LEASE Board

Appointments to the LEASE Board are made by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

The appointments to the LEASE Board are for a fixed period determined by the Secretary of State. Currently the Chair has been appointed for an initial term of five years and the Board Members for an initial term of four years.

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity (if any declared) to be made public.

A list of Board members' interests can be obtained by contacting the company secretary.

Approved minutes of the public part of board meetings are available from the secretary on request. Email info@lease-advice.org.

Click here to view the Code of Practice (PDF - 90KB) for the Chair and Board members of the Leasehold Advisory Service

LEASE Board Members

Deep Sagar - Chairman

Deep Sagar has a long and broad background in management and governance. He worked for over 15 years in senior management for multinationals like Coca-Cola and Unilever Bestfoods internationally. More recently he has been a management consultant, working more closely with the public and third sectors. This has included regeneration and housing, and appointments like Chairman of Patchwork Community Housing Association.

Academically, he has a BA (Honours) and MPhil (Cantab). He is an affiliate member of the Chartered Institute of Housing.

Justin Caffrey - Lender Representative

Justin has worked in the financial services industry in the UK for over 15 years. He initially worked in the banking sector, where he gained significant experience in both commercial and residential lending.

In 2001 he worked in a consultancy role with a mortgage brokerage on the South Coast. He subsequently became a director and shareholder within the business and with his fellow directors they grew the company to be one of the biggest distributors of mortgage products in the UK and Ireland. Justin has since moved on and sold his interest in the Group in 2008.

Justin's latest business venture assists those living abroad and foreign nationals navigate the potential pitfalls of moving their pension and investments to their new country of residence. He also works as a management consultant specialising in Mergers  & Acquisitions and Change Management with Small and Medium size Enterprises.

He is married with a son and enjoys spending his free time with his family.

Robert Levene - Leaseholder Representative

Robert Levene represents leaseholders being a long leasehold flat owner himself and for over 25 years directly involved in his own Resident's Association.

Since 1998 he has been a Committee member of The Federation of Private Resident's Associations, the national body for long leasehold resident's associations in England and Wales - www.fpra.org.uk

He has been a member of the LEASE board since 2004 and is actively involved in leasehold issues and campaigns.

Geneviève Mariner - Surveyor Representative

Geneviève represents views of the surveying profession on the board of LEASE. She has 13 years experience in valuing residential properties throughout London, with particular emphasis in Central, North and East London. She holds a first class honours BSc degree in Land Management, and has been a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors since May 1999. Geneviève comes from a family whose background is based in property, most particularly estate agency and development.

Geneviève is an Associate Director at Strettons, where she has worked for five years. She heads their Enfranchisement Department, which has expanded in her time at the firm. She deals with both commercial and residential valuation and property advice, including Expert Reports and negotiation.

Geneviève currently sits on the England National and London Regional Boards of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, has involvement in the RICS encouraging surveyors who have been made redundant or finding it difficult to find work and her latest project is involvement in the production of RICS London Briefing.

John May - Solicitor Representative

John May represents the views of the legal profession on the board of LEASE. He has worked in legal practice since 1978 and has specialised in residential leasehold property for most of this time, acting both for lease owners and for landlords. His experience includes having acted over many years for one of the "Great London Estates" and for groups of lease owners who have collectively bought the freeholds of their buildings both before and after the current legislation came into force, as well as acting for individuals throughout the country in all aspects of property-related problems. John set up his own specialist practice in Central London in 2004 and continues to represent clients from all parts of the property world. Outside his professional life he is a noted photographer and author on maritime subjects.

Trevor Moross - Landlord/Freeholder Representative

Trevor Moross has been involved in the residential property industry since 1975. He is Joint MD of Dorrington Holdings PLC, a residential and commercial property investor and developer, whose portfolio comprises largely London and South East flats and houses let on assured short hold and regulated tenancies. The company also owns several thousand flats sold on long lease. He is a past President of The British Property Federation and has served on the Boards of Circle 33 Housing Trust and of MEPC PLC. He is a board member of the British Property Federation, The Leasehold Advisory Service, and of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, the renowned orchestra, of which he is currently Chairman.