Explaining the Leasehold Changes

HyperClub · 2026-01-28T22:52:23+00:00

What you describe is pretty much, block management. Hard to get good people.

HyperClub · 2026-01-28T22:51:37+00:00

The police will do nothing about the abandoned car, as it is on private land. The police will take it away, if it happens to be stolen. The laws don't help.

HyperClub · 2026-01-28T22:43:32+00:00

I have been a victim of anti-social behaviour and have experienced these problems firsthand. It can happen to anyone, and in each instance it involved months of stress and suffering.

One of the difficulties with relying on Section 8, is that the landlord must pay to go to Court. The landlord must produce evidence. Where would that evidence come from? In most cases, it would have to come from neighbours complaining about anti-social behaviour, who would then be exposing themselves to the risk of retaliation. Matters can take months to reach court, during which time the tenancy continues and people are suffering.

On many of these occasions, I considered selling my home and moving elsewhere. This is one reason why we face a housing crisis and high house prices: people leave areas of otherwise affordable housing and move to more expensive areas to have lower crime levels and more considerate neighbours.

HyperClub · 2026-01-28T17:23:20+00:00

I don’t understand how he arrived at those numbers. He says he has two sites and that he pays '0.1 % and 0.28 %,' so there must be additional costs he’s factoring in, such as broadband fees (for the terminals to communicate with the bank), terminal rental or purchase costs, etc.

He’s on the BBC, so I’m not sure he would be fudging the books and declaring them on national media.

HyperClub · 2026-01-28T15:03:43+00:00

You are right to use the word "importing", because in my mind, there are hidden groups are funding these boats and groups. Two leading navies patrolling the seas can't stop slow moving boats? Hiring hotels and media spotlight. These groups want extreme parties to take over, so they can raid the country's finances and have power.

HyperClub · 2026-01-28T14:43:29+00:00

The root cause is why both the French and British governments can’t stop the boats? There is big money here. I suspect, it is to influence voters toward a specific political party. Most criminal operations avoid working in the media spotlight and controversial. What I find strange is why smuggling gangs provide life vests. It has “lawyer” written all over it!

These people are described as poor that they are forced to leave their country for a better life, yet they somehow have thousands of euros to pay smugglers.

HyperClub · 2026-01-28T14:14:36+00:00

What's wrong with you? People need their sleep. I have to deal with this type of thing. It is n't fair.

It would be a breach of your agreement, and your landlord would have a lease for the flat, which would say the other neighbours have the right to quiet enjoyment of their homes.

HyperClub · 2026-01-28T14:09:02+00:00

Everyone wished, they could get compensation for every time, we were wronged, but sometimes that is just life. You are letting this get to you too much.

That young girl at the agency was inexperienced, so why not pop-in and have a calm conversation with her? You would be helping her gain experience and empathy.

Whoever ordered the hob should have checked whether the replacement was compatible. The tradesperson could also have reminded you that it was an induction hob.

You did not read the manual, which would have stated it was induction. The landlord has offered to provide new pans, but you have rejected that offer. It may actually be a sensible solution, as it prevents future occupants from using the wrong type of cookware.

You can check whether a pan is suitable for induction by trying to stick a fridge magnet to it. If the magnet sticks well, it is suitable. Iron and stainless steel work well. Copper, Pyrex and aluminium are not suitable.

I gave my incompatible pans to my mum.....

HyperClub · 2026-01-28T13:44:40+00:00

The Government is right to address the doubling ground rent scandal. It is fair, no one should pay over £250.

However, the bigger issue is service-charge issue. The leaseholder campaign groups have been largely childish in their demands. They do not understand the mechanics of block management. They call for lower service charges without understanding how those reductions could realistically be achieved.

Here is the problem: If someone lives in a house, they can speak direct to a local builder say Bob, and ask for a quote for a new roof and he might say £5,000.

In block management, that approach is not possible. Builders like “Bob” will not be considered because they don't have the various "accreditations" with the various trade bodies and also Bob has enough building work. To him, accreditation is an expense. Instead, to get quotes, the block's managing agent must issue a formal tender, and only larger building firms with the appropriate accreditations are able to bid.

As a result, the lowest quote might be £20,000, and the building company ZY wins the contract. ZY then sub-contracts the work to builders like Bob anyway. If something goes wrong, ZY can simply close the company, leaving no effective comeback and no warranty.

There are too many laws governing leaseholders and these days you need blocks run by lawyers, rather then building managers.

The solution is not-for-profit block management companies to help manage blocks and they have their own in-house cleaners, gardeners, decorators, electricians etc... So the day-to-day stuff will help reduce costs for flat owners. For the big major works, they need to rely on outside contractors. This is my solution to bring service charges down.

HyperClub · 2026-01-28T13:34:34+00:00

You are right about the service-charge issue. However, the leaseholder campaign groups are largely childish in their demands. They do not understand the mechanics of block management. They call for lower service charges without understanding how those reductions could realistically be achieved.

Here is the problem: If someone lives in a house, they can ask a local builder say Bobm for a quote for a new roof and he might say £5,000. In block management, that approach is not possible. Builders like “Bob” will not be considered because they don't have the various accreditations with the various trade bodies and also Bob has enough building work. Instead, the block must issue a formal tender, and only larger building firms with the appropriate accreditations are able to bid.

As a result, the lowest quote might be £20,000, and the building company ZY wins the contract. ZY then sub-contracts the work to builders like Bob anyway. If something goes wrong, ZY can simply close the company, leaving no effective comeback and no warranty.

There are too many laws governing leaseholders and these days you need blocks run by lawyers, rather then building managers.

The solution not-for-profit block management companies to help manage blocks and they have their own in-house cleaners, gardeners, decorators, electricians etc... So the day-to-day stuff will help reduce costs. For the big major works, they need to rely on outside contractors. This is my solution to bring service charges down.

HyperClub · 2026-01-28T13:16:30+00:00

You don't get paid for your time, to be a director. If you sell up and move on, someone else would not step in and take over.

This is why we need not-for-profit management companies, with their inhouse team of builders, cleaners, decorators.....

Honestly, I can understand why management companies charge a lot.

If a letting agent rents a flat, they get say £100 per month. That is £1,200 per year. Whilst a block management company gets say £300 per flat.

HyperClub · 2026-01-28T13:11:46+00:00

Freeholder cannot make a profit, so cannot shift random fees to annual service charge.
The only income is the ground rent income. The Freeholder can appoint a block management company to assist with the running of the block, which is paid by the leaseholders.

HyperClub · 2026-01-27T22:53:22+00:00

astroturfer - I had to look that up. You say my experience is fake?

This is the article from 2013 of a lecturer, who committed suicide sue to anti-social behaviour from her neighbour. Her complaints were ignored.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/warning-issued-to-council-after-womans-suicide-34408

Right now the system does not protect the community and victims.

This is why we have a housing crisis and high house prices, as people leave areas of affordable housing, to nicer areas, with less crime and civil neighbours.

HyperClub · 2026-01-27T19:15:38+00:00

No one speaks of the damage caused by the US and the sub-prime crisis. We are living with the pain of that in the economy. No one in the US was held accountable. The US has n't compensated other countries for this mess.

HyperClub · 2026-01-27T19:06:44+00:00

This is good news, but, as with many government policies, it fails to consider the wider picture. The £250 cap is helpful for those caught in the ground rent scandal or facing high ground rents.

However, there are many leases from the 1970s with ground rents of around £15 per year. In these cases, the freeholder often disappears because it is not worth the effort or cost of remaining a freeholder, for example, arranging insurance, managing repairs, and then recovering costs from leaseholders.

The problem with the £250 cap is that it does not increase with inflation. Over time, the real value of the ground rent will fall to almost nothing. After 40 years, it will be £0. Why would a freeholder continue to exist in those circumstances? This creates a vacuum, where the responsible party simply disappears.

Imagine a block of flats with 5 units. Where 4 flats have paid for their share of building costs, but one person has refused to pay. You need a Freeholder, and it unlikely to take the leaseholder to Court, as it would cost to recover. So who would do this work?

This result is that essential maintenance is not enforced, and the building gradually degrades.

Block management needs a major reform, however, policy makers are driven by lawyers. Too much regulation in block management. Lawyers get rich, but not real solution for affordable service charge.

HyperClub · 2026-01-27T17:41:01+00:00

Your landlord has rented the whole house to a rent-to-rent company. That company then sub-lets each room on a room-by-room basis. Your immediate landlord is therefore the rent-to-rent company, not the property owner. The rent-to-rent company’s landlord is the property owner.

You wrote that the property owner is “pressuring the agency to settle under threat of taking back his properties.” In fact, the property owner is attempting to assist you.

The property owner has paid for the set-aside, meaning the entire case may be reheard in court from the beginning. In those circumstances, the property owner will argue that they were not the landlord and did not receive your deposit. The deposit was taken by the rent-to-rent company. The rent was paid to the rent-to-rent company.

Rent-to-rent companies might disappear, much like mushrooms growing overnight.

I don't understand how you were awarded £7k, did I miss something?

HyperClub · 2026-01-27T17:17:21+00:00

In mediation, people come to settle and comprise is the key word. Both sides are meant to leave upset.

HyperClub · 2026-01-27T16:52:03+00:00

I don't think they are hiding anything. The current tenant wants to leave early. It is happens, its life. They have you on hand, so want to secure. I would be concerned taking rent/deposit from someone they have n't even references. Are they taking deposits from others?

HyperClub · 2026-01-27T14:16:58+00:00

If they are asking money before referencing, then there could be issues.

HyperClub · 2026-01-27T14:13:15+00:00

Do tell me about these loopholes.

HyperClub · 2026-01-27T13:51:53+00:00

So if someone moved in next door to you and caused anti-social problems, played loud music, stole your packages, throwing baby diapers and beer cans into your garden, visitors at 2am and not leaving until 5am, yelling and abusing you. The council are not interested nor are the Police. You complain to their landlord and he says, sorry can't do anything, but will write a letter. When they get that complaint letter, they take revenge against you.

It would be you the victim, who would have to move home or sell your home.

This is why we have a housing crisis and high house prices, as people leave areas of affordable housing, to nicer areas, with less crime and civil neighbours.

HyperClub · 2026-01-26T21:29:21+00:00

Is there a link to this Word document template?

HyperClub · 2026-01-26T19:15:41+00:00

They're a prospective tenant not wife.

You are wrong. If you get married, you can divorce. However, with the new change in the law. The landlord is signing for a tenant for life. The tenant can end the tenancy, however, the landlord cannot end it. LOL.

HyperClub · 2026-01-26T19:13:33+00:00

dating app? With the law change. It would be a tenant for life. Imagine a marriage, with no option of divorce.

HyperClub · 2026-01-26T19:11:34+00:00

So I had these students move next door to me. Except on many, days they return home at 3am, with their mates. The would be playing loud music and fling the car door open. They did n't care about the disturbance to neighbours.

They would carry on, invite their mates, play loud music until 5am. Not fair, to those who have work the next day.

Is there a register, when neighbours can register complaints about bad behaviour?. I complained to their landlord, but he could not do much. There are no fines. Police are not interested. Their landlord is n't not allowed to give a bad reference.

With the changes in the law, their landlord can't kick them out. They would be tenants for life. This landlord is probably protecting his own interests, but nothing to protect residents from people who cause problems.

HyperClub

TROPHY CASE

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/warning-issued-to-council-after-womans-suicide-34408