PRESS RELEASE FROM ALISTAIR STRATHERN MP
MONDAY 2nd SEPTEMBER 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Alistair Strathern, Labour MP for Hitchin, has again expressed dismay at private estate management practices, and unadopted roads, after visiting an unadopted estate in Lower Stondon managed by FirstPort, and called for the management company, CBC and the developer Bovis Homes to work together to bring an end to issues once and for all.
Mr Strathern visited a private estate on Redrow Croft, Lower Stondon which is managed by FirstPort. Residents there pay hundreds of pounds a year in management fees, but have real concern about the quality of maintenance work done, overflowing bushes and trees, holes in the pavement and unkept communal areas. The estate is an example of a much broader, national problem.
Many new build estates across Mr Strathern’s constituency, and the country, are, fleeceholds, meaning they are unadopted by local councils and managed by private management companies, like FirstPort. Residents often pay hundreds, or even thousands a year in fees to maintain communal spaces that would typically otherwise be covered by their council tax. Some private estates are resident-managed, but many are not, and face high fees and minimal communication from often unaccountable and underperforming management companies.
Mr Strathern welcomes the Labour Government’s plans to regulate fleecehold and also tackle leasehold, where residents own their home, but not the land it sits on, but believes that should not prevent local stakeholders from showing the leadership needed to resolve issues in the meantime.
Alistair Strathern MP said:
“The uncut grass land, holes in pavements and drains overflowing with plants today in Lower Stondon was another frustrating example of the issues of fleecehold and unadopted estates.
“During my time as an MP, I have visited many of these estates with deteriorating roads, and public infrastructure, all while residents pay huge sums in maintenance costs.
“Residents should not pay have to pay sky high fees for next to nothing in return.
“I am glad Labour have committed to finally tacking this issue affecting new build estates across the country.”
“This shouldn’t stop local stakeholders from acting though, so I’m calling on FirstPort, CBC and Bovis to tackle the issues raised by residents, and will be working with homeowners to hold them to account.”
Notes to Editors:
You can see a picture of Alistair meeting with a resident on a FirstPort estate in Lower Stondon.
You can see a tweet by Alistair after his visit to the FirstPort estate, here
Mr Strathern has been campaigning for change for these estates since becoming an MP. This included becoming a member of the Leasehold and Freehold Bill earlier in 2024.
ENDS
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