March 9, 2025

OFT announcement on exit fees not as “substantive” as we all hoped … oh, and the timing has “slipped”

OFT website outlining the agreement is here http://www.oft.gov.uk/news-and-updates/press/2012/77-12  When the Office of Fair Trading finally says something about the issue of exit fees, it won’t be concerning the whole leasehold sector but only one single company. This information has been given to a Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation / LKP activist in an email from one […]

Pay back my £1,150 exit fee, or we are off to court

Veteran Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation supporter Susan Wood is considering legal action against the retirement development landlord Fairhold on the thorny issue of exit fees and wants back £1,150. The case concerns her deceased father’s flat at Kings Court, in Sheffield, where Wood and her two siblings were charged two per cent exit fees […]

OFT promises ‘substantive announcement’ on exit fees in August

A letter to a Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation activist reveals that the Office of Fair Trading, whose seemingly interminable investigation into exit fees has lasted three years, will be making a “substantive announcement” in August. The news comes in a letter of July 11 from Martin Harvey, of the “Retirement Homes Investigation Team”. But […]

Hanover: we wanted court case on exit fees, but OFT doesn’t

Devastating criticism of bungling OFT investigation by housing association that manages 17,000 retirement properties By “Barrack-room Lawyer” The Hanover Housing Association, which manages 19,000 retirement properties, has issued a devastating criticism of the Office of Fair Trading for its bungling investigation into exit fees. The transfer fees that leaseholders pay when retirement properties are bought […]

Exit fees: second response to Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation from the OFT

  Anyone having to pay stealth charge exit fees on selling – or letting – their retirement flat may wonder whether John Fingleton, chief executive of the Office of Fair Trading, is worth his £279,999 salary. The OFT has been written off as toothless several times. It obviously just hoped the retirement flat issue would […]