Ruth Cadbury MP used a speech in Parliament on the 23rd May to speak about the injustices facing leaseholders across her constituency. In a speech that covered the high cost of service charges, to poor property maintenance, Ruth highlighted the huge injustices facing leaseholders locally. She focused particularly on the huge costs facing leaseholders who have seen both their service charge, and building insurance rise in recent years.
Ruth 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 Ruth 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 Ruth 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These problems stem from the outdated and antique leasehold system in England which is full of holes.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leaseholders locally have a strong voice in Parliament and to put pressure on the Government to finally reform these outdated and antique laws.’’