THE introduction of a new law will allow Teesside leaseholders to choose their own building insurance.

Under the terms of their 999-year leases, householders on an estate at Eaglescliffe have had to use the insurers stipulated by the landlord, a property firm in London.

Frustrated by the ever-increasing premiums, residents able to do so bought the freehold back from the landlord.

But now a change in the law means householders are free to pick what company they insure with.

John Fletcher, the Liberal Democrat councillor for Eaglescliffe, said yesterday: "This is a great relief for Eaglescliffe residents, but not before time. For many years, leaseholders have complained to me that ground landlords have forced them to buy insurance on their homes which was often twice as expensive as the best quote elsewhere."

The houses were built by Hartlepool-based builders Yuills, who did not enforce the insurance clause, but that changed when the leasehold changed hands.

Councillor Fletcher is annoyed that, while the law was changed three years ago, "dithering'' by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has meant the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act has only come into force now.

Estates and Management, the the ground landlord based at Ballard Lane, London, could not becontacted for comment yesterday, and neither could the landlord's specified insurance company, Tyser UK Ltd.