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Money blog: 'I don't feel safe living here' - UK residents sound alarm about freehold estates

Welcome to the Money blog. Infuriated residents warn of the risks of freehold estates in this weekend's feature. Readers of our new Money newsletter got an exclusive early look at the story - sign up below to join the community.

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'Astronomical' fees and 'incompetent' management: The risks of living on a freehold estate

By Jess Sharp, Money live reporter

Imagine owning your own home only to find yourself subject to regular costs, strict rules and extra fees when you try to sell.

Welcome to the world of freehold estates - a type of housing development that property experts have told Money is becoming increasingly common. 

With thousands already built across the country, families moving into them are often left with confusing terms and big bills, with the government already taking action to intervene. 

What are these kinds of properties? 

Unlike with most other freehold properties, shared areas and facilities on a freehold estate are not owned or looked after by the local council. Instead, a private management company or homeowners themselves, via an estate management firm, take on the responsibility.

Andrew Bulmer, CEO of The Property Institute, claimed this is done by some councils to avoid the expense of maintaining new housing developments. 

Responsibility for estate management is normally agreed when the local authority grants planning permission.

Residents are required to pay the management company for the upkeep of the communal spaces, as well as their council tax to their local authority.  

Costs increasing every year

A report by the Competition and Markets Authority published earlier this year found that the amount charged by estate management companies per household per year varies greatly, from around 拢60 to just under 拢1,000 in 2022.  

It found that charges had been increasing significantly year-on-year. In some cases, they doubled or trebled if a new management company was appointed.  

"Projecting these costs over a 25-year period, without accounting for future price rises or increasing prevalence, affected households would pay the equivalent of more than 拢4.4bn," it found. 

Bulmer said residents on smaller estates could be left with "astronomical" fees because management companies have to split the costs between fewer people.

Not only do they need to cover the costs of maintaining the property, but also the running fees associated with it. For example, an out-of-hours call line, accountants, insurance, and risk assessments, he said.  

'I don't feel safe - we are stuck with incompetence'

"As long as they are getting their money they don't give a damn about anything else," Thame resident Jane Morton Driscoll said about her management company RMG. 

The 40-year-old bought her home in the Oxfordshire town six years ago but has been left feeling "unsafe" and "infuriated" by a litany of problems on her housing development.  

While she knew about the required fees when she bought her home, she expected to get a better level of service for her money.  

Morton Driscoll explained that broken equipment in the children's play area has never been replaced, 25% of the street lamps don't work, tarmac has melted, trees and plants have been left to die, and site managers have failed to upkeep the communal gardens. 

"The estate is not being managed well at all. They have left parts to just get wrecked," she said. 

"As a woman, I don't feel safe walking home at night. It doesn't feel safe at all, and it's really quite scary." 

Despite this, her annual management fee has increased.  

"It is really irritating. It is a feeling of hopelessness that this is what we are stuck with. We are stuck with incompetence," she said. 

'Absolutely atrocious' customer service

Morton Driscoll showed Money a copy of the income and expenditure account sent to her by the management firm, which shows 拢20,773.24 was spent on grounds maintenance, 拢3,373.20 was assigned to playground costs, and 拢3,106.80 went on tree surgery.  

Nearly 拢19,000 was spent on various "professional fees". 

But she struggled to see how any of that money had been spent on improving the estate.  

"My perception is that it doesn't cost 拢3,000 to remove and not replace a children's roundabout, and not fix a swing," she said.  

"I have no problem with paying for gardening if it is being done, but it isn't." 

She was also disappointed to see the amount spent on "professional fees" when she had received "absolutely atrocious" customer service.  

"Things just keep disappearing off their records. Why should we have to keep chasing them up?" she asked.  

'We encourage residents to get in touch'

RMG, the management firm of Morton Driscoll's estate, told Money: "We take all resident feedback seriously and remain committed to making meaningful improvements across the development." 

The company said the children's roundabout was removed after failing a safety inspection, and it is working to reinstate all equipment "as soon as possible".  

It is also working with residents to identify faulty streetlights so repairs can be carried out efficiently, and it's "actively progressing discussions with both the developer and contractors to resolve the tarmac issue". 

"We recognise that some issues have taken longer than expected to address and are taking steps to improve our communication and responsiveness. Further conversations with residents are being arranged to better understand their experiences and ensure everyone feels listened to and supported," it added. 

"To date, we have no record of any complaints being lost or disregarded. All concerns are tracked internally, and we encourage residents to get in touch if they feel an issue remains unresolved." 

'It was pretty dangerous if my little boy stepped out'

Nigel Betterton was shocked to find that on top of his 拢600 a year management fee, he also had to pay extra costs when he looked to sell.  

He moved from Germany to his estate in Burgess Hill in West Sussex with his partner and three-year-old son in 2018 but ended up feeling like he was the victim of an "elaborate con". 

The 64-year-old's home was on a bridal pathway, which appeared on sat navs as a road, causing cars to drive very close by. 

"It was pretty dangerous if my little boy stepped out. I insisted we did something about it and wanted boulders put at the end of the bridal way, but other residents thought it was a waste of money," he said.  

He tried to talk to the council, who cared for the houses behind his garden fence, but he was told they didn't know anything about the estate and couldn't help.  

"It was horrendous. You just didn't know what was happening," he said.  

Residents were also required to stick to strict rules, so Betterton was stopped from building a gate at the front of his own home.  

In other cases, an elderly neighbour was forced to tear down her car port and people were banned from parking caravans in the driveways, he said.  

拢700 fees just to sell 

After six years of arguments with his management company HML, Betterton decided to sell and move to Cardiff, and that's when he discovered there were more fees to pay.  

During the process, management firm Harper Stone took over the estate from HML in October 2024. 

"We had to pay 拢350 for a sale package, which was just information about the house," he said. "Then the management company changed, and I had to pay another 拢350 for the same information." 

A sale package, also known as a management pack, contains important information about the property for potential buyers. This usually includes documents like accounting information, fire risk assessments, and details of any future maintenance works.

For the seller, it also sets out any requirements or fees payable to the management company for the transaction to be able to go ahead.  

This could include any delayed bill payments, a fee for receiving a notice of transfer, or a charge for providing a certificate to comply with a restriction against selling without the management company's consent.  

"It was ridiculous," Betterton said. "I'd never, ever, ever consider living in one [a freehold estate] ever again," he said.

How Betterton's management firms responded

Harper Stone said it was not involved in any of the issues raised before it took over management of the estates.  

"Any concerns or requests regarding installations or alterations falling under the restrictive covenants would have been addressed appropriately during our period of management," it told Money. 

It was responsible for issuing the sales pack Betteron needed. 

"Harper Stone acted in accordance with industry best practice, maintaining transparency and clear communication. Preparing a sales pack is an administrative task that involves care and due diligence to ensure accurate disclosure to prospective buyers," it said. 

It added: "While we cannot act beyond the scope of our authority, we are committed to ensuring that all residents' enquiries are dealt with respectfully and that requests for consent are relayed appropriately to the freeholder/ freehold company." 

HML told Money it could not comment on information provided to Betterton at the time of his property purchase in 2018. 

"All covenants, are stated in the legal documentation for each property, either in the Lease or Transfer document (TP1), to which Nigel Betterton would have signed upon legal completion and the purchase of the property, including restrictions on vehicles/caravans and fencing being erected as specifically mentioned by Nigel Betterton," it said. 

"The bridle way referenced was not part of the estate managed by HML. It is owned and maintained by the local authority and council and serves as a designated route for right of access and emergency right of way if required."

What needs to be done? 

Freehold estates aren't new, and the government has already intervened with the Leasehold and Freehold Act 2024. 

This aims to bring greater transparency over charges and more power to residents to challenge unfair costs. 

Bulmer said: "A better intervention would be to avoid creating these private areas in the first place and make local authorities adopt them.

"It is easy to understand why councils don't want them, but that is a poor solution that creates long term costs for homeowners. Some complex estates do need those private areas but they should be avoided where possible." 

He explained that one of the big issues is that management firms are not putting sufficient funds into reserves to pay for future big bills. 

"It saves money for homeowners in the short term, but future owners will be unhappy," he said. 

What should you look out for?

Bulmer said residents should make sure they are clear on costs and check what they are buying before going ahead with their purchase. 

"Ask your conveyancer to give you advice on what you are buying, and explain the implications, above and beyond simply providing information for you to figure it out by yourself," he said. 

We asked property expert Jan Hytch from PropertyMark for her advice for buyers considering one of these properties. 

Here are seven questions she said you should ask...

Do you live on a freehold estate? Share your experience in the comment box at the top of the page.

What you need to know from this week

By Jess Sharp, Money live reporter 

Nine million pensioners found out they were going to be better off this year after the government confirmed who will get the winter fuel payment.

Those of state pension age with a taxable income of 拢35,000 or less will get up to 拢300 after a major government U-turn on a widely unpopular cut to the benefit for millions last year. 

It was one of the measures confirmed in the government's spending review, which sets out departmental budgets. 

That might sound a long way from your own budgeting, but it could have a direct impact on your finances - especially if the chancellor has to increase taxes to keep up with her spending. 

We had a look at what tax changes could be made here - while our political editor Beth Rigby explained why she's keeping a close eye on council tax... 

Conflict in the Middle East may also feel far away from affecting your wallet, but an Israeli attack on Iran sent oil prices soaring to a two-month high today. 

If they stay that way, drivers could see prices rising at the petrol pump within days. 

More expensive oil can also affect the cost of many goods, and push up overall inflation, meaning fewer interest rate cuts and more expensive borrowing for longer.

It's always important to look on the bright side, though, and this week we gave you this tip on how to save money when booking a hotel. 

Turns out you can save as much as 拢50 if you use your phone instead of your laptop...

It might help you save even more money if you're hoping to visit one of the cheapest cities for 5-star stays...

And if you're doing your food shop this weekend, it's worth knowing we blind-tested 14 ketchups and a 拢1 sauce won - beating Heinz to second place...

We'll be back with our regular live coverage on Monday, but tomorrow you can check out our Long Read. 

Imagine owning your own home only to find yourself subject to regular costs, strict rules and extra fees when you try to sell. We take a look at the risks of living on a freehold estate. 

And don't forget to sign up to our Money newsletter in time for next Friday's edition. 

Tesla rival launches its cheapest model in the UK

A Chinese company has launched its cheapest electric car in the UK as it looks to capitalise on falling Tesla sales. 

BYD's Dolphin Surf will start at 拢18,650, much less than any of the Tesla models available, which start at around 拢40,000.

With that price tag, the Dolphin Surf is among the cheapest new cars on sale in Britain. 

Registrations for new Teslas in Europe halved in April after the company was hit by a backlash over owner Elon Musk's role in Donald Trump's administration. 

The falling sales helped BVD register more electric cars than Tesla in Europe for the first time. 

Israeli strikes propel gold to near record high

By Sarah Taaffe-Maguire, business and economics reporter

As markets opened across the world today, company values have fallen and oil and gold prices have risen.

It shows the concern among investors as they sell stocks and buy traditional "safe haven" assets after Israel's strikes on Iran and Iran's talk of retaliation.

Gold neared its record high, reached in the April market turmoil that followed Donald Trump's tariffs announcements.

Meanwhile, major US stock indexes followed the downwards trend as they opened this afternoon: the tech-company-heavy NASDAQ dropped nearly 1%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) index of 30 major companies listed on US exchanges fell 1.4%, and the S&P 500 index of companies relied on to be stable and profitable lost nearly 1%.

After hundreds were killed in the deadly Air India crash, the maker of the plane, Boeing, saw a near 4% drop in its share price, the second day of falls.

Plane engine maker General Electric (GE) Aerospace also saw its share value drop 2.5%.

Our cost of living specialist Megan Harwood-Baynes recently looked at why gold prices mean you should take a look at your insurance - you can read her piece below. 

Tesco steps in to help M&S with Marmite and Coca-Cola after cyberattack

Tesco sent extra supplies to Marks and Spencer and Co-op after they were hit by major cyberattacks. 

The boss of Britain's biggest supermarket said Tesco's wholesale arm Booker stepped in to help the retailers source products while their supply system was down. 

"Over the period when they've been impacted, Booker has supplied both M&S and Co-op with products and supported them in any way they could," Ken Murphy was quoted as saying in The Times. 

"They asked us to supply products and we said yes."

Branded items such as Marmite and Coca-Cola were among the products shipped to M&S stores, according to reports. 

The main Co-op Group did not ask for help for its supermarkets but some of its independent stores used Booker, The Times said.

Money has contacted Tesco for comment. 

Major UK retailers 'duping' customers with TV discounts

Major UK retailers are potentially misleading customers by exaggerating TV discounts, a consumer watchdog has found.

Very and Currys were offering deals claiming to be worth hundreds of pounds, but Which? discovered the savings might be significantly less. 

In more than half of cases, it found the pre-discount price advertised was not the most recent charged before the promotion applied, creating the illusion of bigger discounts. 

Very was the worst retailer in the investigation, with around nine in 10 TV deals checked using "was" prices that were not the most recent.

One LG 65-inch 4K smart TV had a "was" price of 拢2,499 and a "now" price of 拢1,499, despite 拢2,499 not being charged in five months and the TV being sold at seven lower prices since then.

Currys used old "was" prices in three quarters of TV offers Which? looked at.

It was selling an LG 55-inch 4K Smart TV with a "was" price of 拢1,899 and a "now" price of 拢1,199, but the higher price had not been used since June 2024 and the TV had been sold at five cheaper prices in the intervening months.

The best performer was Argos, with all but one of the "was" prices charged immediately before the promotion.

The Very Group said: "We understand how important promotions are to our customers. 

"We are always looking to find new ways to improve how we do this so our customers can shop with confidence."

A Currys spokesperson said: "We have raised these findings with our internal teams and will continue to work to ensure our reference (was/now) pricing is robust and accurate.

"We'd also encourage our customers to make the most of our price promise, meaning if they find the same item at a lower price elsewhere within 7 days of purchase, we will refund the difference."

The FTSE 100's biggest winners and losers

By Sarah Taaffe-Maguire, business and economics reporter

The biggest market move has happened in the oil price, which had the most dramatic intra-day move in more than three years after Israel launched strikes against Iran, which vowed to retaliate.

But the effects are moving other areas of the market too.

Stocks closed down in Asia, and fell across Europe at the open. The Europe-wide stock market index, the Stoxx 600, has dropped 0.8% today.

The UK's benchmark stock index - the FTSE 100 composite of the most valuable companies on the London Stock Exchange - is down nearly 0.5%.

Dropping a sharper 1.15% is the FTSE 250 index, comprising businesses based in the UK.

The FTSE 100's biggest loser is the British Airways and Aer Lingus owner International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG) as the airspace closed over Iran and Israel, and the airline industry came into focus after the Air India crash.

Not every company has been hit. Fossil fuel producers are benefiting from the elevated oil price. BP, Shell and British Gas owner Centrica were among the biggest risers of the FTSE 100. 

Regulator warns consumers against using claims firms as car finance compensation decision looms

Over the past few months we've featured reports of a brewing potential car finance scandal, in which thousands of drivers may have been unwittingly put on higher interest rates so dealers or brokers could earn more commission.

The Financial Conduct Authority is undertaking a review of the matter for a potential compensation scheme, and the Supreme Court is considering a related case that could open the door to more claims.

Ahead of the court's decision, the FCA has warned consumers against signing up with claims management companies or law firms.

You may have seen adverts for claims firms, some promising to help secure people money should a compensation scheme take place.

But the FCA says any scheme would be made "easy for consumers to understand and participate in" on their own.

"Consumers should be aware that by signing up now with a CMC or law firm, they may end up paying for a service they do not need and having to pay up to 30% in fees out of any award they may receive."

A redress scheme is also not a certainty. After the Supreme Court judgment, the FCA must conclude consumers have suffered loss for which a court would grant relief and that a compensation scheme would be more desirable than other routes for redress.

The court's judgment is expected in July and the FCA is expected to make a decision within six weeks of it.

Dodgy adverts impersonating a famous dermatologist and pushing fake products found online

Dodgy adverts impersonating a famous dermatologist and promoting products that don't exist have been uncovered on social media. 

Three adverts for a bee venom cream that falsely claimed it was recommended by reputable medical bodies were among those found by consumer group Which?. 

Two of the ads were posted from Facebook accounts impersonating Dr Emma Craythorne, a well-known dermatologist with more than 150,000 social media followers, despite her not being associated with the product. 

The adverts claimed that the cream could cure skin tags and remove wrinkles in a week. 

Dr Craythorne said the ads were complete "nonsense". 

"These scams target the unwell and desperate, as well as those whose family members and friends are sick," she said. 

The snapshot Which? investigation on Facebook and Instagram in March also found an advert targeted at diabetics promoting a "world-first" non-invasive glucose-monitoring detox wristband - which is not a genuine product. 

It also found four adverts for weight-loss patches that claimed to burn fat by reducing inflammation as well as by curbing appetite. 

Weight-loss patches have not been proven safe or effective and buyers on Trustpilot complained of not receiving orders. 

There was also an advert promoting prostate treatment drops claiming to eliminate prostatitis -which should be treated with antibiotics. 

Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, have taken down the ads flagged by Which? 

How can you spot a fake ad? 

Lisa Webb, Which? consumer law expert, told Money that the safest thing to do was to "assume that an ad is fraudulent" with social media "crawling" with fake promotions. 

"It's always best to keep your wits about you," she said.

If you want to check an ad is real, here are some steps to take: 

"Don't click on any links in ads you see  - instead you can hover over the URL to check if it matches the company's website to ensure you aren't being taken to a different site," Webb said. 

"If you think an ad looks suspicious, you can use a reverse image search like Google Image Search or Tineye to copy the image in the ad and see if it has been used elsewhere. 

"You can also check if the product or medicine being advertised is registered with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency by visiting their official website.

"If you spot anything which you think is suspicious, report it to the social media platform to be investigated."