Leaseholders left without a voice - and out of pocket

5.07.00pm GMT Mon 18th Jun 2007

Haringey Liberal Democrats have expressed their dismay over the decision to charge leaseholders £30,000 in legal fees for a decision that blocks their say in future investment under the Government Decent Homes programme. Haringey Leaseholders' Association sought a reversal of the decision by Homes for Haringey's (HfH) not to consult them over decent homes funding. However, the verdict made by the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal on 30 th March 2007 upheld the HfH position. Now, it has been revealed that as a result of this legal action, all leaseholders will have to foot the £30,000 legal bill - and will still not be consulted.

Cllr Catherine Harris, Liberal Democrat Housing Spokesperson comments:

"I am disgusted that ordinary leaseholders are going to have to pay for this. £25,000 was spent alone on a QC, against the leaseholders association who represented themselves.

"I support the leaseholders who need to be properly consulted, because almost each and every leaseholder will be getting a bill through their door for the works carried out during the Decent Homes Improvement. And like anyone having works done on their home, they had the right to be consulted through their representatives."

Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green adds:

"The fact that the leaseholders are not being consulted is bad enough, but to now be told that they will have to pay for objecting to their treatment is appalling.

"This was always going to be a David versus Goliath challenge. But this time Goliath won - and then nicked David's wallet."