News

Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Bill now Published

The government has today (27th January 2026) published the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill in draft, for pre-legislative scrutiny by the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee.

The draft Bill includes the following measures:

  • Reinvigorating commonhold through a comprehensive new legal framework
  • Banning the use of leasehold for new flats, ensuring that commonhold is the default tenure in future
  • Making it easier for leaseholders to convert their homes to commonhold
  • Abolishing the existing forfeiture regime and replacing it with a fairer, more proportionate lease-enforcement regime
  • Repealing similar unfair enforcement powers that apply to estate rentcharges on privately managed freehold estates
  • Capping ground rents at £250 a year, before changing to a peppercorn after 40 years.

The Bill will reinvigorate commonhold through the introduction of a comprehensive new legal framework based on the vast majority of the recommendations made by the Law Commission in its 2020 report. It will enable commonhold to be used in the widest possible range of settings, enhancing the rights and protections of consumers while also supporting the needs of developers and lenders. The draft Bill also includes measures to make it easier for leaseholders to convert to commonhold, should they wish to do so.

In addition, the draft Bill contains provisions to ban the use of leasehold for new flats. Once this comes into force, it will ensure that, other than in exceptional circumstances, all flats are provided as commonhold. Alongside this, the Government has published a consultation titled ‘Moving to Commonhold’, which seeks input from industry and consumers on how the new ban should be implemented.

In relation to forfeiture, existing laws have allowed landlords to threaten people with the loss of their home and hard-earned equity. The draft Bill contains provisions to abolish the existing forfeiture regime and a new fairer, court-led process with strict safeguards for more extreme cases will be introduced instead. And for homeowners on freehold estates, the Bill will also repeal similar enforcement powers that apply to estate rentcharges.

The Government’s manifesto committed to tackling unregulated and unaffordable ground rent charges, and the draft Bill contains proposals to cap existing ground rents at £250 per year, which will change to a peppercorn after 40 years.

The statement can be read HERE.

Andrew Bulmer, Chief Executive of The Property Institute, commented:

“We welcome the publication of the Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, which will give homeowners more control of the estates and communities they live in and reduce high and escalating ground rent costs for many leaseholders. These are important steps forward in improving the lives of homeowners in England and Wales.

“Commonhold will bring new responsibilities for homeowners, including building safety, financial governance, and upkeep of shared areas. Our members regularly work with residents who manage their own buildings – two thirds of the buildings TPI members manage are resident-controlled. We embrace the move to commonhold and stand ready to support future generations of commonholders to live in safe, well-managed homes.

“It is vital that commonholders, as well as leaseholders, can rely on a professional and regulated property management sector to support them. We want to see Government also deliver on its commitment to mandatory qualifications, and to bring forth regulation of managing agents, to further improve outcomes for homeowners.

“Some of these reforms will be complex, and there will be important details to scrutinise, for example, on a replacement for forfeiture, to ensure buildings with arrears can continue to function. It is very positive that the Select Committee will first scrutinise a draft of the Bill with all stakeholders.

“For our members, these reforms will bring change as the sector adapts to commonhold, although most of our members already work directly for residents – more than half of the buildings they managed are resident owned-or controlled. The Property Institute is already developing guidance and qualification modules to support our members and will continue to engage with Government to ensure the new measure in the Bill are proportionate and practicable.”

ALEP Welcomes the Publication of the Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill and a Government Consultation on Commonhold

The qualification of a seventh Chartered Surveyor has been celebrated at Principle Estate Management, along with three other staff members achieving coveted places on a prestigious property sector list.

While reiterating the need for balanced, practical reform and early engagement with professionals

ALEP (the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners) has welcomed the publication of the Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, describing it as an important step in the government’s long stated aim to modernise tenure structures in England and Wales.

The draft Bill, published as a policy paper, sets out to reinvigorate and reform the commonhold model, making it easier for existing leaseholders to convert to commonhold should they wish to do so, and banning the use of leasehold for most new flats from a future date. The Bill also caps ground rents at £250 a year and repeals the enforcement powers that apply to estate rent charges on freehold estates. A consultation on commonhold runs until 24 April 2026.

Mark Chick, ALEP director and Senior Partner at Bishop & Sewell LLP, said: “This draft legislation is long-awaited, both by the industry and by the 5 million plus leaseholders in England and Wales. Reforming tenure structures may not attract the same attention as meeting housebuilding targets, but it remains a cornerstone of housing delivery. The structure of ownership underpins how communities are managed, maintained and held to account and reform was long-overdue.

“ALEP has consistently supported the government’s intention to reform leasehold. Its position is that reform must be workable, evidence-based and developed in partnership with the professionals who will be responsible for implementing it.

“We welcome the consultation on commonhold. If commonhold is to succeed as a viable alternative to leasehold, its introduction must be practical, transparent and legally robust and this will require input from the wide range of professionals involved.

“There is clear political and public pressure to accelerate change, but reforms of this magnitude must balance speed with care. Rushed legislation rarely delivers clarity or certainty. The experience of implementing Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act (LAFRA) shows how important it is to get the detail right.

“Similar comments apply to the proposed cap and eventual sunset on ground rents which will potentially be susceptible to Human Rights Act challenges, although the government has been at pains to set out its approach in a policy statement for this very reason.”

ALEP, which comprises specialist solicitors, valuers and managing agents, calls on the MHCLG to draw on the expertise of its membership during the consultation and beyond. ALEP would welcome the revival of the Commonhold Council or a similar advisory body to ensure that practical experience informs the drafting of both primary and secondary legislation.

ALEP also notes that while commonhold for new developments may be relatively straightforward, retrofitting commonhold across the existing stock presents far greater challenges. With more than five million leasehold homes in England and Wales, any broad-based conversion programme would need to be phased, well-resourced and carefully explained to consumers.

Training is also a concern. At present, only a very small number of practitioners have hands-on experience of commonhold. ALEP estimates that introducing commonhold at scale would require several days of structured training per practitioner, amounting to many hundreds of hours across the profession. Without proper planning and support, including from bodies such as LEASE, the sector risks a capacity gap at the very moment when leaseholders most need clarity.

In conclusion, Mark Chick said, “This Draft Bill represents the most substantial shift in land tenure for more than two centuries. ALEP and its members are ready to contribute to the development of a system that delivers genuine long term benefits for leaseholders, freeholders and the wider housing sector. We are also committed to supporting constructive dialogue between government, leaseholders and professionals in this complex but critical area of property law.”

Strangford Management Makes Two Strategic Hires to Deepen Specialist Capability Across Complex Residential Portfolios

Strangford Management Ltd, the London-based specialist leasehold block management company, has announced the appointment of Georgia Clements as Building Safety & Compliance Manager and Sam Brown as Senior Property Manager, as the business continues to expand and strengthen its technical capability across complex residential developments.

The appointments reflect Strangford’s focus on building a team that can support clients with increasing regulatory demands, particularly across high-rise buildings, while maintaining the high service standards expected across premium and mixed-tenure schemes.

Georgia Clements joins Strangford to lead building safety and compliance oversight across the portfolio, with a particular focus on high-rise buildings and the practical delivery of compliant, well-governed management. Georgia will help ensure Strangford’s buildings are managed safely, consistently, and with the robust oversight expected under today’s regulatory landscape.

Sam Brown joins as a Senior Property Manager, bringing strong experience in the management of higher-end residential and mixed-tenure developments. Sam will help deliver high standards across a growing client base, supporting smooth operations and clear accountability through Strangford’s unique pod structure.

Michael Paul, Managing Director of Strangford Management Ltd, said:

“Strangford has grown significantly over the last year, and with that growth comes a responsibility to keep raising our standards, not just in service, but in the technical depth we bring to our clients. Georgia and Sam are both brilliant additions to the team. Georgia strengthens our capability in building safety and compliance, especially for high-rise buildings, and Sam brings the calm experience and quality mindset we value in our senior-level property managers.”

Strangford Management continues to grow its London and Home Counties portfolio, supporting developers and freeholders, as well as resident-led companies, with a structured, results-based approach to leasehold block management.

JMJ Asset Management Shortlisted for New Start Up of the Year

JMJ Asset Management has been shortlisted for New Start Up of the Year at the South West Business & Community Awards, recognising the company’s strong start and growing impact across the region.

Founded in 2025, JMJ Asset Management was established to offer a more considered approach to block and estate management and one that puts people at the centre. Working closely alongside leaseholders and resident directors, JMJ focuses on collaboration, clear decision making and practical support, ensuring clients feel informed, involved and properly supported rather than managed at arm’s length.

Operating across Bristol, Bath, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, the business provides professional block and estate management services rooted in strong governance, regulatory confidence and positive working relationships. The shortlist places JMJ Asset Management among a select group of businesses judged on innovation, growth and contribution to their sector.

Managing Director, Jodie Fraser, said: “To be shortlisted so early in our journey is incredibly encouraging. JMJ was built on the belief that property management can be both professional and personal, and that working alongside our clients and residents makes a real difference. This recognition feels like validation that we’re moving in the right direction.”

The South West Business & Community Awards celebrate organisations that demonstrate excellence and positive impact across the South West of England. Shortlisted businesses are independently assessed against strict judging criteria, making the recognition particularly meaningful for new and growing companies.

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Swindon on 11 March 2026.

JMJ Asset Management continues to expand its block and estate management division across the South West, supporting clients with clear communication, strong governance and a genuinely people first approach.