Speaker: - Jim Densem

     It is always admirable when one of our members whose turn it is to provide a speaker has the courage to speak for themselves on a subject that often turns out to be somewhat unusual and far from run-of-the-mill. So it was on 11 March, 2014 when Jim Densem spoke to us about the trials and tribulations of dealing with a recalcitrant landlord.

    35 years ago Jim and Barbara bought a leasehold investment property, one of 200 houses, on a privately owned estate in Port Dinorvic overlooking the Menai Straits. Ownership became less than straightforward though as after four years Mr Ivor Jones acquired the freehold following the benign ownership of the National Westminster Bank and hitherto cordial relations soured. Over a period of years site maintenance deteriorated in seemingly inverse proportion to the increase in service charges.

    Jim, as a Chartered Accountant, with a solicitor leaseholder became involved in protracted legal wrangles over accounting and other discrepancies. Eventually it was only the landlord's financial plight in adverse economic conditions that prevented court action. In 1994 a Receiver was appointed and the company formed by the Leaseholders