Is it time for CALAFEX?
By admin | February 1st, 2010 | Category: Past Articles | 4 commentsRegular TheTruthAboutSolitaire contributor ‘ArchAngel’ posted the following in reference to our campaign against Solitaire / Peverel.
You have done, and are doing, a fantastic job of highlighting everything that is wrong and unjust with this particular property management company. However as many of your regular subscibers and visitors know, Solitaire is but one of severel companies linked to Peverel and ultimately owned by Consenus Business Group. There are many other property management companies not related to CBG that may also require some attention.
Have you considered taking a more generic approach (like CARLEX) with the focus on the key issue (leasehold / property management exploitation)so that all concerned leaseholders can access your site and not just those who are currently under the yoke of Solitaire?
There are many, many leaseholders who are probably blissfully unaware that the freehold of their lovely new apartment block was recently sold by the developer of the site to a “company” (that was able to raise an massive bank loan) along with 27 other residential site freeholds across England and Wales? (Yes your freehold and the other 27 freehold sites are jointly now basically owned by the bank that issued the loan.)
BUT they will realise soon what has been going on and will begin to hunt around on the web for sites like this. BUT how will they find TTAS if they are not managed by Solitaire?
Some of you may remember that we mentioned late last year, that we were considering starting a campaign called ‘CALAFEX’ (Campaign Against Leasehold and Freehold Exploitation), which would not only aimed at Solitaire / Peverel, but across the board for all Leaseholder and Freehold homeowners, with properties managed by property agents.
Following ‘ArchAngels’ comments, we would like to ask whether anyone is in support of us initiating this campaign, so that as ArchAngel say’s – we follow the route that CARLEX has taken and are succeeding in their fight for retirement homeowners?
We already have the website domains: CALAFEX.co.uk and CALAFEX.com – so it would purely be a matter of collating information to go on it?
TheTruthAboutSolitaire, welcomes your comments and thoughts (plus any support you can offer, in setting about this motion!!)
Finally….
Thanks again for those that have signed and supported the No.10 Downing Street Petition. The support of this continues to grow and we are currently at 800 supporters!
Thankyou once again and if you haven’t already done so, sign the petition at the following link:
Go Admin GO
I am in agreement with ArchAngel as the problem is nationwide with management companies and not only CBG group.
As the name is similar I am wondering how Carlex would take it? Have you asked them for their input?
Some of us would have relative/s, parents or grand parents living in a managed care or shelter homes so it would be the right branch to launch further campaign whether someone owns a managed property or not.
Basically on our site is youth apart from a few like me as “serial complainers”( “Dribbling Geriatrics”) on the other side some of them have time and looking for stimulation and wondering if both of you can join forces while keeping both sites as they are with additional pages attached for the nationwide coverage .
MY focus campaign would be on the following points:
1. To lobby all the builders nationwide forcing them to register a Limited Company for Owners Association. The membership to the Association to be included in the sale price.
If their are many blocks in the development then having a Master Owner Association to take care of the communal area who can appoint Management Company . The board would be 1 director/member from each block Association. The right of the lessor (landlord) in the lease to be transferred to the master Association for the communal area. It would keep the present format lease intact as it is.
The land for the block has to be transferred free of charge to the Association of the block ( not to be sold to the landlord) after the block is finished. They must include the land price in their sale price of the property in the first place.
2.One stop assistance to fight the right to Manage.
3. To stop the exploitation of the leaseholders ( any age) to get better deal.
4. To get the nationwide press behind with a campaign to tell the new buyers that they should only buy property if the builder is willing to include registered Limited Company with Owner Association or they are refusing to buy. They do not wish to enter into fight the right to mange or buying the land back after the block/deployment is finished.
5. If Admin could have a leaflet ready to download for the builder to drop at their sale team for the new deployments. This will send the message that they have no choice but give in.
My message: Owners rule while landlords be ready to be removed
You all know who I am. You get what you see in me or should I see you read. Currently I am writing on the site to help others. I have no professional expertise in business. If you think I can help then contact me.
I have always felt we have power in the sheer number of leaseholders who feel unhappy/frustrated/helpless. We need to channel this power and take on these people who are answerable only to themselves, and see us as cash cows. This website is helping all of us (some young, some not so young) to be aware that we are great in number. While even my own MP himself says these companies are a licence to print money he seems unable to make change happen.
It is high time we had an organised group to spearhead a big campaign and force the powers that be to make changes and give us back control over the companies that should be providing a service at a competive price to all instead of holding us to ransom.
Landlords many of whom just take over large number of properties on developments, must be made aware how beneficial change will be. It is high time they stopped looking at the short term gains (of rental income) and looked at the long term. These landlords by their apathy make us weaker. They need to come on board too.
I feel sure we could fill a football stadium. Let’s do that and bring in the media, lets tell our stories showing the evidence we have. Let us name and shame!
I agree we need a nationwide campaign and to simplify my proposal is:
1.THE BUILDERS:
•The price of the land to be included in the sale price of the property.
•To create lease where the power of Lessor (LAND LORDS) in the lease is given to a Limited Company. The Land to be given back to the owners in the form of SHARES ISSUED by the limited company
•THE OWNERS ASSOICATION’S DIRECTORS OF THE BOARD TO RUN THE LIMITED COMPANY.
• This ASSOICATION has the right to hire or fire any management company.
2.THE LANDLORDS: The current landlords to agree to allow the smooth RTM if anyone wishes to go.
3.CURRENT MANAGEMNT COMPANIES: to be regulated and to be investigated.
We should send the message to the builders if there are no limited companies created in the lease and the land is not given to the leaseholders then we are campaigning to stop the buyers to buy your properties because we want the exploitation stops here.
Hello Nicky Vogg (the famous, fighting Nicky Vogg!!)
I agree with the points you make regarding the changes that need to be made around leasehold/freehold and management of developments of apartments and flats (subject only to the fact that all parties ahve a right to some protection and to defend themselves in law).
Battle stations – let battle commence!