The Law Commission is examining ways of making it far less complicated for leaseholders to excercise a Right To Manage.
For too long, leaeholders have been exposed to the underhand ,abusive and predatory practices of freeholders and their managing agents such as Firstport.
In essence on many developments Firstport were appointed by the freeholders (who owned them) to manage those developments.
Profits made by Firstport could then be passed to the freeholder. The greater financial need for the freeholder, the more the pressure on Firstport to devise schemes to increase income from leaseholders.
Hence the overcharges,poor service, and the fraud that was the price fixing scandal.
That is why leaseholders who have excercised a Right To Manage, have found savings of at least 30% on their previous Firstport service charges.
And that is why, Firstport have put up the most ridiculous objections to Right To Manage actions, and have been obstructive in the extreme.
The Law Commission is mindful of the sharp practices of Firstport and are keen to simplify the process of Right To Manage.
Spurious objections will not be entertained.
The adminstrative process will be simplified.
Costs will be reduced
Multi block applications will be allowed
Home owners will be brought into the scheme
Mixed developments with commercial areas will be included.
Given that most of the developments managed by Firstport are by freeholder imposition, anything that makes it easier to escape from their clutches ha to be good for the leaseholder and very bad news for Firstport.
And it should not be forgotten, that Firstport have been forced to sell their safety net (the leaseholds on 275 house manager's flats) and their backers have quit.
