Ground rent reforms must be moved up the political agenda
A ground rent cap would deliver more savings than other cost of living support, says the National Leasehold Campaign's Katie Kendrick.
National Leasehold Campaign (NLC) urges the Prime Minister to bring forward the promised £250 ground rent cap, arguing it would deliver immediate cost-of-living relief for thousands of leaseholders.
Campaigners are urging the Prime Minister to bring forward the promised £250 ground rent cap for leasehold properties amid promises to help the nation with the cost of living crisis.
It comes after Prime Minister Andy Burnham acknowledged during his parliamentary debut last week that leasehold reform was a cost-of-living issue and signalled that housing reform would be among his Government’s priorities
The Prime Minister has rightly recognised that leasehold is a cost-of-living crisis. The next step is delivering relief.”
A letter sent by the National Leasehold Campaign last week on behalf of more than 35,000 leaseholders argues that many households would benefit more from an immediate ground rent cap than from the annual savings currently being promoted through the Government’s recently-announced plug-in solar initiative.
Ministers say households could save up to £110 a year on energy bills through plug-in solar panels but there are also upfront setup costs.
Meanwhile, typical ground rent costs are around £300 per year.
Cost of living concern
Katie Kendrick (pictured), Co-Founder of the NLC, says: “The Prime Minister has rightly recognised that leasehold is a cost-of-living crisis. The next step is delivering relief.
“The Government is promoting potential savings from plug-in solar, but many leaseholders are still paying ground rents that ministers have already accepted have no place in modern Britain.
“For many households, an immediate £250 ground rent cap would save more than the annual savings currently being highlighted through plug-in solar.
“The difference is that those savings would be certain, direct and felt from the moment the policy takes effect.
“Leaseholders have listened to promises of reform for more than a decade. They should not be expected to keep handing over money for absolutely nothing in return while waiting for a ground rent cap the Government has already promised to deliver.”
