Freeholder campaign group refuses to reveal backers’ identities
Justice for Property Rights, which supports some reform of leasehold law, will not say who its 250 supporters are.
A new group set up to fight for freeholder rights has refused to tell The Neg who its supporters are.
Despite pressure to be more transparent about who is behind ‘Justice for Property Rights’, its organisers say they are not revealing the identity of its 250 members who are funding the group.
The group says it has been created to “represent small-scale property investors, retirees, shared freeholders and other individuals with lawful existing interests in residential freeholds”.
“The campaign supports proportionate leasehold reform and the development of commonhold as a long-term alternative,” it says.
We are not releasing the funders names.”
But Richard Merrin, CEO at Spreckley PR, which speaks for the group, told The Neg: “While we now have well over 250 members of the group, we are not releasing the funders names.”
Justice for Property Rights says it is taking legal advice on bringing a collective action against the Government before the European Court of Human Rights.
Continued failure
Last week, a cross-party parliamentary report piled fresh pressure on the Government to speed up leasehold reform.
It criticised delays, weak protections and the continued failure to tackle rising costs and poor management in the sector.
The report from the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee said Labour’s draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill was a “significant step” forward – but it warned ministers must go “further and faster”.
The committee wants the final legislation to be introduced in Autumn 2026.
Campaigner Harry Scoffin, of Free Leaseholders, said: “Justice for Property Rights operates out of a City of London public relations firm. Genuine grassroots campaigners like us could never afford that, and it refuses to disclose who is funding it.
“They’re trying to keep the leasehold gravy train on the rails, and the public deserves to know who is actually behind this group.”
If you are member of the group and are happy to talk to The Neg, please email [email protected]
