How do you get action over poor property management service? Use social media tools of course. Want an example where this has worked? Sure, go to TheTruthAbout: Solitaire & Peverel Property Management where people are using online tools from a purpose built website, presence on Facebook, and communication through RSS feeds, through to a No 10 Downing Street petition to publicise the belief that “companies like Peverel / Solitaire / County Estate Management should be held accountable for poor service, shoddy workmanship and overcharging”.

It appears they did see some improvement in service when it appeared the BBC TV consumer programme Watchdog was about to take the company to task, though recent posts on the website suggest the improvements are not consistently applied.

Interesting as the Shadow Housing Minister, Grant Shapps, started following me on Twitter today, he’s at @grantshapps btw. I wonder if he’d be interested in delving deeper into this sense of grievance, as I suspect that many leaseholders happen to be (a) In marginal constituencies (b) compose of a large proportion of swing votes.

Anyhow just a thought.

Disclaimer: Solitaire owns Freehold Managers PLC, with has yet to sort out my ground rent properly after two years since purchase of my property at the Cotton Mill in Leicester. Luckily my other (converted maltings) property in Bristol is rented off a v. friendly commercial lawyer!