Thelandtrust Avis 

We have been working with them for three years now - still waiting to get the reconciliation records from two years ago!

Not at all transparent and never respond to queries

As a resident of Marleigh, attending the recent meeting with The Land Trust was a deeply frustrating and eye-opening experience. It is clear that while residents are expected to foot skyrocketing bills, The Land Trust is completely failing to deliver transparency, value for money, or effective management.

Instead of sending senior decision-makers who could actually answer questions, they sent representatives who couldn't make commitments. We weren't even given an agenda beforehand, the presentation was unreadable due to poor equipment, and we were told minutes would take "weeks" to be circulated.

What makes the situation utterly intolerable is how completely subservient The Land Trust is to the developer, Hill, and their shell management company. Throughout the entire meeting, Land Trust representatives constantly referred to Hill as their "clients" rather than acting in the interest of the people who actually live here. They refuse to comment on or execute basic tasks without constantly deflecting, claiming they need "Hill's approval," or outright blaming Hill for the estate's ongoing failures. It is a masterclass in buck-passing: they act entirely on Hill's instructions and shield them from accountability, yet we, the residents, are expected to pay for absolutely everything.

The issues run incredibly deep across the estate:

Financial Disarray & Hidden Costs: Our service charge budget for the Estates & Facilities Officers has practically doubled from £51,900 to £108,138 to manage new facilities, yet we are getting zero breakdown of these costs. Furthermore, requests made under Section 22 of the Landlord and Tenant Act remain outstanding and ignored.

The Allotment Mess: Allotments that were promised years ago are finally open, but they are significantly more expensive than comparable council plots in Cambridge. Worse, we are paying £22,943.65 a year for allotment maintenance and building costs despite incredibly low occupancy. Why are residents subsidising this?

Unusable Football Pitches: Residents are funding the maintenance of football pitches that are totally unfit for FA-affiliated football due to weeds, drainage issues, and uneven surfaces. They generate no income, so residents absorb 100% of the financial burden.

Community Centre Lockout: Residents can’t even book their own community hall due to long-term block bookings, yet we are given no income/expenditure breakdowns for the center.

No Competitive Clarity: Landscaping was handed to a contractor (Nurture), but The Land Trust has refused to provide the tender process, specification of works, or competing bids. We are paying far more for maintenance than neighbouring authorities with much larger public areas.

We have been raising these exact same issues for two years with zero resolution. If you are considering buying a home on a development managed by The Land Trust, be warned: expect soaring service charges, stonewalling, and a complete lack of accountability. The residents are now engaging public bodies, seeking independent legal advice, and involving the media (including the BBC) to get the answers we legally deserve.

Avoid at all costs.