.@michaelgove CONFIRMS £250 GROUND RENT CAP

In comments to @e_casalicchio earlier, the Levelling Up Secretary bats away media reports of @hmtreasury @Jeremy_Hunt @BimAfolami resisting ground rent reform, saying a £250 cap is going ahead.

What about the transition to peppercorn? pic.twitter.com/qShDBzVb5U

— Free Leaseholders (@FreeLeasehlders) May 21, 2024

I am mightily impressed by Michael Gove in this answer to respected journalist Emilio Casalicchio. There is nothing productive about the finance of residential freeholds, it creates financial hardship for those who hold the leases to the great benefit of oligarchic freeholders.

Striking #leasehold stats here via Barclays –

💥 Just a third of those paying service charges/ground rent feel their fees are affordable;

💥 Nearly one in four leaseholders were not aware of the rate their fees could increase prior to purchase … /1 👇https://t.co/iV9TPd8U6f

— Stuart Coster (@StuartCoster) May 9, 2024

Ground rents are a leftover from a feudal past where only freeholders voted and tenants were treated as second class citizens.

The historic and legal roots of the Leasehold legal status spelled out here. It was a system designed to keep serfs and workers firmly in their place. Nothing has changed. ⁦@FreeLeasehlders⁩ https://t.co/fOl3QAkSfv

— Norma Cohen (@NormaCohen3) May 14, 2024

The problem for the country is that the holding of freeholds is the sport if not of kings – of Dukes and Chancellors

The chancellor

He has 7 residential properties controlled through a company shared with his wife. A. conflict. of. interest. He’s protecting his interest. Sod everyone else. pic.twitter.com/8GW9nwVdx2

— I think (@DBater29508) May 15, 2024

The Duke

Duke of Westminster’s firm accused of ‘vilifying’ resident in housing row. Leaseholders charge they are being forced to pay Service Charges that Grosvenor Estates agreed to pay itself in exchange for planning permission. https://t.co/RjCZmlUGOm

— Norma Cohen (@NormaCohen3) May 20, 2024

London leaseholders can point to this graph for the disastrous consequences of their subjugation to the freehold tyranny

The ruin of the leaseholder is in sharp contrast to the prosperity of those owning freeholds.

Can there be any better epitaph to the disastrous final term of this 15 year  Conservative Government than this?

In the face of looming defeat,  it is all the more commendable that Michael Gove continues to fight for the rights of leaseholders.