The Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill is a vital reform for ordinary flat owners, which paves the way for wide-ranging reforms of leasehold and, indeed, its replacement by commonhold. But … it will inevitably attract considerable lobbying by monetising interests to ensure it is ineffective (like so many previous reforms of leasehold)
Or, how to prevent this important reform from being nobbled by monetisers in the sector …
Liam Spender is a Trustee of the Leasehold Knowledge Partnership.
The following press release issued today by MHCLG: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/expert-group-to-help-homeowners-gain-more-control-over-their-homes
Homeowners are set to benefit from greater control over their home and building, as an advisory panel prepares them and the market for the widespread uptake of a collective form of homeownership, known as commonhold.
As part of the biggest reforms to English property law for 40 years, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has today (13 May 2021) launched the Commonhold Council – an advisory panel of leasehold groups and industry experts who will inform the government on the future of this type of homeownership.
On June 1 Stewart Gregory and Darren Baseley appear at Exeter Crown Court accused of stealing the £30,000 mobile home of park home campaigner Sonia McColl OBE in November 2017.
Mrs McColl is the founder of the Park Homes Owners Justice Campaign, and her work has been recognised by the award of an OBE.
In December 2017 she addressed the All Party Parliamentary Group on leasehold and commonhold reform (left).
Justin Madders MP addresses the cladding demonstrators outside Parliament in February 2020, standing beside Sir Peter Bottomley. Both MPs are LKP patrons – along with Sir Ed Davey – and co-chairs of the All Party Parliamentary Group on leasehold and commonhold reform. It is meeting on the day of the demonstration on July 15
All Party Parliamentary Group on leasehold and commonhold reform to meet at the demo to show support
The Leasehold Knowledge Partnership is calling on all leaseholders – whether affected by fire safety issues or not – to support a mass rally outside Parliament on July 15.
Liam Spender is a Trustee of the Leasehold Knowledge Partnership. Personally affected by the cladding scandal, Liam is a Solicitor-Advocate and Senior Associate at Velitor Law practising commercial litigation and arbitration in the City of London. Views in this article are personal and do not constitute legal advice.
On 7 May 2021 the Court of Appeal handed down its judgment in the closely watched case of Aster Communities v. Kerry Chapman and Others [2021] EWCA Civ 660 (https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2021/660.html).
About 150 leaseholders demonstrated in Docklands on Saturday following the fire the day before at Ballymore’s new Providence Wharf site.
The leaseholders are furious at the slow pace of remediation at the site – and the fact that Ballymore, a provider builder owned by the Mulryan family, are paying in only £500,000 of the estimated £12 million bill. This contribution was offered originally when the bill appeared to be only £2 million, but it has not increased.
