We want to see positive change in our industry - read on to find out more
In a week when all the political parties are setting out their stalls and manifestos are popping up all over the place, at Ringley we have taken the time to produce one of our own.
Yesterday, we blogged about the changes in the industry that ARLA and the NAEA want to see taken up by the new government. Today, it?s our turn. Despite moves to reform both leasehold and the rental sector, there is still a long way to go to ensure that landlords, tenants and flat owners get a fair deal. So here is how we think our industry could be changed for the better.
IF a house has to be sold leasehold, ban ground rent on it. We accept that Crown land may require leasehold sale, but there is no excuse to burden house owners with ground rent and leases of less than 999 years.
BUT
Don't ban ground rents on new build flats or set them at zero. If freeholders have no income to gain from their leasehold properties this could lead to an abdication of care and the potential to take no interest in the condition of the buildings, health and safety or compliance issues. None of this would benefit leaseholders.
Change the qualification criteria for freehold purchases, to ensure that all buildings can legally qualify for a freehold acquisition by the leaseholders or the Right to Manage process.
Give houses the opportunity to challenge estate charges. Like apartment leaseholders, house owners should have the right to challenge unfair charges at the FTT.
AND
Introduce Right to Manage for houses on estate developments.
Hurry up the New Homes Ombudsman scheme to ensure that owners receive transparent and fair treatment.
Regulate how client money is held. Too many letting and managing agents are not subject to RICS checks which, for example, require a three-way bank reconciliation and client balances to be proven monthly.
We would also like to see a whole tranche of new legislation to right the wrongs that, we as property managers, have to deal with every day:
02/09/2020
Author : Mary-Anne Bowring
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