Dear Robert The issue of developers inviting homeowners to buy their leasehold and setting a 2 year timetable for them to achieve this from the date of purchase has raised its head on the BPRG Facebook Page. It seems that in respect of Badbury Park the use of selling as leasehold became more prevalent. We are establishing the actual basis of why the owner bought as leasehold rather than as freehold. If I remember correctly the Government have previously advised that they will ban the selling of new homes (house / building sold for single family occupation (not flats)) and also controlling the amount that can be charged by the Freeholder where the sale of the Freehold was / is sold onto a third party who is not the leaseholder. However my enquiries lead me to believe that the Government has not taken any action in creating an act of Parliament to enforce this in law. I would appreciate if you could advise why this legislation has not yet been enacted and what plan the Government has for its enactment. Whilst I can understand the complexity in regard to legislation in regard to leasehold property already sold. I cannot understand why legislation to ban by law the sale of new leaseholds has not been enacted as it would have I would submit all party support and simply require a law comprising no more than a paragraph. We have also come across the position of developers insisting on a potential purchaser being advised that if they do not use the Developers solicitor or nominated solicitor they cannot buy the property. I believe this also should be outlawed and you could achieve this in one stroke where the Government Help to Buy Scheme is being used. Hopefully you will confirm what action the Government is taking to protect the buying public. Regards Malcolm
Dear Robert The issue of developers inviting homeowners to buy their leasehold and setting a 2 year timetable for them to achieve this from the date of purchase has raised its head on the BPRG Facebook Page. It seems that in respect of Badbury Park the use of selling as leasehold became more prevalent. We are establishing the actual basis of why the owner bought as leasehold rather than as freehold. If I remember correctly the Government have previously advised that they will ban the selling of new homes (house / building sold for single family occupation (not flats)) and also controlling the amount that can be charged by the Freeholder where the sale of the Freehold was / is sold onto a third party who is not the leaseholder. However my enquiries lead me to believe that the Government has not taken any action in creating an act of Parliament to enforce this in law. I would appreciate if you could advise why this legislation has not yet been enacted and what plan the Government has for its enactment. Whilst I can understand the complexity in regard to legislation in regard to leasehold property already sold. I cannot understand why legislation to ban by law the sale of new leaseholds has not been enacted as it would have I would submit all party support and simply require a law comprising no more than a paragraph. We have also come across the position of developers insisting on a potential purchaser being advised that if they do not use the Developers solicitor or nominated solicitor they cannot buy the property. I believe this also should be outlawed and you could achieve this in one stroke where the Government Help to Buy Scheme is being used. Hopefully you will confirm what action the Government is taking to protect the buying public. Regards Malcolm