[2023] UKUT 245 (AAC)

HLA was established in 2000 to provide representation to 4,500 leaseholders of Haringey Council. HLA has from time to time been ‘recognised’ by HfH as a consultative body for leaseholders, a status that entitles it to a small annual grant, limited secretarial / photocopying support and free accommodation for meetings. The Appellant is a committee member of the Haringey Leaseholders’ Association (“HLA”).

HLA was ‘derecognised’ by HfH in December 2010 for alleged breaches of its code of conduct and its perceived inability to deliver objectives.

A decision was made by HfH in September 2012 to recognise HLA once again.

In May 2014 HfH asked the RSP to conduct an audit of HLA in respect of certain allegations that had been made about HLA’s practices, and to produce a report of its findings (the “Report”). The audit was intended, among other things, to inform consideration of HLA’s application for funding and recognition.

The RSP carried out a series of fact-finding interviews. The information obtained during these interviews formed the building blocks of the Report. The audit was concluded in September 2014 but the Report was not published. The RSP did publish a summary report (the “Summary Report”), which was said to summarise the “key findings” in the Report. The Summary Report included no recommendations other than that “the Board should consider their findings and take appropriate action”.

On 20 October 2014 HLA was again derecognised by HfH, this time on the basis of findings that HLA had not properly account for the grant paid to it, and had not demonstrated that it represented a sufficient number of leaseholders to be regarded as representative of all leaseholders.

On 5 August 2016 HfH published a statement on its website to the effect that it was now satisfied that HLA had properly accounted for its grant. HLA achieved recognition by HfH again on 30 January 2018.