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commonhold.property
An editorial project by Manage.Management

UK Leasehold Reform, decoded

The end of leasehold is coming. Here's what changes.

Plain-English explainers and a live tracker for the biggest shake-up in UK home ownership in a generation — built for leaseholders, RTM & RMC directors, and anyone who owns a flat.

See where the Bill stands Start with the basics
Editorial line illustration of a UK residential apartment block, representing shared building ownership

Where things stand

The Commonhold & Leasehold Reform Bill, tracked

Six milestones from White Paper to Royal Assent. We update this the day anything moves — no press release lag.

Awaiting Government Response

  1. Commonhold White Paper Complete

    Published 3 March 2025. Government commits to making commonhold the default tenure and banning new leasehold flats. Read on gov.uk →

  2. Draft Bill Published Complete

    27 January 2026. Caps existing ground rents at £250/year, tapering to peppercorn over 40 years; lowers the conversion threshold to 50% of qualifying leaseholders.

  3. Committee Scrutiny Complete

    HCLG Committee's report landed 27 May 2026, calling the draft a "significant step" but pushing to shorten the ground-rent transition to 20 years. See the tracker →

  4. Government Response In progress

    Due 27 July 2026, now delayed — the PM's resignation on 22 June 2026 pushed it past summer recess. Confirmed by the Housing Minister on 10 July 2026. Macfarlanes analysis →

  5. Introduction to Parliament Upcoming

    Final Bill expected "autumn 2026," per government statements to the Committee.

  6. Royal Assent & Implementation Upcoming

    No date yet — most legal commentators estimate the ground rent cap won't bite in practice until 2028.

Start with the basics

Everything you need, in plain English

No legal jargon, no 40-page consultation documents. Just what's changing and what it means for you.

Illustration comparing a house bound in chains to a house flying a flag, representing leasehold versus commonhold ownership

The core explainer

Commonhold vs leasehold: what's actually different

Leasehold makes you a tenant of your own home for 99-999 years. Commonhold makes you an outright owner, with a direct say in how the building is run. Here's the difference in practice — service charges, freeholders, and who actually controls the roof over your head.

Read the explainer

Explainer

What is commonhold, really?

The tenure the government wants everyone on by the 2030s — explained from first principles.

Read

FAQ

Will my flat convert automatically?

No. Here's the 50% consent threshold, who has to agree, and how the process actually starts.

Read

Explainer

The ground rent cap, explained

£250 now, peppercorn later. What the transition period actually means for your annual bill.

Read

Reference

The commonhold glossary

Freeholder, forfeiture, RTM, RMC, qualifying leaseholder — every term, defined once and for all.

Read

The conversation

What people are actually saying

A curated look at how leaseholders, directors, and industry voices are reacting as the Bill moves.

"Reducing the consent threshold to 50% is the single biggest lever in this Bill. It's the difference between reform on paper and reform in practice."
RB RTM DirectorHousing policy commentary
"A 40-year taper on ground rent sounds generous until you realise most leaseholders won't see peppercorn rent in their lifetime in that flat."
LK Leasehold campaignerReform advocacy
"Management companies that get ahead of this — building the governance tools now — will be the ones leaseholders trust when conversion actually starts."
PM Property management sectorIndustry outlook