11/01/2026
As Aster push on with the second wave of works, I urge you all to fill in this template and send it to the addresses I have listed below
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
11th January 2026
Dear Kit Malthouse: [email protected]
You maybe not be aware but Aster Communities are now proceeding with another wave of Maintenance which includes faulty workmanship repairs from the previous major works which cost each of the 125 Kingsway Gardens residents £35,000. They suggest that it may total a minimum of £8,000. Each. We cannot sustain this anymore. The properties are already in negative equity and cannot be sold as a result of the previous major works. No mortgage company will touch these properties. We are trapped!
We have also asked to see proof of our sinking fund is being managed as per the required legal requirements this has been ignored on numerous occasions.
As one of your constituents I am writing to let you know how deeply disappointed I am that the government failed to publish the draft Leasehold and Commonhold Bill before the end of the last parliamentary session which ended on 18th December 2025.
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed stated the draft bill would be published “by the end of the year” but this never happened resulting in leaseholders facing yet another Christmas in Leaseholder Limbo, left totally in the dark, feeling abandoned and angry. The lack of action leaves me questioning whether real change will ever happen. The situation is unacceptable and untenable.
Leaseholders are not just awaiting the draft, Bill; they are awaiting secondary legislation to switch on the much-needed Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 (LAFRA). The provisions of LAFRA would make a real difference to many existing leaseholders. A few of the important provisions include:
• Removing Marriage Value
• Banning Leasehold Houses
• Make it easier, cheaper and quicker to buy the freehold or extend the lease
• Increase lease extension term from 90yrs to 990yrs
• Improve service charge transparency
In addition, we are still awaiting the government's response to the capping of Ground Rent Consultation and urgent action on regulation of managing agents.
Leaseholders have been extremely patient over many years, but patience is wearing thin. This government’s own manifesto was of ‘Change’, promising to abolish feudal leasehold and establish Commonhold as the default tenure. Leaseholders have lost faith that change will ever come irrespective of who is in power. Existing leaseholders are terrified of being left behind.
Whilst the government ponders and consults time and time again, the system continues to allow leaseholders to be exploited through numerous ways including extortionate service charges, escalating ground rents and over inflated lease extension and freehold purchase valuations.
The silence from the government on the issue of capping Ground Rent as part of these reforms has added to the ongoing anxiety for leaseholders who continue to be trapped in unsellable properties. There are strong suspicions that Ministers in MHCLG are being aggressively lobbied by freehold investors to keep the status quo. This is not acceptable. We need all politicians to be on the side of leaseholders and not those intent on exploiting them and using our homes as cash cows. Enough really is enough.
I would be happy to share further details of my case with you to be used in Parliamentary debate or written questions to the housing minister.
As my MP I urge you to use your position to raise both written questions and questions in the House to ensure the draft Leasehold and Commonhold Bill is presented within the first few weeks of the New year. Additionally, we urge you to keep pressure on the government to switch on LAFRA in 2026 so existing leaseholders can be RE-LEASED from the shackles of leasehold.
There should not be any barriers to this, as the recent Judicial Review (JR) found firmly in favour of the Government's reforms, and Matthew Pennycook has stated on record that appeals against the JR outcome will not prevent pushing forward with implementation.
There are 5 million leaseholders in England and Wales desperate for change so that they can move on with their lives and avoid over inflated costs to extend their lease or buy their freehold. Rip off service charges is nothing short of a national scandal bringing many leaseholders to financial ruin. The future of true home ownership lies in your hands and those of all MPs - please do not let us down.
I thank you for your ongoing support to leaseholders in your constituency.
(YOUR NAME)
(YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS)
(YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER)
I am a member of the National Leasehold Campaign (NLC) that currently has 34K members taking part in this email initiative. (https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1AE5ZWhokY/)
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https://www.facebook.com/KingswayGdns
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Kingsway Gardens -
Saxon Court, Stuart Court, Tudor Court, York Court & Athol Court
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much”
