LAMBETH LIB DEMS CALL FOR “END TO FLEECEHOLD” AS NEW POLICIES ANNOUNCED

The raft of policies announced include establishing rights for homebuyers to ensure access to building repairs and strengthening accountability for building inspectors to prevent reckless sign-off. Read the policy motion in full here.

Cllr Donna Harris, Leader of the Lambeth Liberal Democrat Council Group, warned that the current leasehold system has “woefully failed” to protect tenant rights as events in recent years such as the cladding scandal have highlighted. Having seen the problems from her own casework mailbag, she added that the party’s changes would be “long overdue”.

Cllr Harris said:

“Local residents in Lambeth pour their entire life savings into owning a leasehold yet are left to pay extortionate costs and in some cases will be living in unsafe buildings unable to access vital repairs.

“It is clear the current leasehold system has woefully failed to protect tenant rights. We cannot wait for more scandals to happen before we finally do something. Change is long overdue.

“That is why the Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government urgently to get a grip on building safety standards, better regulate developers and put an end to fleecehold once and for all.”