Issue - meetings

Councillor Lisa Homan highlighted the importance of this decision to improve the payment options available to leaseholders, and to make it easier and cheaper to collect money. She added that these options had been discussed at the Leasehold Forum.

RESOLVED:

1.            That approval be given to offer the following menu of payment options for resident leaseholders and for non-residential leaseholders who do not sublet more than one Hammersmith & Fulham leasehold property where the property is owned by individuals[1]:

2.         To agree to an interest rate for leasehold payment options based on 0.25% above the average council lending rate[2] for the previous year for the above.

3.         To delegate authority to the Lead Director for Regeneration Planning & Housing acting through the Director of Finance & Resources (Regeneration, Planning & Housing), in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing, to consider any applications from leaseholders on the grounds of extreme hardship to vary the length of repayment periods.

4.         To delegate authority to the Lead Director for Regeneration Planning & Housing, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing, the ability to agree payment plans on a project by project basis where leaseholders estimated bills are likely to be in excess of £22,500

5.         To approve a change to the terms for discretionary loans to allow a maximum loan period of 25 years.

6.         To approve that any loan or repayment plan for a sum of £12,500 or above to be secured as a voluntary charge on the property.  The administration cost associated with this should be borne by the applicant and will be £150.