Readers have expressed strong concerns about the leasehold system in England and Wales, responding to a Guardian article on the National Leasehold Campaign. They highlight financial vulnerabilities and lack of regulatory protections for leaseholders.
Development disruptions and powerlessness
One reader described how the freehold to their block was purchased by developers who announced plans to build new flats on top of existing homes. Despite appeals, leaseholders were powerless to stop the development. Since May 2025, residents have faced restricted daylight due to scaffolding erected six months before work began, trespass above flats from poorly secured access, water ingress caused by thieves stealing copper, evening and bank holiday work, and blocked access from work vehicles. The reader noted that the local council has little power to deal with complaints, and the local MP's office merely forwarded replies from freeholders that did not address the issues. They stated: 'This is the reality of having a leasehold flat: you are basically a second-class citizen in the eyes of the freeholder, council and government.'
Financial loophole in service charges and reserve funds
Another reader, a director of a right-to-manage company, pointed out a financial loophole affecting millions of flat owners. While the proposed draft commonhold and leasehold reform bill introduces caps on ground rents, it fails to protect leaseholders' service charges and reserve funds. Under current regulations, if a managing agent's client accounts are frozen, compromised, or mismanaged, leaseholders are left exposed. Regulators, industry bodies, and banks simply pass the buck, leaving residents without immediate access to their own capital to fund essentials such as building insurance or utility bills. The reader warned: 'Hundreds of thousands of pounds of collective savings from a block can vanish or become trapped overnight, with absolutely no regulatory safety net.' They urged the government to mandate a transition to true commonhold, stating that only then will flat owners genuinely control their homes, buildings, and funds.
Role of solicitors questioned
A third reader praised the women who brought about changes in the law but expressed surprise that the role of solicitors is not scrutinised more. They noted that if a solicitor had allowed them to sign a contract containing a doubling clause—comparing it to the story of the rice on the chessboard—without pointing it out, they would take the solicitor to court for professional negligence. Given that solicitors are often recommended by developers, they seem to have been acting with a conflict of interest, according to the reader.
