Why Write??
We have found that writing individual letters to constituency MPs has been the single most effective way to influence government.
In countless speeches MPs of all parties are saying that estate charges are a big problem in their constituencies because many people have written to them. Recent examples are: Peter Lamb and Jonathan Brash
These illustrate that there has also been an increase in knowledge, with a growing understanding that universal adoption is the only way to tackle the “injustice of fleecehold”. We have stopped using this term because although it is catchy, it is not accurate and gives a wrong impression that estate charges have something to do with (leasehold)tenure when it is really about lack of adoption to maximise profit for developers.
It is never too late to put your MP in the picture and ask them to support universal adoption – STOP THE ROT -ADOPT THE LOT! Now is a great time with a new Prime Minister and Secretary of State, Florence Eshalomi, former select committee chair. The housing minister Matthew Pennycook remains in post and you might consider signing our open letter to him as well.
We urge you to write now using this updated guidance even if you have written before. Its really important to give your own circumstances and make sure your address is included. If you are not a constituent you will get no response
Name
Address
Date
Dear [Name of MP]
We are/I am thankful that this government has promised to deal with the “injustice of fleecehold” because [add your story – detail the problems you have had due to lack of adoption]
I/we am/are very concerned that the government are not delivering the draft secondary legislation as they promised to do in this session of parliament. They have been in office over 2 years but we have nothing but consultations. The work to implement the measures in the Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Act 2024 must have been done by the department and just needs bringing forward. Although what we need is universal adoption, the measures in the bill will at least give us some limited redress in the meantime. We would also like quick implementation of the new regulated rentcharges to include estate charges as people are still getting demands for Deeds of Variation from mortgage lenders. These are another cost to us and can delay/halt a sale. We were promised that we would not have the threat of loosing our freehold interest in the event of non payment of a rent charge. Would you please be able to ask the Secretary Of State to press her for some faster action on the draft bill?
I/we am/are also very worried that simply regulating agents and redress via the first tier tribunal actually creates as leasehold like model for estate charges and props up a system which should be abolished. There is also a very real risk of a two tier market developing if future estates are adopted but existing ones retain the unfair burden of maintenance of public amenities. I/we am/are concerned about future loss of value and saleability of my home.
I/We would like to emphasise that estate charges are not simply a matter of property tenure – the model encompasses wider problems such as long term blight, back door privatisation, community division and loss of council control over its statutory duties in flood management. So called “fleecehold” really needs its own measures as it is more a matter for planning and communities and not about property law. Property laws are being used to enforce the exploitation that homeowners like I/we am/are experiencing, but it is lack of adoption which is the root cause.
In their Housebuilding Market Study, the CMA has recently pointed out they recommend more adoption for a number of reasons and emphasise the unfairness and imbalance of power when a subset of residents are tied in to paying estate charges for public spaces/amenities.
We/I believe that the issue of estate charges needs to be looked at separately and it is my/ our request that you write to the housing minister and ask what measures are in hand to solve our plight through universal adoption, rather than changes to property law or regulation of managing agents.
I/We would also like to direct you towards the campaign group Home Owners Right Network who have been working tirelessly to raise awareness about the issue of unadopted estates for a number of years, and who have been recognised as stakeholders in this matter as they are representing thousands affected just like us.
I/We would welcome a meeting with you to discuss this matter further.
Kind regards
Name/ Signature
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