The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has urged the government to tighten up the regulation of land management companies.
Responding to the Competition and Markets Authority's housebuilding market study, NALC urged the government to make provisions for the regulation of fees charged by management companies to both freeholders and leaseholders of residential properties. It follows years of management companies increasing fees to residents of parished areas to maintain facilities such as children's playgrounds without carrying out maintenance work in many cases.
NALC also advocated that local (parish and town) councils' right-to-manage public open spaces and amenities be in legislation, both at the point of delivery and in perpetuity. NALC has received support within the sector from national stakeholders in trying to get local councils first in line (if they choose) to take on new play areas in developments.