No end in sight for leasehold, campaigners warn
Katie Kendrick OBE, Founder of the National Leasehold Campaign, says: "The Government was elected on a promise of change. It must now deliver it.”
Campaigners have warned that there is no end in sight for the ‘feudal’ leasehold system, despite Government promises to end it.
Katie Kendrick OBE, Founder of the National Leasehold Campaign, (pictured), exclusively told The Negotiator that leaseholders are seeing no promised change in legislation to end their nightmare.
She said “While ministers work behind the scenes, in plain sight millions of leaseholders remain trapped in a broken and exploitative system, facing rising costs, uncertainty and injustice. They see no change, feel no benefit, and fear they are being left behind.”
Millions of leaseholders remain trapped in a broken and exploitative system, facing rising costs, uncertainty and injustice.”
Kendrick warned: “Administrative caution cannot become a moratorium on progress.”
She added: “We recognise that abolishing leasehold is complex and that vested interests will fight to protect the status quo. But complexity is not an excuse for delay. The Government was elected on a promise of change. It must now deliver it.”
Angela Rayner
Her comments follow Angela Rayner’s radio interview at the weekend about the end of leasehold.
LBC Radio’s Lewis Goodall referred to Labour’s manifesto promise to “bring the feudal leasehold system to an end”, and asked Rayner if Labour would keep to that promise and “abolish leasehold by the end of the Parliament”.
Rayner responded, saying that legislation would be “coming very soon”.
She added: “It will take time. It is complex. We are going to end that system. It doesn’t happen overnight.”
Abolish leasehold
Kendrick went on to warn that the gap between the promise to abolish leasehold and the reality facing leaseholders is “growing wider, not narrower”.
She said: “While freeholders threaten legal action to defend a system that profits from other people’s homes, ministers must be clear about whose side they are on.
“Leaseholders have waited long enough. We have moved beyond plans, consultations and promises. Leaseholders do not want leasehold reformed. They want it abolished.
“The time for caution has passed. The Government must now show the courage, urgency and political will to finish the job and end leasehold for good.”
