Non-Qualifying Leaseholders push for reform

Following the Non-Qualifying Leaseholders Campaign Groups member representations including correspondence to their MPs and case studies reported by media, the government are considering an amendment to the Leaseholder Protections in the Building Safety Bill to give parity to those holding properties jointly.

Currently the act deems innocent leaseholders to be liable for some remediation costs where they own more than 3 properties including their own home.

Whilst not the solution to the many issues faced by those holding Non Qualifying leases, an amendment would be an incremental step in improving the situation for many leaseholders and the many pensioners that have invested as part of their pension provision.

We have heard regularly from members who hold their lease in a number of scenarios, including married couples, partnerships, jointly with family members, former relationships, company structures to suggest but a few.

The Department of Levelling Up Housing & Communities (DLUHC) have stated that they need to consider the impact on all relevant parties of amendments to this legislation, and that robust evidence is necessary to ensure any amendment proposed will be successful and not susceptible to legal challenges and provides enough support to confirm the political will needed to take this through the legislative process.

We are urging you now to complete this Call for Evidence. Freeholders and building owners will have the opportunity to make their views known, it is essential we have a stronger voice. Anyone can complete this but questions are limited if not a freeholder or leaseholder.

Those in joint ownership can submit for every person/entity with whom they share a lease, Land Registry allow up to 4 on title and although most we hear from own jointly with 1 other party, there are multiple other options and we need to hear from them all.

There is a very tight deadline for submission with the closing date on the 5th of April 2024, and this needs to be met to have hope of seeing an amendment in the Leasehold Reform Bill currently progressing through the Parliamentary process.

DLUHC have provided an email address for any queries relating to completing this document, and they hope to respond very quickly so that the submission you are making meets the deadline. Email: jointownershipcfe@levellingup.gov.uk if you could also please copy us in on the email, unqualifiedleaseholders@gmail.com. This will help us understand any questions and concerns before we submit our evidence on behalf of the group.

Please indicate in the comments when you have submitted evidence so we can monitor numbers. This is a chance to make a change in protections to many non qualifying leaseholders and success in this will illustrate that together we can make a difference, and take the next step towards removing non qualifying status unfairly placed on us through no fault of our own.

Link to government call for evidence form for completing here

You can also join our Non-Qualifying Leaseholders Campaign Facebook Group here

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