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Landlords ‘looting' millions of leaseholders under Labour

Landlords ‘looting' millions of leaseholders under Labour

Telegraph3 days ago
Labour is allowing England's five million leaseholders to be 'looted' after stalling on its pledge to abolish the centuries-old system, campaigners have warned.
A series of reforms aimed at boosting leaseholder powers have been unveiled by the Government, but critics argue they will fail to deliver change.
Under new rules, leaseholders will be able to more easily challenge extortionate service charges, which they are required to pay to cover the upkeep of shared areas in their building.
The new proposals – labelled 'performative nonsense' by campaigners – come after Labour previously rowed back on a commitment to abolish leasehold within 100 days of taking power.
Housing minister, Matthew Pennycook, said the party still plans to bring the 'feudal system' to an end, but a timeline on the pledge has not been made clear.
The smaller reforms have been proposed in a new consultation unveiled by Angela Rayner's Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
It says leaseholders will receive a standardised service charge documentation each year which will spell out clear and detailed information about how their rates are calculated and spent.
This is hoped to 'make it easier for them to challenge unreasonable bills, and potentially save money where expenses are unjustified'.
Further reforms are aimed at stopping leaseholders who have successfully challenged their bill from having to automatically pay for landlords' litigation costs.
Property managers will also be forced to qualify as professional practitioners for the first time.
Mr Pennycook said: 'This bold package of reforms will arm leaseholders with greater rights and protections, and empower them to challenge poor practice and unreasonable charges and fees.'
But Harry Scoffin, of the campaign group Free Leaseholders, said the proposals do not go far enough and leaseholders will continue to be 'looted' by landlords.
He said: 'There is this endless number of consultations. The Government is investing all of this energy on tweaking the current system, rather than abolishing leasehold. We will continue to be looted.
'It's a real worry. Leaseholders are exhausted, and do not want to spend years of their life becoming serial litigators challenging their landlords, which is what would happen here.
'The Government says the reforms will strengthen the arm of leaseholders, but this won't work. These tribunals aren't friendly and leaseholders are sometimes up against KCs, literally the creme de la creme lawyers in the land.'
Posting on X, Jay Silva wrote: 'More dithering. Why do we need more consultations? How many more of them do successive governments want?'
Another user labelled the proposals 'performative nonsense'. They said: 'You said you would abolish leasehold and have not. This is more stalling.'
Last October, Mr Pennycook warned that leasehold reform could take as long as five years, describing it as a 'whole of Parliament commitment'.
In its manifesto, Labour said it would 'ban new leasehold flats and ensure commonhold is the default tenure'. The party went on to reiterate this promise in the King's Speech, also promising to regulate ground rents and to 'act quickly' to implement its reforms.
In May 2023, Lisa Nandy, the former shadow housing secretary, said a future Labour government would bring forward legislation to abolish leasehold within 100 days. But in April, the party quietly dropped this pledge.
The Leaseholders Charity said the Government's latest proposals – which are out for consultation until the end of September – were announced 'with as much enthusiasm as a visit to the dentist'.
There are 4.8 million leasehold properties in England, equivalent to a fifth of the country's housing stock. In 2023-24, leaseholders paid an average annual service charge of £1,720, but some costs spiralled to five figures.
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Thursday briefing: Why young people fear ‘there's nothing here for us' in England's coastal towns
Thursday briefing: Why young people fear ‘there's nothing here for us' in England's coastal towns

The Guardian

time28 minutes ago

  • The Guardian

Thursday briefing: Why young people fear ‘there's nothing here for us' in England's coastal towns

Good morning. A few weeks ago, 18-year-old Tamsin Jarman-Smith, born and raised in a small town just outside Blackpool, sat on a battered sofa at House of Wingz, a community youth organisation tucked down an alleyway a few streets from the beach, and explained what it felt like to be a young person growing up in a coastal town. 'I'm lucky because I found this passion for dancing and I come to this place, which has saved me I think, especially my creativity and hope for opportunities for myself, but lots of people my age feel like there is nothing here for them,' she said. 'Everyone just tells you that your town is crap and that the only good things about it is the tourist attractions but they're not even for the locals. There aren't many good jobs, the housing is bad, not many people can afford to leave. Lots of people just feel trapped.' Research shows there are good reasons for them to feel this way. Young people in seaside towns in England and Wales are markedly more likely to face deprivation, poor housing, lower educational attainment and fewer employment opportunities – and, in England, are almost three times as likely to struggle with an undiagnosed mental health illness as their peers inland. This week the Guardian launched Against the Tide, a year-long reporting project aiming to explore why teenagers and young people in coastal towns and communities across the UK are so disproportionately worse off in so many areas of their lives. For today's newsletter I talked to Avril Keating, professor of youth studies at UCL's Institute of Education, about the issues affecting young people in our coastal towns and what needs to change. Europe | Talks over a British and French migration deal remained deadlocked on Wednesday night, as negotiators haggled over how much Britain will pay towards the cost of policing small boat crossings. UK news | Campaigners have decried as 'dangerously naive' the UK government's sweeping deal with Google to provide free technology to the public sector. Europe | Police have raided the headquarters of France's far-right National Rally and seized documents as part of an investigation into alleged illegal campaign financing. UK news | Thames Water has refused to claw back almost £2.5m paid to senior managers from an emergency loan that was meant to keep the failing utilities company afloat. Housing | The Bank of England has rolled out looser mortgage rules that policymakers hope will help 36,000 more first-time buyers on to the housing ladder each year. In recent years the fate of coastal towns has emerged as one of Britain's most pressing social issues, one that successive governments have recognised but failed to address. Formerly thriving towns now consistently dominate UK government deprivation statistics. Some researchers we talked to described a 'salt belt' of deprivation that speaks to a broader lack of resources and social and public infrastructure – conditions that corrode and limit opportunities and aspirations. According to UCL's Avril Keating, young people in these communities – meaning 15- to 25-year-olds – are some of the most affected. 'These are young people who are trying to figure out how to become independent adults in places that tend to have very limited opportunities,' she said. 'They often feel that these towns have nothing to offer them and they have been left behind – and in many ways they are right.' What are some of the biggest challenges for young people in coastal towns? When asked why she thought young people in seaside towns were so markedly worse off than their peers inland, Keating said there was a combination of issues at play: crumbling public services; insufficient local transport infrastructure further isolating young people in 'end-of-the-line' towns; seasonal coastal economies providing temporary employment in the summer months but then nothing for the rest of the year; and generational unemployment and household poverty. One youth policymaker in St Ives told Keating's researchers that the seasonal job opportunities for young people are 'like a glass ceiling – but it's made of ice-cream and chips and pastries. For many young people it's limiting.' The lack of opportunities coupled with the physical decline of their towns and the stigma of being associated with deprived communities – feeling like, as one young person in Blackpool described, 'just this poor person living in a shithole' – leads many to believe that their only option is to leave. 'These are places where local people often feel a strong connection to their town, but what was surprising to see from our research was that so many young people felt that they had to move away to make something of themselves,' she said. The 'brain drain' of young people from coastal communities not only leaches these towns of future entrepreneurs, business owners and skilled workers, but leaves the dilemma of 'what happens to those who want to leave, but can't', said Keating. 'It can create a feeling of being trapped, a sense of hopelessness, and this can lower pride and aspiration.' Research has shown that young people in the most deprived coastal areas are suffering from worse mental health problems than those inland, have higher levels of self-harm and are more likely to die from drug poisoning. What do young people themselves say they need? Over the past few months, Guardian reporters (including myself) have begun to travel to coastal towns to talk to young people about their lives. Older teenagers in Southend-on-Sea talked about how hard it was to live in a town where the seafront was busy with tourists enjoying the beach, while shops on the high street were boarded up and all the youth clubs were closed. 'There is nothing here for us. The only good stuff is for the tourists. It's just not a place I'd want to raise a family,' said one. Cohen, an 18-year-old in Grimsby, said he was happy living there but was struggling to find a way of building a life for himself. 'It's not easy to get jobs here,' he said. 'I've been looking for the past few months but I keep getting turned down. I recently applied for a job at a local holiday park, but was told it had already been filled.' Yet we also met many young people who had found good reasons to stay, often through finding local community groups that allowed them to build their confidence and aspirations. Lisa February, a 25-year-old from Grimsby, decided to stay when she found a local theatre group helping aspiring young artists across north-east Lincolnshire. 'I don't see a version of my life living somewhere else,' she said. 'I feel a responsibility to the place that has given me all these opportunities.' What needs to change? Keating said it was clear from her research that young people in English coastal towns – whether they tourist resorts or former fishing or shipbuilding communities – had 'almost universally been marginalised and ignored in both local and national debates and policies about the factors that shape their own lives'. She said investment and public money was almost always directed to other groups – such as older people or young children – and that the shuttering of youth services and support programmes was a 'real scandal, considering the enormous challenges facing young people and the deprivation that many of them are facing'. Keating said young people overwhelmingly needed to see that their lives were valued and be given something to do and a place to go. This meant urgent investment in youth services and subsidised travel, better education opportunities (her team's recent report cites Camborne as an example of where a new university has supported the retention of young people in the area), and – crucially – listening to young people about the future of their towns. 'We need stop ignoring them',' she said. 'It's a cliche to talk about young people as the future but if you're not investing in young lives in coastal communities you're shoring up bigger problems down the line. How can you expect anything to change for them or their communities?' Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Read more in the year-long series Against the tide here. I was gripped by this interview by Anita Chaudhuri with Joanne Briggs about her father's extraordinary journey (pictured with her above) from being a well-known scientist to a liar and fantasist. Aamna Diplomatic editor Patrick Wintour asks if the bromance between Trump and Putin is over and what this could mean for Ukraine – and the rest of the world. Annie For 100 years the Welsh have been Labour's most loyal voters, but, as Bethan McKernan explores, could Plaid Cymru and Reform finally be breaking their grip? Aamna This is a chilling but important read from Judith Levine looking at the potential transformation of Ice into the largest domestic police force in the US. Annie Britain is still far from being a totalitarian state, Owen Jones argues, but the arrest of an 83-year-old retired vicar for holding a placard in support of Palestine Action signals a troubling drift towards authoritarianism. Aamna Football | It was England 4-0 Netherlands in the women's Euro as Lauren James starred and Jess Carter's move to centre-back worked perfectly. Jess Fishlock scored Wales's first goal at a major tournament but the European debutants were beaten 4-1 by France in Group D. Tennis | Iga Świątek held her nerve to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals for the first time, holding off a bold fightback from Liudmila Samsonova to claim a 6-2, 7-5 victory. Belinda Bencic will face Swiatek in what is also her first Wimbledon semi-final after holding her nerve to beat the 18-year-old sensation Mirra Andreeva 7-6, 7-6. Novak Djokovic was given a fright by the lively young Italian Flavio Cobolli before coming through 6-7 (8), 6-2, 7-5, 6-4; while Jannik Sinner beat Ben Shelton 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-4 to reach his fourth grand slam semi-final in a row. Formula One: Christian Horner has been dismissed as Red Bull's team principal. Horner, who has led the team since its inception in 2005, will be replaced by Laurent Mekies, the principal of sister team Racing Bulls. 'Anglo-French migration deal hangs in the balance' says the Guardian print edition while the Times predicts a result with '50 migrants a week will be sent to France'. Top of the bulletin in the Financial Times is 'US tech boom propels AI chipmaker Nvidia to become first $4tn company'. 'Geri's F1 husband shunted out' says the Metro because Ginger Spice is more interesting than Christian Horner. 'Benefits pay more than being in work' – that's actually a comparison between the minimum wage (not the average wage) and 'full handouts' (unemployment and sickness benefits) in the Telegraph, so 'Benefits CAN pay …' would seem more accurate. But that doesn't stop the Daily Mail: 'Proof work DOESN'T pay under Labour'. The i paper has 'Labour will target rich but won't call it a wealth tax, says minister'. The Express vents 'Fury at junior doctors' strike'. The Mirror features the 'Astonishing bravery of Southport children' as retold at the public inquiry into the stabbings. Is it time for a wealth tax on the super-rich? After changes to the welfare reform bill failed to save money, the millionaire Dale Vince thinks it's time for people like him to contribute more to the public finances. Arun Advani considers how a wealth tax could work and if it's time for Labour to introduce one. A bit of good news to remind you that the world's not all bad The Bayeux tapestry will return to the UK for the first time in more than 900 years, as part of a landmark loan agreement between Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron. The tapestry, which comprises 58 scenes, is widely believed to have been created in England during the 11th century, and was likely commissioned by Bishop Odo of Bayeux. This 70-metre embroidered cloth vividly depicts the 1066 Norman invasion and the Battle of Hastings, in which William the Conqueror claimed the English throne from Harold Godwinson, becoming the first Norman king of England. The tapestry will be displayed at the British Museum starting in September next year, in exchange for key Anglo-Saxon artefacts, including the treasures from the Sutton Hoo ship burial, the Lewis chessmen and other invaluable relics. Sign up here for a weekly roundup of The Upside, sent to you every Sunday And finally, the Guardian's puzzles are here to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow. Quick crossword Cryptic crossword Wordiply

Cheshire East Council 'slow to respond' to issues, says panel
Cheshire East Council 'slow to respond' to issues, says panel

BBC News

time29 minutes ago

  • BBC News

Cheshire East Council 'slow to respond' to issues, says panel

A body set up to advise and challenge a Cheshire council has said the authority "continues to be slow to respond" to some of its issues, although it has made progress in some independent assurance panel was created following a report into Cheshire East Council last summer.A report from the panel said the council had acknowledged and "responded openly and positively" to its issues but it appeared to be "overwhelmed by the challenge".Cheshire East Council, which will discuss the report at a meeting on Monday, said the panel had "recognised the council's commitment to improvement". The independent assurance panel was set up following a corporate peer challenge of the council, conducted by councillors and staff from other local panel has met six times, and has published its first progress update on the said it recognised and welcomed the council's commitment to it said that while "recognising the good progress that has been made in some areas", it was accepted by the panel and the council that "improvement is not where the council would have wished it to be at this juncture". 'Remain unclear' The report said pace was a "significant issue" and also that the council did not have a "single, prioritised and resources improvement plan setting out how it will address the challenges it faces".It also said that savings in the authority's transformation plan - which was passed last August - "remain unclear to the panel"."The council have, as yet, been unable to articulate what these savings are or when they will be delivered," the report panel also said it was concerned that Cheshire East's involvement in the devolution for Cheshire could "remove capacity from the improvement journey".Cheshire East Council has faced financial difficulties in recent years and was given a best value notice by the government in May, which is a formal notification of its concerns. A spokesperson for Cheshire East Council said: "The panel has recognised the council's commitment to improvement and positive collaboration between political leadership and senior officers to drive change."The panel also recognised the challenges the council is facing and the work we still need to do to meet these challenges. "They highlight the pace required, the need to coordinate our wide-ranging improvement work through a single outcome-focused plan, and to build on our relationships with the panel and government departments to provide clear assurance around our progress." See more Cheshire stories from the BBC and follow BBC North West on X. For more local politics coverage, BBC Politics North West is on BBC One on Sunday at 10:00am and on BBC iPlayer.

North Yorkshire visitor numbers up as £4bn tourism economy grows
North Yorkshire visitor numbers up as £4bn tourism economy grows

BBC News

time31 minutes ago

  • BBC News

North Yorkshire visitor numbers up as £4bn tourism economy grows

More than 32 million people visited North Yorkshire during 2024, a 3.8% increase on the previous year, according to North Yorkshire authority said the tourism sector was worth more than £4bn annually, supporting more than 38,000 full-time jobs. The analysis will be used to drive forward a 10-year vision for the county's visitor economy and help target areas of growth, the council said. Leader Carl Les said: "The new figures clearly show just how important the visitor economy is to North Yorkshire." Among the locations to see a boost in visitor numbers was Castle Howard, which recorded a 10% increase during summer 2024 thanks, in part, to a series of events including a sculpture exhibition, the council said. The stately home's visitor attraction director, Abbi Ollive, said: "Castle Howard had a record-breaking year in 2024, with visitor numbers exceeding pre-pandemic levels for the first time."We are delighted to have seen this growth last year and to be working on programmes of events that bring people to this destination and that contribute to the local economy."A destination management plan was launched last October and is the first ever overarching strategy for tourism in the plan is being developed by Visit North Yorkshire, a destination management and marketing organisation that is overseen by North Yorkshire council's head of tourism Tony Watson said: "A great deal of work has already been done by the team to reach the targets set out in the destination management plan. "We are committed to driving forward the visitor economy, as it is so important to North Yorkshire." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.

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