The Cricketer’s Estate built by the London Borough of St Marylebone in St John’s Wood must be the first old council estate now wholly owned privately by one individual including the freehold of the land. A sign of this very unusual case of public housing disappearing altogether on the Estate is all the additional security around the boundaries.
When the great and the good built this Estate through the local council, they could never have imagined this could happen to the housing being provided for its residents in Marylebone in desperate housing need. This is obviously long before Right to Buy came into existence for tenants but what makes this quite incredible is that almost all the leasehold interests are privately now in the hands of one individual. On many Council Estates in Central London, you often find over 50 per cent of the flats and houses are owned by leaseholders but almost completely by one individual via his companies, is very unusual indeed. Furthermore he has managed to obtain the freehold of the land from the Council as well.
I understand the landlord of the Estate works in the City and has now brought himself another adjacent property to look over his private Estate. Clearly he feels its his manor now!
This is a unfortunate reflection of our times in housing, particularly in London.
London Borough of St Marlybone logo on side of Verity House can be seen
Bradman House, St Johns Wood.
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TThis needs looking into
We are doing just that Janet.
I reckon, you will hear more in the near future.
So what’s stopping this from happening in other estates especially where all the flats have been sold off with no council tenants?
Nothing at all unfortunately. Maybe we need reform the freehold enfranchisement process in light of these instances.
All the lessees moved out because of this man. He also purchases the flats in a very underhanded manner. He ruined so many lives. We were told by the Council that the sale of the whole estate was legal and there was nothing they could do. It will likely be sold to developers at some point for an absolute fortune!
I lived here for 19years . And I have seen the mess this freeholder has made around this estate. He has driven home owners out . He even asked me if I would leave . I’m a council tennant.where would I go. I’m so happy this has opened the eyes of the councillors. This should have been looked into a long time ago. I even saw Karen Buck at one stage and I asked her to help me to get my door bell fixed as I wasn’t receiving letters from the postman as he couldn’t gain entry for the tradesman bell wasn’t working . City west home wasn’t interested. As they don’t maintain any work to do with outside of the properly. I pray this situation will have the freeholder explained his criminal activities.
Hear hear Sharon! This man has no scruples and does whatever is needed to get his way in order to enhance his bank balance. Let’s hope somewhere down the line he will be exposed for what he is and get his just desserts! Would love HMRC to delve into his accounts!
I also wonder if his lackies are all legally allowed to work in this country?