We are sold a dream and often find a nightmare on new build estates. One of our members has written this poem which expresses what many of us feel :-
We bought a dream home ,
It was a new build
We thought our dreams were all fulfilled
The developers deceit became at large
When We found out there was a service charge
It was all legal how can this be
We discovered there’s was a permission fee
This was shocking news to me
To pay for consent for a conservatory
You own the house but not the land
This was difficult to understand
So then we joined HORNET & the NLC
To find there were thousands duped like me
With predatory investors waiting to swoop
On new build leaseholds where people are duped
Developers we trusted and their legal teams
We soon found things were not what they seemed
We don’t own the house only the lease
And ever since we had no peace
Council tax & estate fees untold
We realised we only bought fleecehold
The government know this system is wrong
But their promise of reform is taking too long
With a new housing minister year on year
They make out they listen but don’t seem to hear
They know this feudal systems not fair
But they turn a blind eye
They don’t seem to care
But bit by bit we are chipping away
And they’ll soon have to act on what we say
This white collar crime and capitalist reign
Will bring them all down and they’ll feel our pain
Hopefully one day there will be commonhold
And all the investors companies fold
And the greedy bastards all end up broke
With all the ill gotten gains up in smoke
Hopefully they look to the future with dread
With the housing market turned on its head
Home owners in charge of where their money is spent
And not have to pay a penny ground rent
And all the dodgy Manco’s going bust
Replaced by local firms we can trust
With itemised bills for all the work done
With no extra charges and estates well run
Only then we may live the dream
And hopefully all HORNET & NLC teams
Ian Rice
