness Gardner of Parkes is calling for leaseholder funds to be protected. Next Monday in the House of Lords, she is to ask the Government to introduce a transparent […]

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 […]

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 […]

Tchenguiz and Peverel named in House of Lords debate

Melissa Briggs, of Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation, meets Tory peer Baroness Gardner at the House of Lords in February Both the Tchenguiz family and Peverel were named in a House of Lords debate yesterday on leasehold service charges. They were singled out by Baroness Gardner of Parkes (Conservative) – the only freeholders and managing […]

Aussie baroness told leasehold law is just fine as it is

The government has no plans to introduce changes to leasehold law, regulated managing agents, enforce a code of practice or even insist that managing agents belong to an ombudsman scheme. That was the answer on Tuesday in the Lords to Baroness Gardner, who is a former dentist known as Trixie who is from Australia – […]