GO TO ZURICH OR ELSE

Top item in the mailbag recently has been the number of letters from householders with long leases being told they have to change their buildings insurance.

The Swansea based Compton Group, which owns the freeholds of many properties in Pendle, has provoked outrage by ordering leaseholders to insure their homes with the Zurich Insurance Co – even if they have perfectly good cover from elsewhere.

They refused to tell me how many leaseholders have switched their insurance, under duress, to Zurich. This is unacceptable.

The law allows leaseholders to stay with their current insurer provided certain conditions are met. If there is a dispute, the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal can be brought in.

I want the Compton Group to tell leaseholders that option is available.

The Burnley and Pendle Law Society tell me the law needs to be tightened up to protect people from being ripped off. I am pressing the Government to act.

A useful guide to leaseholders’ rights is available at http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/pdf/leaflet.pdf