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‘Get on with leasehold reforms’, says frustrated property industry in open letter to Gove

Unusually strong coalition of companies and trade bodies issues open letter to Secretary of State to urge him to progress promised reforms and legislation.

Nigel Lewis

A coalition from across the property industry has written to housing secretary Michael Gove to urge him to implement his government’s plans to reform the leasehold system.

The organisations include the Conveyancing Association, Society of Licensed Conveyancers, Property Redress Scheme, Propertymark, Hunters and The Guild of Property Professionals.

All have put their names to the letter to Gove asking him to bring into law the measures already announced and/or supported by the government over the last two to three years.

Like many already-announced policies such as RoPA and the Rent Reform Act, the property industry is becoming impatient that Boris Johnson and his minister are not delivering on promised reforms.

The leasehold reforms include the implementation of the Law Commission Reports in leasehold enfranchisement, ‘right to manage’, and Commonhold, plus the previously announced Leasehold Reform Act, reasonable fees and timescales for administrative activities, and managed freehold, which has yet to make the statute book.

“We are disappointed the government has yet to implement these measures given the exploitation continues and increases with every passing day,” the letter says.

“We would therefore urge you to include the already-announced measures in future legislative plans as soon as possible to avoid further blighting of leasehold and so-called ‘fleecehold’ property.”

beth rudolphBeth Rudolf (pictured), Director of Delivery at the Conveyancing Association, says:

“We are simply calling on the Government to fulfil its obligations in this area.

“By doing this we can ensure leaseholders can set in motion parts of the property-owning democracy that are simply not open to many of them, such as selling their properties or securing a mortgage.

Link to Redress Scheme newsSean Hooker (pictured), Head of Redress at the Property Redress Scheme, adds: “This is the time for Government action to restore the confidence of leaseholders, who currently feel like second-class citizens in the property world.”

“The redress schemes deal with the frustrations of leaseholders on a daily basis but are often powerless to help. The balance of power must shift back towards the consumer.”

 

January 28, 2022

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