Barratt Developments, Countryside Properties, Persimmon Homes and Taylor Wimpey are facing enforcement action for potentially breaking consumer protection law
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is launching enforcement action against the four housing developers it believes may have broken consumer protection law in relation to leasehold homes.
The move comes after the CMA uncovered troubling evidence of potentially unfair terms concerning ground rents in leasehold contracts and potential mis-selling.
It is concerned that leasehold homeowners may have been unfairly treated and that buyers may have been misled by developers.
The CMA’s action relates to the following areas of concern:
Mis-selling
- Ground rents – developers failing to explain clearly exactly what ground rent is, whether it increases over time, when increases will occur and by how much.
- Availability of freehold – people being misled about the availability of freehold properties. For example, the CMA found evidence that some people were told properties on an estate would only be sold as leasehold homes, when they were in fact later sold as freeholds to other buyers.
- Cost of the freehold – people being misled about the cost of converting their leasehold to freehold ownership. When buying their home, the CMA found evidence that some people were told the freehold would cost only a small sum, but later down the line the price had increased by thousands of pounds with little to no warning.
- Unfair sales tactics – developers using unfair sales tactics – such as unnecessarily short deadlines to complete purchases – to secure a deal, meaning people could feel pressured and rushed into buying properties that they may not have purchased had they been given more time.
Unfair contract terms – ground rents
- The use of unfair contract terms that mean homeowners have to pay escalating ground rents, which in some cases can double every 10 years. This increase is built into contracts, meaning people can also struggle to sell their homes and find themselves trapped.
Alongside these issues, the CMA will also be looking further into ground rent increases based on the Retail Price Index (RPI) and may take enforcement action should it find evidence of unfair practices in relation to these.
The CMA will also be investigating certain firms who bought freeholds from these developers and have continued to use the same unfair leasehold contract terms.
The CMA has written to Barratt, Countryside, Persimmon, and Taylor Wimpey outlining its concerns and requiring information.
‘Unacceptable to take advantage of homebuyers’
Andrea Coscelli, chief executive of the CMA, said: “It is unacceptable for housing developers to mislead or take advantage of homebuyers. That’s why we’ve launched today’s enforcement action.
“Everyone involved in selling leasehold homes should take note: if our investigation demonstrates that there has been mis-selling or unfair contract terms, these will not be tolerated.”
Alongside its enforcement action, the CMA is also sending letters to a number of other developers, encouraging them to review their practices to make sure they are treating consumers fairly and complying with the law.
Property developers are rushing into towered buildings instead of showing some respect to the people buying from them..
Bricks and mortar supported the old buildings whereas cladding supports the new buildings. The old buildings are solid safe and cheaper. The new builds are dangerous and pose fire risks, making them totally unsafe, yet are more expensive.
By making rooms so small for no room to put a dining table is even more dangerous when trying to escape from a fire.
These developers should be investigated.