A trio of Cheshire homeowners have sparked a national campaign for leasehold reform after discovering hidden costs and difficulties selling their new-build properties. Katie Kendrick, Cath Williams, and Jo Darbyshire's experiences highlight the 'feudal' system of ownership that has trapped many residents with escalating expenses.
Cath Williams, 69, a retired university lecturer from Ellesmere Port, was unaware her property was leasehold when she bought it nearly a decade ago. The term 'leasehold' was reportedly missing from promotional materials and only added to her paperwork in pencil by an estate agent just weeks before completion.
Homeowners under these structures often face unexpected charges for even minor alterations. Permission fees payable to the freeholder can increase over time, while ground rents escalate substantially, sometimes rendering properties unsellable or difficult to remortgage. Williams later discovered that freeholds on her estate had been sold, potentially costing homeowners thousands of pounds.
This campaign has exposed systemic problems in the new-build sector, where selling houses on a leasehold basis has become widespread. Industry observers warn this trend creates significant obstacles for homeowners attempting to sell or remortgage their properties, mirroring broader property market concerns, such as recent tenancy legislation changes.
The collective efforts of these three campaigners have intensified pressure for legislative reform of the leasehold system. Their movement highlights a wider issue where developers and housebuilders have profited from selling freeholds to investment firms, leaving homeowners with financial burdens and a depreciating asset. This grassroots initiative is one of several emerging in response to property ownership structures that impose considerable costs on new-build homebuyers.