Skip to main content

Want to take over the management of your building?

Our E-Learning platform has modules for leaseholders looking to manage their own building using a RTM company.

Find out more here

Message from LEASE Chair Roger Southam – November 2016

You will be aware, I would hope, of the changes LEASE and Park homes have undergone over the last two years. I am hugely proud of the team for the great work they are undertaking and the delivery of the exceptional service for initial advice. We have a new website that is easier to use and receiving very good feedback. Changes will continue as we strive to improve our service delivery and as we seek to educate, inform and advise leaseholders and professionals.

The board and our team meet regularly to assess and review our plans and our progress. We are well aware that not everything will be right first time and we monitor and measure our activity; making tweaks as necessary to build a service that is meeting the needs of the leaseholders and park home residents.

There are a lot of challenges coming forward and a cursory glance at a couple of the latest Upper Tribunal decisions shows the importance of leaseholders knowing the provisions of the lease they are buying. The first case said Airbnb could not be put into a flat for renting out; the second decided there was no right for a leaseholder to rent out their flat. Both cases hinge on the specific wording in the relevant leases. Both cases show the importance of knowing what you are buying and making sure you can use such as you wish to.

This will also lead to the necessity for estate agents to have greater leasehold knowledge to avoid misdescriptions should someone want a leasehold property as a buy to let and finds they cannot, once embarked on due diligence. Of course, it has long been held that estate agents should have great knowledge of leasehold and more information for potential purchasers. This is one of the areas we will keep working on with professional bodies – to educate estate agents and improve sales information. This will build on the single side information sheet produced at the request of the Competition Markets Authority study which was always seen as a starting point and now with the Upper Tribunal decision, clearly needs building upon.

We will be increasing the frequency of our newsletters, this being the first of our monthly production. Thank you to all the team at LEASE and Park homes, they do a magnificent job and whilst we won’t please all of the people all of the time, the commitment is enormous and the dedication to serving the leasehold market is without question.

We are here for leaseholders and professionals and we look forward to being of assistance to you through our online services, our training, and our phone booking service in order to help you avoid problems.

LEASE is governed by a board, appointed as individuals by the Secretary of State for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities.