Morning, Friday, 29th January 2027
Online
This conference will examine the future of leasehold and commonhold policy in England and Wales.
It will bring together stakeholders and policymakers to consider priorities for the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, following pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Bill and with the Government's commitment to introduce the final legislation to Parliament before the end of 2026. Delegates will assess options for ending the sale of new leasehold flats, introducing a reformed commonhold model for new developments, and facilitating conversion of existing leasehold buildings to commonhold.
Ground rents & implementation of the Bill
Planned sessions will explore implications of proposals to cap existing ground rents, including the Government's consultation on a possible exemption for quid pro quo leases. Discussion is also expected on implementation priorities, legislative timescales and the practical considerations arising for leaseholders, freeholders, developers and managing agents.
Implementing the 2024 Act & service charge reform
It will be an opportunity to examine the timetable for implementing the remaining provisions of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024, including its enfranchisement reforms, which depend on fixes to the Act through the new Bill, and the ban on the sale of new leasehold houses. Attendees will also consider next steps following the Government's response on implementing the Act's service charge measures, including standardised service charge demands, annual reports, accounts and insurance transparency, alongside the forthcoming response on reform of major works procedures and mandatory qualifications for managing agents.
Property agent regulation, insurance & leaseholder fees
Attendees will consider the Government's plans for an independent statutory regulator for property agents, including the regulation of leasehold and commonhold managing agents, licensing, qualifications and codes of practice. Sessions will assess implementation of the permitted insurance fees regime under the 2024 Act, including what landlords, freeholders and property managing agents may charge for arranging and managing building insurance.
Proposals for capping certain permission and administration fees charged to leaseholders and homeowners on privately managed estates will also be considered.
Enfranchisement valuation, process costs & sequencing of reform
The remaining programme of secondary legislation required to implement the 2024 Act will be a further area for discussion, including the consultation on prescribing the deferment and capitalisation rates used to value lease extensions, freehold purchases and ground rent buyouts, and the implications for leaseholders and freeholders. This also includes how the Bill and the remaining 2024 Act measures will be sequenced, and what this means in practice for homeowners, freeholders and the wider market.
We also expect further discussion to consider implications of the separate consultation on enfranchisement process costs, including the circumstances in which leaseholders may remain liable for landlords' costs.
Overview of areas for discussion:
- the Bill:
- priorities for the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill - government’s response to pre-legislative scrutiny and potential revisions - timetable for introducing and implementing final legislation
- new leasehold flats:
- scope and exemptions for the proposed ban - transition arrangements for developments already underway
- implications for developers, purchasers and housing delivery - interaction with the proposed commonhold framework
- commonhold model:
- addressing barriers behind previous low uptake - governance, financing and dispute resolution arrangements
- managing phased developments and developers’ continuing rights - lender confidence, mortgageability and valuation
- commonhold conversion:
- proposed routes for existing buildings to convert - consent thresholds and freeholder interests - management, financing and registration considerations following conversion
- ground rents:
- implementing the proposed £250 cap - timing and length of the transition to peppercorn rents - treatment of quid pro quo leases
- the scope of any exemptions for existing leases - property rights, valuation and wider investment implications
- lease enforcement:
- replacing forfeiture with a statutory enforcement scheme - proportional responses to covenant breaches and arrears
- court oversight, costs and protections for homeowners - repeal of estate rentcharge enforcement powers
- property management & regulation:
- establishing an independent statutory regulator for property agents - regulation of leasehold and commonhold managing agents
- licensing, qualifications and codes of practice - complaints handling, accountability and enforcement - implications for managing agents and property owners
- 2024 Act implementation:
- sequencing remaining secondary legislation - experience of right to manage changes since March 2025
- fixes required before enfranchisement reforms can commence - practical barriers and priorities for further commencement
- service charges & fees:
- standardised service-charge demands, reporting and accounts - reform of major works procedures - the permitted insurance fees regime
- proposals to cap permission and administration fees - transparency over insurance and other leaseholder costs
- enfranchisement valuation:
- forthcoming decisions on deferment and capitalisation rates - implications of removing marriage value - process costs and exceptions to the own-costs rule
- affordability, certainty and competing stakeholder interests
