The Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill

The government announced the introduction of the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill in January 2026. This Bill proposes several reforms to the current flat ownership system, including:

· A ban on new flats being sold as leaseholds – they would need to be sold as commonhold properties, which the Government is pushing to become the default form of flat ownership; and

· A cap on ground rents at no more than £250 pa, which will be reduced to a peppercorn after a 40-year transitional period has passed.

The Housing, Communities and Local Government (‘HCLG’) Committee has now launched a short public inquiry into the Government’s draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill (‘the Bill’), which was published for pre-legislative scrutiny on 27 January 2026.

Renters’ Rights Act 2025 in force and Stamp Duty Land Tax Fix

The Government has announced new legislation to prevent private residential tenants from being swept into the scope of Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) on rent as an unintended consequence of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 (RRA 2025), which comes into force on 1 May 2026.

The change sits against a dramatic statutory overhaul that substantially strengthens tenant security and increases compliance obligations for landlords.

Will the Leasehold Bill scrap leasehold, marriage value, existing ground rents

The Sunday Times reports that Michael Gove, the Levelling Up Secretary, has prepared a Leasehold Bill for inclusion in the King’s Speech.

In view of past government statements this could have important ramifications for residential leaseholders and their landlords.