Southport councillors welcome changes to rules governing home owners

Southport councillors welcome changes to rules governing home owners

Southport councillors have welcomed new government changes to new-builds being sold as leasehold properties.

Cambridge Ward Councillor Pat Keith, who along with her colleague. Sue McQuire, led a local cam- paign against new leasehold properties, welcomed the government’s proposed ban – but sounded a warning for current buyers.

The Government has announced that all new build houses will not be allowed to be sold as lease- hold with Communities Secretary Sajid Javid labelling the system as ‘feudal.’

Councillor Pat Keith said: “I have been alarmed by the increase in this leasehold scam and the clandes- tine nature of all involved, which include developers, estate agents and solicitors so I’m delighted that some long overdue action is now being taken.

“But while the Government decide on what steps to take in the future, my concern is for those cur- rently caught up in this leasehold financial web and others who are currently embarking on property purchases.