Mark Noble in Capello "Dream Team"

bitter Tottenham fans who ignore facts but instead rely on fanciful predictions,

How are we bitter? not one fan wanted the OS, we all protested the stadium and we could all see we used the application as a tool to get the NEW STADIUM at Tottenham underway, mission complete

And we managed to ruin your bid, so it was successful

How was our bid ruined? Due to your greed, the taxpayer will now be footing the bill instead of us.

My hammers............where have I shifted the argument away from your moving into the OS?

I used Arsenal as an illustration that no matter how successful the team there are problems when things change. If they encounter major problems, then in reality West Ham also face similar, it's just a fact of life.

You are obsessed with the idea you are getting a free stadium, YOU ARE Not!!!!!!!

West Ham have to pay a fair share of the restructuring of the stadium & as it is the club who want the retractable seating, a major share of this cost too. I would estimate the stadium move might cost you between £80-100million!

Any less and there would be claims of improper funding support in defiance of both PL & EU regulations.

There could also be legal challenges from other clubs that WHU are being given innapropriate public funding.

I would suggest that these are the reasons behind the current delay in making any announcements, so that any potential banana skins are removed!!!!

The fact you have got all wound up by the OS delays by our involvement tells me all I need to know Myhammers

Greaves

You seem like you have a working knowledge of property law, so a question.

What is the practical difference between a 99 year lease and a guaranteed 99 year rental agreement? They seem, to me, to amount to the same thing.

That's an honest question btw. As far as I can see the rental option is no worse and if it's the same as domestic agreements could even work better as upkeep is paid by the landlord.

A lease is for a fixed term and normally the costs are fixed too, any increases would normally be as par inflation. When a lease finishes there are no obligations on the leaseholder to renew.
Leases are also fairly safe providing the agreed terms are kept to by both parties.

Rental is normally on a monthly/annual basis and agreements can be terminated by either side with per-agreed notice periods. You are correct in saying that landlords are responsible for maintenance under rental agreements.

Under leases, occupies are liable to contribute towards repairs and upkeep unless the lease specifically excludes this.

So if as I believe I heard at one point the rental term is fixed for 99 years with no "get outs" the only downside is potential rental price increases?

Oh and of course you can get a mortgage on a leasehold property.

I can't help but think the change from lease to rent changes nothing except that the powers that be thinks it sounds better to the tax payers, or am I being overly cynical?

It is a definite LEASE contract with West Ham paying £9 million annual rent.

The main complication is gaining agreement on costs for the restructuring work in the OS, plus the involvement of Newham's council with them using £60m of tax payers money on a private sector project.

The EU is investigating this & should have a resolution by May.

The other problem would appear to be forecasts for the completion of the restructuring work, whereas initial hope were that it would be all done for 2014, it now looks that the most optimistic date for completion is now the summer of 2016........

Like I keep saying, commercial leases are very common. They are not the same thing as renting a single room from a landlord!

99 years is a common length. And such leases almost always have an option to renew.
Residential flats are almost all leasehold (not freehold). That doesn't make them any less secure or less attractive than a freehold house.