Residents of recently-built homes around Swindon have spoken out about the “scandal” of leasehold agreements causing spiralling ground rents, trapping homeowners with bills they cannot afford and houses they cannot sell.

Owners of some houses in the area built over the last decade will see their ground rent double every 10 years, and due to reach £8,000 annually within 50 years. Nationwide Building Society has already announced that it will no longer offer mortgages on such properties.

Swindon Town Councillor Dale Heenan has launched a campaign to highlight the problem in developments built by Taylor Wimpey, including his own home. He said: “2017 is the first ten-year anniversary for many Taylor Wimpey homes in Swindon, and letters have already landed increasing ground rent from £250 to £500 per year.

“Service charges to pay for building maintenance, and tasks like grass-cutting are on top, so there is no benefit in paying more ground rent. Dozens and dozens of affected owners have already been identified, and I'm one of them.

“More families either aren't aware or are aware and don’t know what to do. I was a first-time buyer at 26, and there was no mention of this clause by Taylor Wimpey or solicitors. Many people I have spoken to weren’t told. A neighbour who bought just months ago also wasn’t told.”

Taylor Wimpey have released a scheme designed to help buyers of such homes. A spokesperson for the firm said: “The scheme we have announced is aimed at helping Taylor Wimpey customers who bought homes from us with a ten-year doubling ground rent clause.

“We are engaged in negotiations with freeholders and are working hard with them to convert our customers’ lease terms to ones that are significantly less expensive and which resolve concerns around how easy it is to sell or get a mortgage on these properties.

“Once any agreements are reached with freeholders and if our customers wish to take up this offer, Taylor Wimpey will facilitate and cover the cost of the lease conversions. We have set aside a significant provision to cover this cost and will also make a contribution to customers’ legal fees.”

Cllr Heenan welcomed the scheme, but questioned certain aspects of it: “The £130m national scheme by Taylor Wimpey is a step in the right direction. By removing the doubling ground rent clause, they are the only house developer to recognise the issue and do something.

“Others will be keeping their heads down. I asked senior management at Taylor Wimpey if they were willing to deal with everyone on an estate collectively but they said ‘no’, and they also wouldn't provide information on where affected properties are in the town.

“Every homeowner must contact Taylor Wimpey themselves, and individually register for their scheme to secure any help.”

Cherry Jones, an independent property manager with from Swindon firm Home From Home, said: Swindon-based Home From Home, said: “To say that I am really concerned is an understatement.”

“Numerous leasehold houses denied the opportunity of buying the freehold, and flats with doubling ground rents which will soon render properties impossible to sell. No one appears to have grasped the enormity of the problems here.”