The “freemen on the land” movement has been gaining some success in the UK, especially with more marginal homeowners unable to make mortgage payments. This new movement insists that people are only obligated to comply with contracts and statutes they voluntarily enter into. It sometimes invokes originalist arguments, going all the way back to the Magna Carta. The movement has tens of thousands of digital supporters and their videos are racking up close to 500,000 views each. It’s effectively misleading vulnerable borrowers into believing they are not legally obligated to their mortgage contracts.
Recently, a judge dismissed 13 separate claims against various mortgage lenders that were associated with the “freemen on the land” movement. The judge expressed concern over an “unseen hand” behind court documents related to these claims, indicating that the arguments presented lack legal validity. Despite these legal losses, the movement remains a rallying point for disaffected young people, especially on social media platforms like TikTok.
Court Rulings and Legal Concerns
The legal environment for the “freemen on the land” movement is still politically fraught. Unfortunately for the movement’s true-believers, a judge recently ruled against many of the movement’s adherents’ claims. He pointed out that these allegations have no legal merit.
“None of these claims have succeeded as they’re not legally valid.” – The FCA
The dismissal of these claims speaks to the judicial system’s rising dismissal toward the movement’s key claims. Legal advocates are alarmed by the misinformation’s impact on people facing economic crisis.
“We’re aware of mortgage holders in financial difficulty who are being misled by this online misinformation, often with serious financial consequences,” – The FCA
As Greg Sachrajda, the head of the FCA’s retail banking directorate puts it, this is “the crucial point.” He cautions that people facing the imminent threat of eviction are especially susceptible to the distorted claims of the movement.
Misleading Claims and Financial Consequences
The “freemen on the land” movement has tried to persuade individual homeowners that they don’t have to pay back their mortgages. Underestimating how long the process can take. This misleading premise can prove disastrous for those who become victims of its promises.
“If you borrow money, you’re required to repay it, and you only make the situation worse by trying to rely on false arguments which the courts are rejecting,” – Anonymous source
Beyond that, those who serve this movement could be left in even more severe fiscal distress. Further, reports indicate that many others have already lost their homes. They ended up with less cash from the sales of their homes because they bought into these baseless assertions.
“We’ve seen examples of people not only losing their home but also then getting less back from the proceeds of the sale of the home,” – Anonymous source
The Role of Authorities and Misinformation
Authorities, including local councils such as Thurrock council, have unequivocally rejected the claims made by the “freemen on the land” movement. They go on to explain how common law rights are different from rules about council tax that should be enforced. These rights are not extended to other financial responsibilities.
“Rights claimed under common law are not the same as laws relating to council tax,” – Thurrock council
The council further made it extremely clear that people cannot just opt out of paying council tax. This shoots down one of the movement’s main claims dead in its tracks.
“You don’t have a ‘choice’ as to whether you are liable for council tax,” – Thurrock council
Experts are urging all homeowners to consider independent legal advice. They warn against using only online resources or information about this movement.
“It’s always worth seeking independent legal advice before acting on information you find online as understanding your legal position fully will help protect you from costly mistakes,” – A spokesperson for UK Finance