Calling Islington leaseholders…

14 November, 2007 at 1:45 pm · Filed under Consumer, Neighbourhood ·Tagged ballot, HFI, Islington, leaseholders

Today’s post included an envelope with the now-familiar Electoral Reform Services logo. Not another Lib Dem election? We’ve chosen our Euro candidates, and our Mayoral candidate. Surely the leadership ballots aren’t out yet?

In fact, it’s a ballot for elections to the first ever board – called the Shadow Board – for the new Islington Leaseholders Association. Earlier this year, I was one of the leaseholders who said ‘yes’ to having such an association, so it’s good to see it’s happening.

Being a leaseholder can be the worst of all worlds, particularly when it comes to capital works. If you’re a freeholder, you have to pay for works to your home, but at least you can choose what’s done, when and who does the work. If you’re a tenant, you may have little say in the works, but you don’t have to pay for them. Leaseholders have to pay for the works, but have virtually no say over them. That’s the law; and it’s a mess.

Some extreme cases of leaseholder charges have hit the headlines; where flats are in period properties or even listed buildings and have been neglected for years (as Islington’s housing stock was until recently) then the bills for repairs can be eye-watering. HFI doesn’t shop around among small contractors, it looks for major firms who can handle major works. And while it’s true that the value of your home is increased, that’s no comfort if you don’t have the cash to pay the bills now. And there’s no magic wand – despite (broken) promises from our MP. Most leaseholders don’t face such big bills, but we all deserve the chance to have a say in the decision-making progress.

Unsurprisingly, the makeup of leaseholders has changed since the 1980s. The first generation of leaseholders were the tenants who exercised their right to buy and who have always had dealings with the Council. When the right-to-buy came in, Islington was one of the ‘loony left’ councils that made it as hard as possible for people to buy their homes; combined with a shocking record on repairs and terrible customer service, and Islington leaseholders had a rough time.

Since then, rising property prices mean that ex-council flats may be worth 10 times the discounted price paid at the time. Many have been sold on or let out to private tenants. Homes for Islington (HFI) has replaced Islington Council as the freeholder. And massive investment in housing improvements – by both the Government and the Council – is seeing major works on social housing all over the borough.

Nowadays a growing number of leaseholders are 2nd or 3rd generation purchasers, who deal with HFI as with any other freeholder, and who want a professional service. This means less of a political agenda and more emphasis on continuing improvements in information, communication, value for money, ease of payment and a general sense that leaseholders get decent customer service. One advantage of a larger freeholder is that they can use their buying power to get leaseholders a good deal on building insurance. On the downside, being one of thousands of homes means that the relationship is impersonal.

That’s where the Islington Leaseholders Association comes in. I’ve got the candidates’ election statements; as you would expect, they talk about representation, better services and value for money. I don’t know if we will get the chance to question the candidates; my questions would be:
What is your number 1 priority as an ILA board member?
How will you communicate with the majority of leaseholders who won’t ever come to meetings?
How would you like the success of the ILA board to be judged; what will have changed for leaseholders as a result of your work?

In the meantime, if you are an HFI leaseholder, look out for your ballot paper and don’t forget to vote. The papers have to be in to Electoral Reform Services by noon on Wednesday 28 November.

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