Housing Secretary Michael Gove’s promise that no leaseholder in a building above 11 metres (around four to six storeys) will “ever face any costs for fixing dangerous cladding” is progress at last towards shifting the terrible financial burden of this four-and-a-half-year-old scandal off leaseholders.
Over the past four days the world of property has descended on the picturesque French city of Cannes for the 30th MIPIM property festival. The annual property jamboree on the French Riviera is a place where deals get done, relationships get built and the odd glass (or hundred) of sparkling wine gets drunk.
Over the next three months millions of pounds worth of London property will go under the hammer during the annual spring auction season.
With the Brexit shambles denting confidence and buy-to-let landlords squeezed out by higher taxes, buyers are facing less competition in the battle to secure the best homes in this year’s sales season.
Julia Jude, 48, a psychotherapist who has two grown-up daughters, bought a small Victorian terrace for her and her youngest daughter, Elyse, who is now 22. As often happens, Julia bought in Forest Hill, the area of south-east London she knew and liked. Even though there was nothing wrong with the house, according to Elyse it felt “like a dolls house” and the rooms were dark.
