Fresh criticism of government’s leasehold reform delays
Summary
Propertymark has published a report criticising the pace of leasehold reform, arguing that existing leaseholders continue to face rising costs, restrictive terms and uncertainty in the market. The report says the planned move to commonhold will take time and should not delay further reforms for current leaseholders, with evidence that leasehold issues are affecting sales and market confidence.
Why it matters
Surveyors involved in valuation, sales and leasehold advice will continue to encounter transaction delays, buyer caution and pricing impacts linked to lease terms, service charges and ground rents. The article also signals ongoing policy pressure that may affect how leasehold properties are assessed and marketed.
Key points
- Propertymark says leasehold reform has progressed, but existing leaseholders still face significant problems.
- The report argues commonhold transition will not resolve issues for current leaseholders quickly enough.
- Evidence cited includes buyer withdrawals linked to leasehold uncertainty and restrictive terms.
- Estate agents identified service charges, ground rents and short leases as major barriers to selling flats.
- The report calls for immediate, targeted reform rather than relying on long-term change alone.
This is an RPSA summary of a publicly available article. The full content remains with the original publisher.
