RTM London postponed until 2012
05th September 2011
We regret to announce that our co-sponsor Carlex has withdrawn from participation in RTM London. We had hoped to continue the event but related legal issues have forced us to cancel the conference and exhibition for 2011.
The RTMF is planning regional events to promote RTM throughout 2012 and it is expected that at least one of these will take place in London.
RTMF and Carlex jointly promote the first RTM conference
12th April 2011
On the 6 Sept 2011, The RTMF and Carlex are holding a conference at the Kia Oval, Kennington. The event will be the first of its kind held in London on Right to Manage. More information will be posted soon. Subsequently you can e-mail info@rtm-conference.org.uk. Tickets for the event will be available soon.
RTM continues to gather pace in retirement blocks...
10th January 2011
The RTMF enjoyed a very successful 2010 for RTM in the retirement sector. Abuse by exploitative landlords and managing agents continues to drive more and more flat owners to exercise RTM and appoint their own management company. Over 2,000 lease-holding flat owners have used the services of the RTMF at an average of almost one RTM per week. The interest in RTM is undoubtedly assisted by the publicity given to leasehold issues in the media and by residents’ actions groups like Carlex, which has been at the forefront in exposing the immoral practices of rapacious landlords and managing agents like Fairhold, Peverel and Anchor.
We recently reported the success of Guardian Court, Banbury, which with RTMF assistance achieved RTM on 30th November 2010 having selected Macclesfield based Premier Estates to manage the estate in place of Anchor Guardian. Recent estates to leave Peverel Management with RTMF assistance are Haven Court, Exeter and Great House Court, East Grinstead.
Both these estates selected Bristol based Kingsdale Group to manage their properties from 30th November 2010. Earlier in the year Kingsdale was selected by Ennerdale Court, Wanstead and Rudmore Court, Portsmouth, both of them using the RTMF’s no-cost RTM scheme to help them part with Peverel. Peverel repeatedly asserts that there are estates that left them through RTM only to return when subsequent management companies fail to meet expectations, but we have yet to be told which estates they are, if they even exist. To the contrary, our experience is that all estates that have left Peverel have benefitted by improved services and service charge savings. Riverbourne Court, Sittingbourne who are now managed by Grange, are happier than ever they were under Peverel and have not looked back since voting to exercise RTM in early 2009 following personal visits and disingenuous statements from Peverel’s managing director, Keith Edgar.
The other assertion frequently made by Peverel is that estates going RTM do not achieve the forecast savings. The evidence is to the contrary. Another ex-Peverel estate, Vyeson Court, Ramsgate, instructed the RTMF to handle their RTM in April 2009. They selected Housing 21 to manage the estate from 3 companies that tendered. Their costs are down, they are saving thousands of pounds a year on insurance alone, they have a new estate manager and their service is vastly improved, with better communication and greater transparency. Resident Director Neville Galliford said “I would encourage all leaseholders suffering poor services to consider RTM and not be deterred by the hostile tactics of landlords like Peverel”.
The trend to RTM is set to increase pace during 2011, due to a number of factors. Firstly the continuing failure of landlord owned management companies to get their house in order, Peverel and other Consensus companies being the prime example. The RTMF was recently invited to a Peverel managed block of flats where there was a large hole in a water-stained ceiling and a bucket on the stained carpet underneath to catch dripping water. Having initially thought this was due to the current snow fall we were astounded to learn it had been like it for 11 months since the heavy snow last January!
The other consideration prompting retired leaseholders to exercise RTM is the increased economic pressure. A large number of leaseholders are on a fixed pension and persistent increases in service charges coupled with high ground rents and unreasonable (if not illegal) charges for house managers’ flats are the final straw that is breaking their backs. The situation will undoubtedly worsen in 2011 as increased food costs, heating costs and council tax put a further burden on retirement finances.
The third contributory factor is the failure of government to address the plight of retired leaseholders. Recent statements by Housing Minister Grant Shapps have made it clear the only way change will happen is if leaseholders bring it about themselves. RTM is by far the easiest achievable solution to retirement leasehold problems and retired flat owners everywhere are now considering RTM, not only for the substantial benefits that will ensue but also to send a loud and resounding message to offending landlords and managing agents that enough really is enough.