The freeholder of Metcalfe Court, in Romiley in Cheshire, has dropped its opposition to right to manage

Metcalfe Court, a retirement site in Romiley in Cheshire is the latest Peverel managed retirement site to win right to manage.

Yesterday the Tchenguiz Family Trust withdrew its counter-notices to the RTM notifications which means the RTM will take over management of the block on February 20 next year.

The result vindicates the efforts of Maureen Young and Mo Beach, of the residents’ association, who are also directors of the new RTM, although others are likely to be elected.

The RTM was organised by Macclesfield managing agent Pauline Jones of Jones Associates, which is accredited to the Leasehold Knowledge Partnership.

“We are absolutely delighted that the freeholder decided to withdraw the counter-notices, which means the RTM can go ahead without taking the issue to tribunal,” said Pauline Jones.

LKP / Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation recommended that the legal work be carried out by Margarita Madjirska-Mossop, of Mayfield Law, who is very experienced in RTM issues.

The residents chose directly to employ professionals rather than engage a supposedly low cost right to manage facilitator that undertakes to pay all the legal bills. This meant that they were in the driving seat of the process – and could hit the brakes at any point. This is an important consideration where RTMs can face a legal challenge from a freeholder.

Metcalfe Court has had previous run-ins with the freeholder (Fairhold) over whether or not to retain a live-in house manager, for which two ballots were held.

Curiously, at this particular site the Tchenguiz Family Trust / Peverel appeared to want to retain a live-in house manager. The residents were eager to dispense with the service, having felt let down during an emergency.

Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation involved the local LibDem MP Andrew Stunell, who attended the offices of the Tchenguiz Family Trust property interests in London’s Mayfair to witness the counting of the votes.

Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation warmly applauds removing Peverel from the management of a Tchenguiz Family Trust freehold – from whom Peverel obtains perhaps 75 per cent of its business.

In no sense are residents the “customers” of Peverel in these circumstances.

Congratulations to all for achieving this excellent result.

Related posts:

Knights Court wins RTM after Peverel dropped the action … Mere Court residents should vote as they wish, but tell Peverel it cannot sell the house manager’s flat until its ownership is clear MP tells Metcalfe Court it has won ballot to end live-in house manager After the furore at Mere Court, another Peverel site rebels in Knutsford