Burnham is looking at reviving the ‘Help to Buy (Votes)’ scheme, possibly trapping hapless new buyers into leasehold flat traps. https://t.co/3IKeVRgdXA

— Norma Cohen (@NormaCohen3) September 26, 2026

One of the sessions I went to this week featured Better Society Capital talking of improving the lot of those who need affordable housing to rent and in time to buy.

I’ve read about this move by this organisation to marshal pension money into pensions

My question to Better Capital and Savilles at the event in St Albans was Norma Cohen’s question. How can anyone from Prime Minister to pension capital manager, make sure that the problems that renters and leasehold purchasers don’t get caught in the trap of high ground rents, high service charges that drives up rental costs and drives down resale values.

What I wanted to know from Gemma Bourne is what Better Society Capital can do – not just with capital – but for society.

They should be listening not just to commercial and residential folks like Savills but to people who represent leaseholders, including Norma Cohen (a respected FT journalist and pension authority). If she is of certain age (I share) and you want to hear it from a youngster , try this.

But they won’t own the home if it’s another leasehold flat, living under a freeholder landlord monetising service charges.

Ending the leasehold scam was in Labour’s manifesto. This wasn’t. It will protect developers’ superprofits and spread toxic new-builds. https://t.co/44qwjhDH3h

— Harry Scoffin (@HarryScoffin) September 26, 2026

To get better housing from Better Social Capital then there must be action to ensure good money is lost in the bad money of past investments.

That better social capital can come from Government but is better that it comes from Britain’s largest and most patient source, the pension schemes we’re all in.

Pension schemes have a governance requirement to put their members first. A large scheme such as Now cannot put money into residential housing unless if is sure that the money is making a difference to renters and purchasers.