The Camden Council Leaseholders' Forum met on 27 May 2025 to discuss a range of issues affecting leaseholders, including the election of a new chair, updates on leaseholder services, key repairs issues, and a report from the Associate Cabinet Member for Leaseholders. The forum also reviewed the Leaseholders’ Forum Constitution and Code of Conduct.

Associate Cabinet Member for Leaseholders Update

Councillor James Slater, Associate Cabinet Member for Leaseholders, reported that he was stepping down from his role to become Chair of the Audit and Corporate Governance Committee. He announced that Councillor Lorna Greenwood, Councillor for the Fortune Green ward, would be the new Associate Cabinet Member for Leaseholders.

Councillor James Slater said of Councillor Lorna Greenwood:

Councillor Greenwood is looking forward to engaging with and representing leaseholders across Camden in this role as Associate Cabinet Member, working closely with the forum and officers to drive forward the recommendations and progress Councillor James Slater has made in the role.

Councillor James Slater also provided an update on the implementation of recommendations from his Cabinet Advisor report, including the introduction of a Correspondence Management System for Leaseholder Services. He noted that the new telephony system was expected to be in place within a few weeks, which would make it easier for leaseholders to contact the team and ensure that calls are logged and recorded.

Following the last Forum meeting in March, one of the action points was to convene a meeting on Fire Safety issues. Councillor James Slater provided a comprehensive update on fire safety works, including the procurement of fire safety works, maintenance of fire safety works, and the future of fire safety works.

Leaseholder Services Update

The forum received an update from Salim Khan, Home Ownership Manager, on leaseholder services. The update covered the following areas:

• Structure and Recruitment: Recruitment to fill vacant posts was nearing completion, with interviews for the remaining Service Charge Officer posts scheduled for 2 June.
• IT Systems: Work was continuing to set up the new Telephony & Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system to manage customer contact with the Home Ownership teams. The Telephony system was expected to be in place within the next 8 weeks.
• New Approach: The roles and responsibilities of each of the new teams had been mapped out to ensure they were clearly set out. Work would now be undertaken to fully process map all of these to ensure all are clear and concise.
• Team Surgeries: Camden had previously offered fixed time surgeries to all leaseholders, but these were stopped due to very low take up. Leaseholders are still able to request these, but it is evident that they are unaware of this. The website and letters will be updated to promote this.
• Leasehold Extensions: It was not yet possible to advise on leasehold extensions following the Leasehold Reform Bill, as the legislation had been passed but not yet implemented.
• Insurance Premiums: Insurance costs were high compared to both historical levels Camden has charged to leaseholders and premiums seen by leaseholders online. Camden is obliged to provide insurance and recharge the cost to leaseholders with the current policy costs being the best currently available to Camden.
• Discounts for Early Payment: The council is unable to offer discounts for early payment of day-to-day service charges in the same way as it does for Major Works.
• Electricity Standing Charges: The possibility of zero-rate tariffs being investigated when the current supply contract ends in October 2025.
• Access to Repairs Systems: All relevant staff already have access to the Repairs Systems and use this to answer general enquiries in relation to repairs we have invoiced for.

Repairs - Key Issues

The forum raised key repairs issues with the Head of Repairs. No further information is available.

Election of Chair and Other Roles

The forum elected a Chair, Vice-Chair and Communications Member for the municipal year 2025-26. No further information is available.