‘Excruciatingly slow’ progress on leasehold reform is creating unnecessary costs and delays for leaseholders, an expert has warned.
Linz Darlington, founder of leasehold extension specialists Homehold, says the lack of progress on the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act – which remains largely unenforced despite receiving Royal Assent over a year ago – is a worrying and frustrating situation for thousands of leaseholders across England and Wales.
In a House of Commons debate this week, government minister Alex Norris confirmed that a public consultation required to implement key parts of the act, which includes reforms to lease extension and freehold purchase pricing, is still pending. He also suggested further primary legislation would be need to correct deficiencies in the existing act.
According to Darlington, the outcome of the debate means that meaningful change ‘may be further off than ever’.
He commented:
“We’ve known since November 2024 that a consultation would be needed to move forward. Instead of launching it promptly, the Government deferred and seven months later, we’re still waiting.
“Now, rather than focusing on implementing what’s already been passed, the minister is talking about using this as an opportunity to transition to commonhold. While that’s a long-term goal many support, it’s years away from being viable.”
In March, the minister for housing and planning Matthew Pennycook said the government ‘remained steadfast’ in its commitment to providing leaseholders with greater rights, powers and protections over their homes. He added:
“Alongside the extensive programme of detailed secondary legislation that we are bringing forward to implement the remaining provisions of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024, we will further reform the existing leasehold system by legislating to tackle unregulated and unaffordable ground rents, removing the disproportionate and draconian threat of forfeiture, acting to protect leaseholders from abuse and poor service at the hands of unscrupulous managing agents, and enacting remaining Law Commission recommendations on enfranchisement and the right to manage.”
But with implementation stalled and key mechanisms inactive, Darlington has slammed the pace of the government’s progress as ‘excruciatingly slow’.
“In the meantime, existing leaseholders continue to suffer unnecessary costs and delays. Some have already been waiting nearly a decade for reform.”
