I want solar panels for my leasehold flat

A leaseholder living in a flat in east London faces a bill of at least £1,500 from his freeholder to install solar panels on his roof.

Environmental manager Gabriele Carlisi said he is being “blocked” from making green upgrades to his home as the large fees being charged by freeholders mean the investment is “not worth it”.

It’s a problem millions of leaseholders in England could face when trying to upgrade their home and experts warn it could get in the way of the Government meeting its net-zero targets.

Shorts – Quick stories

TRAVEL

Higher air fares in Europe are ‘inevitable’

More expensive tickets for air passengers in Europe are “inevitable” due to the surging cost of jet fuel, the head of the International Air Transport Association, Willie Walsh, has said.

An unavoidable price hike

Looking to the future

Walsh told the BBC that airlines would not be able to absorb the extra costs of rising fuel prices over time.

Summer shortages

He added that there was still concern that the UK aviation industry could face fuel shortages over the the summer.

Disruption is inevitable

Even if the Strait of Hormuz reopened tomorrow, disruption may last into next year, he said.

What to expect

The UK and Europe typically rely on imports from the Middle East, so are now searching for alternatives.

• Last week, the EU said there was no regulatory reason for US-grade jet fuel not to be used by European airlines.
• The EU’s energy commissioner said there would not be serious short term issues.
• But he could not rule out longer-term supply issues.
• Walsh said there were still concerns for UK operators, but stressed there is no reason to panic.

An inescapable outcome

“There’s just no way airlines can absorb the additional costs they’re experiencing,” Walsh said.

He added: “Over time it’s inevitable that the high price of oil will be reflected in higher ticket prices”.

Exclusive

2 min read

NEWS

Trump will struggle to restart the Iran war

Kieron Monks

Foreign News Writer

The Iran war has depleted America’s weapons stockpile, leaving Donald Trump vulnerable and constraining his ability to resume hostilities, military analysts say.

The US is in short supply

Dwindling supplies

Most advanced and defensive munitions in the US arsenal were burned through in six weeks of high intensity warfare.

Trouble ahead

This could leave the Pentagon short in future conflicts, the Center for Strategic and International Studies found.

Iran remains strong

The majority of Iran’s missiles and launchers are believed to remain intact.

Concern in the US government

Trump has called the shaky ceasefire “unbelievably weak” and on “massive life support”, as negotiations have proved difficult.

Senior figures in the Trump administration, such as Vice President JD Vance, have reportedly raised serious concerns over weapons depletion.

Cheaper alternatives

The report showed a shift toward cheaper, more plentiful weaponry, requiring US bombers to be closer to their targets and take greater risk.

Democrat Senator Mark Kelly said that classified briefings had raised concerns about the US’s readiness for future conflicts. “It’s shocking how deep we have gone into these magazines,” he said.

How will this impact the war?

The depletion is likely to be a “factor” in whether Trump resumes bombing of Iran, said Mark Cancian, co-author of the study.

“I think it would be a factor because of concerns regarding future conflicts, particularly China and the Western Pacific,” he said.

WORLD

5 min read

Analysis

4 min read

One third of weight
lost after jabs is ‘from muscle and bones’

People using drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro are
losing weight from muscle and bones instead of fat, a study
has found.

A clear difference

The study, published at the European Congress on Obesity, found that for people using exercise and diet control, muscle and bone loss accounted for 14 per cent of the weight they dropped.

In comparison, the figure was 32 per cent for those using weight-loss jabs.

What can be done?

Strength is key

People using weight-loss jabs should do strength training, researchers said.

Risks for old age

If they don’t, they face a heightened risk of frailty, fractures and osteoporosis in later life.

Time to head to the gym

“It is vital to incorporate structured exercise into all weight-loss approaches to help preserve that mass,” researchers said.

A closer look at what the study found

The study’s authors said that people who lost a significant amount of muscle were at a higher risk of regaining the weight after stopping the use of the drugs.

This is because muscle is “more metabolically active” than fat.

MONEY

3 min read

LIFESTYLE

5 min read

NEWS

Three young women found dead in the sea at Brighton beach

Three women whose bodies were recovered in the sea off Brighton beach are not believed to have attended a nightclub before entering the water.

It is believed the women may have entered the water from the beach near where they were found, before getting into difficulty in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Sussex Police said that several lines of enquiry were still being explored.

What happened?

It is not yet clear how the women came to be in the water, but the coastguard has ended its search and is not looking for any others.

• Emergency teams were first called at about 5.45am on Wednesday.
• This was after a report of a single person in the water near Black Rocks car park in Madeira Drive, which goes along the beachfront.
• Two more bodies were then recovered from the sea nearby.
• The women were reportedly about 20 to 30 years old and were first seen at Brighton Palace Pier before drifting to the marina.

A tragedy for the city

It is probably the most devastating news that I’ve received in this city for a very long time. I can’t think of anything more tragic or more horrendous really.

Bella sankey, Brighton & Hove city council leader

Police call for information

Sankey said that the women had not yet been identified and their loved ones were still to be informed.

Sussex Police are exploring several lines of inquiry, and have asked anyone with information to get in touch.

OPINION

3 min read

ENVIRONMENT

Eagles to return to Exmoor despite farmer concerns

Up to 20 young white-tailed eagles are to be released in Exmoor National Park in Devon and Somerset as the species continues its comeback from being pushed to extinction in much of the British Isles.

The species, which is the UK’s largest bird of prey, has already been successfully reintroduced in the Isle of Wight and Scotland despite concerns about conflicts with farming.

Return of raptor once common in England’s skies

Also known as “sea eagles” because of their ability to hunt over open water, the white-tailed eagle was widespread in southern England until the 1700s. But hunting led to them being wiped out in the region until a breeding programme began on the Isle of Wight. Some 45 birds have been released, with the first pair breeding successfully in 2023.

Farming fears ‘unfounded’

Concerns have previously been raised that the large eagles, whose wingspan can reach 8ft, would prey on livestock such as lambs. But a study on the Isle of Wight found the birds were instead targeting cuttlefish, rabbits, fish and other birds. It found there were “no conflicts” with farming.

Exmoor, which has long expanses of coastal woodland, is considered ideal habitat for white-tailed eagles. The national park authority has pledged support for farmers in adapting to the birds.

healthy eating

Popular sandwiches with highest salt content revealed

Shop-bought sandwiches can contain an “alarmingly high” amount of salt – with one in particular containing the equivalent of nearly five McDonald’s cheeseburgers or ten bacon rashers, a study has warned.

The review of 546 sandwiches sold by high street outlets named a smoked chicken club sandwich sold by Gail’s as the nation’s saltiest. The upmarket bakery’s lunch snack contained 6.88g of salt – enough to exceed the daily adult limit of 6g in a single meal.

What you need to know

Researchers warn there are “hidden health risks” in shop-bought sarnies.

Action on Salt found nearly 50 per cent of sandwiches should carry a red “high salt” label. 32 contained half of the maximum daily salt intake.

A third of the offerings were also high in saturated fat, while 97 per cent failed to provide a third of daily recommended fibre.

Who were the worst culprits?

Several of the worst offenders are sold at Gail’s. Alongside its £8.90 club sandwich (6.88g), the upscale bakery also has a smoked salmon bagel (4.2g) and a ham and cheese croissant (2.6g), the saltiest croissant in the study. Paul’s rosette salami offering had 4.19g and Pret’s ham and grevé baguette had 3.85g.

A high salt intake is regarded as a particular health risk because of its association with high blood pressure. The condition has no symptoms and yet is responsible for around half of all heart attacks and strokes.

Pensions

What a Reform government would mean for your pension

The strong performance by Reform UK in last week’s local elections has intensified scrutiny of what a government led by Nigel Farage might mean for personal finances.

To date, the party has offered only a few detailed policies on pensions but the proposals nonetheless point to possible significant changes for retirees and savers.

What you need to know

Triple lock intact

Reform has said it will keep the guarantee that pensions will rise by the highest of inflation, wage growth or 2.5 per cent.

Public sector pensions

The same cannot be said for defined benefit schemes for teachers and NHS workers. Reform has said these pensions are too costly.

Union clash looms

Reform has said it will close DB schemes to new entrants. Experts have warned this would anger unions.

Why it’s the economy that matters when it comes to pension pots

The biggest impact of any Reform government on pensions would lie less in specific policies and more in its general marshalling of the economy, according to experts. The party has said it will reboot growth by slashing red tape and businsess taxes, thereby boosting investment performance. But some observers warn simplistic solutions risk economic stability.

PENSIONS AND RETIREMENT

5 min read

health

Are lifts still safe? Warning over UK’s obesity rates

The obesity epidemic means that many lifts are no longer big enough to transport people between floors, according to British researchers.

A study found that the maximum capacity of lifts in the UK and elsewhere in Europe has failed to keep pace with the increase in weight of the average person, raising concerns about safety and discrimination.

What you need to know

Lifts stuck in the past

The UK-based study found that despite weight growth and the obesity epidemic, the limit for elevators has not increased since about 2004.

Weighty concerns

In the 1970s, the average British man and woman weighed 75kg and 65kg, respectively. These figures now stand at 86kg and 73kg.

Capacity problems

Because lifts assume an average weight of 75kg, this means the amount of room is becoming limited and loads are getting heavier.

Super-sized society

Researchers said their findings suggested lift designs are now based on “flawed calculations” and could lead to issues like elevators cutting out if passengers exceed total weight limits. People with obesity may also feel stigmatised when entering lifts.

Lead researcher Professor Nick Finer warned of a need to “super-size” many aspects of daily life, including lifts, to make the workplace and other environments safe and suitable for people living with obesity. By 2040, as many as seven in 10 Britons are projected to be overweight or obese.

Unfair fees

Carlisi lives on the first floor of a split terraced property in Walthamstow, east London.

Despite owning his home, Carlisi must ask permission to make any alterations. This is because as a leaseholder, Carlisi only owns the interior of the flat, while a separate freeholder owns the structural part of the building, including the roof.

After enquiring with his freeholder, Carlisi was sent a list of costs he would have to pay to get permission to install solar, including £420 for administration and £1,080 for legal fees.

On top of that he was told he would be responsible for any required surveyor or structural engineer fees, as well as a potential “premium” to the freeholder in exchange for permission.

Carlisi was also told he would be liable to pay the fees even if final permission was not granted.

The fees, which totalled an initial £1,500 but would probably be higher, have meant Carlisi is no longer going ahead with the solar install, which was due to cost around £6,500.

He said it “felt stupid” to pay in the region of £2,000 to potentially be told he would not be allowed the solar anyway.

Carlisi described the experience as “flattening” and said leasehold was a “strange concept” that they don’t have in Italy where he is from originally.

“Leasehold in general is just a blocker for anything. You own your property but you technically don’t own the property and you need somebody else giving you the permission. It’s like a primary school thing,” he said.

The problem with leasehold

Roughly five million people live in leasehold properties in England and Wales, however the tenure has been abolished in Scotland.

The Government is in the process of banning new leasehold flats and converting existing leases to “commonhold” tenures in its Leasehold and Commonhold Bill. However, The i Paper reported last month that there are doubts about whether the outright ban will come into force before the 2030s.

In the meantime, millions of people could struggle to make green upgrades to their home and are likely to face freeholder fees when they want to make changes.

Labour MP for Walthamstow, Stella Creasy, said freeholder fees were a “massive barrier” to her constituents benefitting from solar and is pressing the Government on the matter.

Ministers have vowed to accelerate a “solar revolution” across the UK and the Government is investing billions in helping households pay for upgrades such as solar, batteries and heat pumps.

It was recently announced that “plug-in” solar panels that can be plugged directly into a household socket will be legalised in the UK and available in supermarkets within months.

The climate minister, Katie White, has previously told The i Paper the Government could consider introducing a legal right to solar for renters and leaseholders, similar to laws that have been introduced in other countries.

In Germany for example, the law states that landlords and building owners must give permission for solar installs unless they could provide a clear reason in writing, such as safety concerns.

A Government spokesperson said: “We are supporting consumers to make their own choices – helping make that possible through our £15bn Warm Homes Plan with grants and loans, ensuring everyone can access the benefits and savings that clean homegrown power can bring.

“We are working with stakeholders on how to remove barriers to the installation of clean tech, such as solar panels, for leaseholders.”