Category: The Buzz

It has been a great year for HorNet. Our membership has more than doubled to around 2500 and we are sharing and collating information with each other, and importantly the public, media and MPs.

Starting from a point where no one seemed to have heard of our plight, we ended the year with a well informed mention in a parliamentary debate on leasehold abuse from Mary Glindon MP for North Tyneside (read it here). Whilst this debate quite rightly was focused on the abuse of leasehold houses. We know that the perils of the private estate are becoming more obvious as leaseholders on new build estates try to buy their so called freehold, only to find they are out of the frying pan into the fire. One of these folks has coined the very apt term of “fleecehold”.

In the media, we have had three items broadcast by R4 You and Yours and in addition to members’ items in the local press, the issue has been picked up by the Times and the Guardian. We expect there will be more.

We have been working closely with the National Leasehold Campaign, who have done a wonderful job in highlighting the onerous clauses attached to new build leasehold houses, and will continue to campaign, with our support, for the introduction of common hold and the abolition of leasehold tenure. The next big step will be the abolition of private estates!

On the political front, individual members have been engaging their MPs and as an organisation, we have submitted responses to two government consultations. We continue to lobby ministers and the All Party Parliamentary Group on Leasehold and Common Hold Reform.

A huge thank you to everyone who has taken action of any sort – keep it up – we are getting there!

None of this would have happened without the effort and commitment of you, our members.

Moving in to 2018…..

Numbers matter, so get your neighbours to join, engage with other local new build estates, help with our coordinated email campaigns and if you haven’t already done so, please submit your estate details.

Government is slow to act, a change in the law could be forced by a legal challenge – 2018 will be a good year to make this happen with your support.

Wishing all HorNets seasons greetings. Have a great break, whether it is long or short and return refreshed for a successful 2018…

You may not realise it, but great strides have been made by members who have spent time and effort lobbying for change.  We have had articles in the national press and at last politicians are starting to get their heads round what is going on, although it will take more work from us before they have the full picture.  This has only been possible through both individual effort AND mutual support  – we are growing in strength and numbers.

We plan to publish a full round up of the year so that everyone can see where we are and what we have achieved together.

 

Sir Peter Bottomley, co chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Leasehold and Common Hold Reform is introducing a debate in Westminster Hall on Thursday 21st December. 1.30pm.

It begins “This house has considered leasehold and common hold reform and leasehold abuses”.

We all know only too well that most estate charges are too high for what is being delivered, with monopoly management companies enforcing payment via one sided vaguely written deeds/lease agreements.

Now is a great time to urge your MP to attend this debate and add to the already long list of abuses in the leasehold sector the private estate with rent charge/service charges.  This is going to become the next new scandal relating to exploitation of home owners by the plc building companies.

HorNet will be writing to Sir Peter, asking him not to leave us out. The whole business model is abusive. We believe this is “son of leasehold” and not only exploits home owners regardless of tenure, but ultimately will lead to slums of the future because the work is not being done to an acceptable standard, with no monitoring being done by councils to ensure section 106 standards are met and no line of accountability to the charge payer either.