Ruth Cadbury Makes Call for Leasehold Law Reform
Details unfair treatment of residents in local developments
The Apt Living Parkview development in Brentford
May 26, 2023
The MP for Brentford and Isleworth has spoken in the House of Commons about the need for a comprehensive reform of leasehold law.
Ruth Cadbury gave specific examples from the Brentford and Isleworth area in her speech on 23 May of the kind of injustices she says makes change imperative.
She raised the case of the treatment of residents of APT Parkview, an office development which was converted into flats next to Gunnersbury Park. The scheme has a mixture of leaseholders and tenants of the building owner. Ms Cadbury told the house that leaseholders have seen their communal services continually rising in price, but then suddenly being withdrawn after they made complaints about their bills. They told her that one day there was no concierge, the gym was closed, there was no cleaning of the common parts and no security in the car park, but then there was a sudden extra charge for air conditioning on top of their existing rising energy bills.
She said, “The case of APT Parkview has also shown the lack of enforcement action available to protect leaseholders. The council could not help, the powers of the ward councillors are limited, and when I wrote letters and raised the issues on the Floor of this House, they were still not resolved. The tenants in the block sought legal advice, and it appears that they have somewhat stronger rights than the leaseholders.
She also told MPs in attendance about a meeting she had last week with leaseholders in Aplin Way in Isleworth, who are facing an ‘astronomical’ bill to replace the lifts in their block.
Ms Cadbury explained, “It is 50 years old, so the lifts do need replacing. They have asked why it is costing so much when cheaper options are available, but they have not had a clear answer from, in this case, the housing association that owns the block. Their ward councillor, Tony Louki, and I have tried to seek answers, but even we have not had replies to our correspondence. After no response had been received, suddenly last week the contractors appeared on site. The leaseholders know they will soon be forced to pay their share of the astronomical bill, and this is causing particular stress to the many pensioners who own their own home in that block.”
Her speech covered issues such as the high cost of service charges and to poor property maintenance focusing particularly on the huge costs facing leaseholders who have seen both their service charge, and building insurance rise in recent years.
She also mentioned that many keyworkers such as NHS staff and leaseholders were being impacted by the unfair leasehold system, while also mentioning a number of local cases where managing agents had refused to support residents with issues ranging from lift repairs to the maintenance of communal areas.
After her speech she voted for a motion put down by the official opposition which committed to end the sale of new private leasehold houses and replace leasehold with Commonhold for flat owners, the system pertaining in Scotland and most of the rest of the world. The motion also criticised the Government for rowing back on their promise to reform leasehold.
Commenting in full after her speech the Brentford and Isleworth MP said, ‘‘I know from listening to leaseholders across my constituency that they’re getting such an unfair deal. Their service charge bills are rising and rising, they’re facing increases of over 100% in their building insurance charge, and issues around maintenance, crime and security are not being addressed by their management agents. Leaseholders locally are paying more and more, yet they’re still receiving a substandard service.
“These problems stem from the outdated and antique leasehold system in England which is full of holes. Building owners and managing owners, as well as some solicitors have taken advantage of these loopholes, at the expense of people trying to own and retain their home. It is therefore extremely disappointing that the Government have u-turned on their commitment to reform leasehold and ensure that leaseholders have better rights and protections while moving to common-hold to be the default ownership model for flats.
“Over recent years I’ve been campaigning hard to support leaseholders and I know how frustrated they are about the lack of action from the Government. I will continue to campaign to ensure that leaseholders locally have a strong voice in Parliament and to put pressure on the Government to finally reform these outdated and antique laws.’’
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