Flat leases often contain defects which one party or the other would like to see changed. This can be a particular problem on resale as lenders continue to tighten their requirements over time.
Such a change would usually be documented by varying the lease via a Deed known as a “Variation”.
Recent case law developments have made lease variations easier in certain circumstances and serve as a useful reminder of the available routes for seeking a variation.
The High Court has now issued its much-anticipated judgment in Arc Time Freehold Income Authorised Fund and others -v- Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government [2025] EWHC 2751 (Admin), firmly rejecting the judicial review brought by several of London’s largest landed estates.
Earlier this week, the long‐awaited Renters’ Rights Bill cleared the ‘ping-pong’ stage between the Commons and Lords to receive Royal Assent and become law. For tenants, landlords and property professionals alike, this marks a major overhaul for the residential rental market.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch announced at the Conservative Party Conference 2025 yesterday that the next Tory Government to be elected will completely abolish stamp duty land tax (SDLT) paid by buyers on primary residences in England.
On 6 October 2025, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) launched a consultation on reforming the home buying and selling process in England and Wales. The consultation seeks public opinions on a series of proposals intended to create a more transparent and efficient residential property market.
The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, which had its first reading in the House of Commons on 10 July 2025, contains an unexpected ban on upward-only rent review clauses in new commercial leases. The Government has stated that the policy behind this ban is supporting smaller businesses who are struggling to keep up with open market rent reviews that only allow rent to rise, not fall.
The measure has generated concern among landlords and investors, particularly given the surprising lack of prior consultation on such a major reform in a sector that has historically operated with minimal statutory intervention. For now, the Bill remains in its early parliamentary stages and is highly susceptible to changes following lobbying, with its Second Reading due in September.
This article sets out the scope of the proposed ban and its implications for the commercial rental sector if passed as it currently stands.
Following its Third Reading in the House of Lords on 21 July 2025, only minor drafting amendments were made to the Renters (Reform) Bill (‘the Bill’), signalling the Lords’ broad approval of its substance.
If the Bill is given Royal Assent in its current form — with no last-minute policy reversals when it returns to the Commons on 8 September 2025 — it will mark the most significant overhaul of tenancy law since the Housing Act 1988.
This article outlines the key reforms envisaged by the Bill to help landlords, tenants, and investors prepare for the changes ahead.
As part of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024, the government has proposed introducing new regulations to define what landlords and managing agents can charge leaseholders in connection with arranging building insurance.
A consultation was launched in December 2024 to seek views on what should constitute a “permitted insurance fee.” The government’s formal response was published on 11 July 2025.
The Government has published an open consultation titled “Strengthening Leaseholder Protections over Charges and Services,” which runs until 26 September 2025. This consultation accompanies the implementation of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 and is part of the wider legislative programme designed to rebalance the leasehold system in favour of flat owners and occupiers.
The consultation targets the next phase of reforms: improving transparency around service charges, regulating managing agents, and reforming major works and reserve funds.
While all of these reforms seem to favour leaseholders, ultimately life may become more expensive, and some flats may be more difficult to sell as a result.
The Government has now brought into force a number of provisions under the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024, implementing parts of the Law Commission’s recommendations relating to the Right to Manage (RTM). These were commenced by the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 (Commencement No. 3) Regulations 2025, which came into force on 3 March 2025.
While these reforms improve the existing RTM process in important ways, many of the more far-reaching recommendations remain outstanding and may be included in a future Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill. This raises the practical question for flat owners: should they proceed with an RTM claim now, or wait to see if further changes are made?