<a href="https://www.lease-advice.org/article/leasehold-and-freehold-reform-act-2024/">https://www.lease-advice.org/article/leasehold-and-freehold-reform-act-2024/</a>Islington Leaseholders Association
Leaseholders of Islington ex-local authority properties and our aim is to to ensure that Islington Council, its managing agent(s) and Partners, provide leaseholders with a better service and value for money
I have been a leaseholder with London Borough of Islington for over 40 years and have been subjected to unjustified charges for repairs and major works.
The most recent estimate I was upset to receive was a bill of up to £44,00 and had to work with the council to reduce the scope of the works without resorting to legal action. The LBI know leaseholders can rarely afford legal action. This abuse of power puts low-income leaseholders such as I at risk of bankruptcy and homelessness.
LBI in 2024 followed up with another letter for Major Works to take place during 2025 which had previously been undertaken in 2019. With the support of the Islington Leaseholders Association I was able to challenge the Major Works schedule and these works were eventually withdrawn, but only after waiting a agonising eight months for a decision to be made.
I currently exist in a state of financial insecurity, and a constant state of anxiety and worry. I worry for my mental health as I am unable to ever switch off living in a never-ending spiral of fear, fight and eventual flight.
I live in panicked state as to whether I can afford to stay in my home in an area I truly love.
Sir, As Treasurer of the borough wide Islington Leaseholders Association Ltd., I am delighted to see that the Tribune has explicitly drawn attention, via its letters column, to the horrendous and shameful plight of leaseholders.
Following Dr Brian Potter’s article (17 October) attendance at our meetings held at St Mary’s church (second Tuesday monthly at 7pm) has quadrupled.
Sadly, recent reports of cyclical maintenance bills totalling £60,000 – £80,000 are no longer uncommon forcing residents, many of whom,
particularly elderly pensioners, have lived in the borough all their lives, to move out.
It is not surprising, therefore, that due to the misery and depression caused, some have even contemplated suicide.
Cllr Woolf’s comments regarding “consultation” procedures are at best disingenuous. So much for honesty and transparency!
Since there is no opposition in this borough to the council’s approach to billing, I, along with others, will be standing as Independent Leaseholder candidates at the next borough elections in May 2026 to challenge the present “rotten borough” situation.
Our election policy is based essentially on vigilance and constant scrutiny of all policies affecting the appalling waste of essential finances and consequent financial persecution of its residents.
Bear in mind that a well run borough is one that is the product of constant public vigilance and a strong independent opposition, which this borough does not have. It should not be blind adherence to an uncaring central party policy, with the sole objective of staying in power.
Leaseholders deserve transparency, proper oversight, and fair treatment
Dear Editor,
I am writing to inform readers that I intend to stand as an independent leaseholder candidate in the May 2026 local elections.
Over recent months, I have personally attended a number of Section 20 (S20) consultation meetings on behalf of concerned leaseholders, and I am deeply shocked by the attitude and approach of Islington Council.
s20 notices are being issued without full and proper surveys being carried out. In some cases, leaseholders are being told that new roofs are required when a simple drone survey could easily determine whether such major works are actually necessary.
Even more concerning is that unqualified individuals — some still in training — are being appointed as project managers for these costly schemes. Meanwhile, certain S20 notices are as much as five years out of date, yet the Council continues to push forward with the projects and expects leaseholders to pay tens of thousands of pounds.
At the monthly Islington Leaseholders Association (ILA) meetings, many residents are now expressing serious distress — including stress, anxiety, and depression — as a direct result of the Council’s handling of these issues. People feel ignored, overwhelmed, and financially trapped, with little to no meaningful support or communication from those responsible.
This situation is unacceptable and demands urgent scrutiny and reform. Leaseholders deserve transparency, proper oversight, and fair treatment — not outdated paperwork, questionable assessments, and indifference to the human cost of these failures.
** Leaseholders deserve Fair Representation in this borough **
17 leaseholders stand as independent Councillors in local elections on7th May
This borough‑wide commitment, aims to bring, Accountability, Transparency, and value for money, to local Services, Major works, and Cyclic Maintenance charging.
After years of being ignored, and grossly overcharged by our council, ALL candidates are now calling for genuine representation (inclusion) that listens to residents, notjust their tick box tactics…!!!
Allcandidate are standing independently, but on a shared commitment to responsible spending, to enforce fair treatment, and genuine communication with all Islington residents.
Dr Brian Potter said it was disgraceful that the council won’t take bookings from the ILA
A FAMILIAR face is looking to upset a council by-election contest with the message that leaseholders are being treated as the “magic cash cows”.
Dr Brian Potter, the chair of the Islington Leaseholders Association (ILA), revealed this week he will be among the candidates on the Junction ward ballot.
It is the third council by-election in six months and comes in a year when voters have already taken part in the London and general elections.
Dr Potter is furious that the council has told the ILA that it can no longer book the Town Hall in Upper Street for its meetings.
It has held one there every month for the past 10 years.
“It’s disgraceful,” said Dr Potter who says the organisation, which represents a third of those living in the borough, no longer has a place to meet.
The action came after the ILA said it was un-invited to a council-run “home owners’ event”. Dr Potter decided to hand out leaflets for an ILA meeting outside this event, and at this point was approached by a council officer telling him that the association would not be allowed to use the space.
Dr Potter said: “We’re the best-attended meeting in the borough and now they won’t let us have a room. It’s crazy.
“If they were to do that to anyone else, it would go viral.” He added that he would be “getting on the internet” to spread awareness of the injustice.
The Town Hall say, however, that Dr Potter was not barred from the event last week and claim that the ILA can no longer use the council chamber because it does not represent the council.
The ILA advocates for the rights of leaseholders in the borough and says they are often hit by repairs bills totalling thousands of pounds that they cannot afford.
Dr Potter said: “We get extremely bad works, and the cost given by the council to leaseholders is astronomical and unjustifiable.
“The council are letting the contractors run riot. The billing is absolutely crazy.”
He added that his campaign in the Junction ward would raise awareness of the ILA and encourage “any leaseholders with problems” to contact the association.
“They just see us as the magic cash cow, we just keep producing money but it doesn’t matter what you do, you can’t justify these bills,” he said.
An Islington Council spokesperson said: “Here in Islington we’re determined to ensure that everyone has a safe and decent place to call home.
“As part of that we work closely with leaseholders to provide the best quality service, to keep them updated on any works that are being carried out and to ensure that these works offer value for money.
“We know that local people, including leaseholders, know their borough better than anyone and we’re committed to listening to their views.
“That’s why we’re in the process of setting up an independent Leaseholder Forum, which will give leaseholders the opportunity to share their views with the council, hold us to account, and be properly governed.”
The known candidates declared so far for the Junction by-election are James Potts from Labour, Rebecca Jones for the Liberal Democrats, Devon Osborne for the Greens, Jackson Caines from the Islington independents and now Dr Brian Potter.
Any other candidates need to have applied to stand by today’s (Friday’s) deadline.
