header-logo header-logo

Leasehold reform: a long time coming

29 July 2020 / Nick Hopkins , Christine Land
Issue: 7897 / Categories: Opinion , Property
printer mail-detail
25146
Nick Hopkins & Christine Land outline the Law Commission proposals designed to pave the way to genuine homeownership

Change in the leasehold sector has been a long time coming. On 21 July, the Law Commission published three reports which seek to give leaseholders an interest which they can finally, and confidently, call ‘ownership’.

The case for reform

Dissatisfaction with residential leasehold as a model for homeownership is not new. As far back as 1884, there have been attempts to introduce reforms that will improve the lot of residential leaseholders, and to redress the power imbalance with landlords. 136 years and over 50 bills later, dissatisfaction remains rife. That is because leasehold, on a fundamental level, is an inherently inappropriate means of providing homeownership. It is a system which enables the landlord to benefit from the features of leasehold that cause homeowners the most hardship. As a time-limited interest, the homeowner’s asset ‘wastes away’ and reduces in value over time and, in so doing, increases the value of the

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Writing in NLJ this week, Thomas Rothwell and Kavish Shah of Falcon Chambers unpack the surprise inclusion of a ban on upwards-only rent reviews in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
back-to-top-scroll