Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The report advises the Area Committee of the proposed sale of the freehold interest in various residential properties located on an estate in Offerton.

The Area Committee is recommended to note that the Council is obliged to adhere to the provisions of the Leasehold Reform Act 1967 and will be conveying its freehold interest in applications which it receives at this estate provided they comply with the criteria set out in the Act.

Officer contact: Murray Carr, 0161-474-3019, murray.carr@stockport.gov.uk  

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Area Committee to consider a proposal to sell the Council’s freehold interest in residential properties on Mallowdale Road, Offerton in order to facilitate disposal of the homes by their owners should they chose to sell them.

Councillors discussed their involvement with residents in this area who had been unable to sell their houses due to problems with the gaining a mortgage on a property with a relatively short ground lease term. Although there was a remedy to the situation, the involvement of two public bodies, the Council and Your Housing, had complicated finding a resolution to this matter and residents were unable to sell their houses. Councillors expressed their disappointment that this matter had not been resolved more promptly as this was causing distress and serious inconvenience to residents and it was preventing family homes from being made available for purchase.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Council’s obligation to adhere to the provisions of the Leasehold Reform Act 1967 and that it would be conveying its freehold interest in applications receives at this estate provided they comply with the criteria set out in the Act, be noted.

(2) That the Chair and Vice-Chair be recommended to write to Your Housing urging them to resolve this matter as soon as possible as it was blighting the lives of residents.