One of my favourite parts of being a councillor, is going out talking to residents every week and finding out what improvements they want to see, both in the community and at a national level.
The Conservative’s cost-of-living crisis often tops the list of issues with the root cause being the spiralling cost of housing and unexpected costs associated with being a leaseholder.
It isn’t just Liz Truss’ catastrophically inept budget which caused mortgage interest rates to shoot through the roof that is worrying homeowners; it is the hidden management fees, service charges and ground rents – which are a particular problem in newer estates.
Management companies can dictate whatever fees they like for their housing stock, and leaseholders are powerless to stop this; they are stuck in a devastatingly unfair system which needs reform.
Too many residents are stuck in this financial trap making the dream of home-ownership far removed from the reality.
The Conservatives refuse to take tough enough action on management companies; they are simply not on the side of leaseholders.
Labour has an ambitious and radical plan to improve rights for leaseholders which will make a real difference to thousands of people in the borough. Labour MPs are pressing for reform including a proposal to end the sale of new private leasehold houses and a system to replace private leasehold flats with commonhold.
This would immediately give residents more control of the buildings and areas they live in, and stop the extortionate fees to management companies.
This would be a transformational policy which would change the lives of countless people trying to get by.
A Labour government would legislate for a cap on ground rents as well as enforcing greater transparency on service charges by publishing a list of reasonable charges. This would be pivotal in empowering residents to challenge rip-off fees, poor conditions and inadequate performance by service companies.
All of these policies revolve around a transfer of power away from greedy management companies to residents which is long overdue.
Residents in Shinfield and across the borough are crying out for these changes. Sadly, there is little the council can do to force the hand of these management companies, only national legislation will make a difference.
Even the Liberal Democrat leader of the council, at the January meeting, spoke of the need for a change of government after the next general election to have any chance of getting this much-needed progress for leaseholders.
That’s why it’s more important than ever to elect Labour representatives at all levels of government. New Labour MPs in the borough will deliver a transformational policy agenda in government on housing, but it needs to be supported by local Labour councillors.
Together, we can realise this reform which will transform the ownership rights and living standards of thousands of people across the borough.
Cllr Andrew Gray is Labour party ward member for Shinfield North on Wokingham Borough Council
