Found: Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill Ordered, That Professor Nicholas Hopkins and Wendy Wilson

Found: obviously everyone knows that the Government have now published the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill

Found: and Planning dated 27 January 2026 concerning the publication of the Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill

Found: to the Chair dated 27 January 2026 concerning the publication of the Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill

Found: On the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill more widely, I am aware that the Housing Minister has written

Found: to the Chair dated 18 December 2025 concerning the publication of the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill

Submit Evidence (by 25 Feb 2026)

On 27 January 2026, the Government published a draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny.  

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to introduce a cap on ground rents.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Through the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill published on 27 January 2026, the government is proposing to cap ground rent at £250 per year, before changing to a peppercorn in 40 years.

For further information, I refer the Noble Lord to the Written Ministerial Statement HLWS1278 on 27 January 2026.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill on access to fixed charges for retirees living in housing-with-care.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government recognise that some specialist retirement housing providers have distinct operational and financing arrangements, and we value the important contribution that this sector makes to supporting older people.

We want to ensure providers can continue to operate effectively and with confidence.

As per the Written Ministerial Statement made on 27 January 2026 (HCWS1278), we will consider through the scrutiny and consultation process whether particular arrangements may be appropriate for certain forms of specialist provision.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill on private investment in the supply of housing-with-care for older people.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government recognise that some specialist retirement housing providers have distinct operational and financing arrangements, and we value the important contribution that this sector makes to supporting older people.

We want to ensure providers can continue to operate effectively and with confidence.

As per the Written Ministerial Statement made on 27 January 2026 (HCWS1278), we will consider through the scrutiny and consultation process whether particular arrangements may be appropriate for certain forms of specialist provision.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if his Department will include reforms to the criteria for voting in the Private Retirement Housing Code of Practice to increase the representation of eligible leaseholders as part of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The current edition of the Association of Retirement Housing Managers Code of Practice on Private Retirement Housing, approved in 2016 using powers under Section 87 of the Leasehold Reform and Urban Development Act 1993, may be used as evidence by the First-tier Tribunal or County Court in any decisions they make.

It is for the Association to decide what changes to the Code are necessary, including the voting criteria on how services and facilities are provided, which will then be put to the Secretary of State for consideration.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps is he taking to ensure that all leaseholders, including existing leaseholders, have their ground rent reduced to a peppercorn.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Through the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill published on 27 January 2026, the government is proposing to cap ground rent at £250 per year, before changing to a peppercorn in 40 years.

For further information, I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 27 January 2026 (HCWS1278).

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to help ensure that Leasehold reform will include reductions in ground levels of ground rent.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Through the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill published on 27 January 2026, the government is proposing to cap ground rent at £250 per year, before changing to a peppercorn in 40 years.

For further information, I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 27 January 2026 (HCWS1278).

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for what reason the publication of the draft Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill was delayed.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

As per our manifesto commitment, this government is taking the steps necessary to finally bring the feudal leasehold system to an end in this Parliament.

Publication of the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill was delayed by a matter of weeks to finalise elements of policy and drafting.

The draft Bill was published yesterday, and I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made (HCWS1278).

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the timing of the publication of the draft Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill on leaseholders.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

As per our manifesto commitment, this government is taking the steps necessary to finally bring the feudal leasehold system to an end in this Parliament.

Publication of the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill was delayed by a matter of weeks to finalise elements of policy and drafting.

The draft Bill was published yesterday, and I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made (HCWS1278).

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions his Department has had with freehold investors and their representatives on the (a) content and (b) timing of the draft Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill since July 2024.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Officials in my Department engage regularly with representatives of freeholders, leaseholders, managing agents and other professional bodies with an interest in the leasehold sector in England and Wales.

The draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill was published yesterday, and I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made (HCWS1278).

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress he has made on ending the leasehold system.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Over the course of this parliament, the government is determined to honour the commitments made in our manifesto and do what is necessary to finally bring the feudal leasehold system to an end.

We continue to progressively implement the provisions of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024.

Yesterday, the government published its draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill. Further detail can be found in the Written Ministerial Statement made (HCWS1278).

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on the number of long leases that have been turned into Assured Shorthold Tenancies because their ground rent was increased to more than £250.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

My Department does not hold data on long leases that have been treated as assured shorthold tenancies as a result of ground rent increases. Nor does it hold data on the number of leases that have been forfeited due to ground rent arrears.

The government has acted through the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 to ensure that leases granted for more than 21 years will be excluded from the assured tenancy regime. The relevant provisions will come into force on 27 December 2025 and will mean that from that date it will no longer be the case that, under provisions of the Housing Act 1988, leaseholders paying a ground rent of more than £250 a year (or more than £1,000 in London) can be legally regarded as assured tenants, and as such can have their home repossessed if they fall behind on their ground rents.

We also recognise that under the current legal framework, landlords may rely on a contractual right to forfeit a lease where a leaseholder breaches a covenant – such as the failure to pay ground rent. The availability of forfeiture as a remedy can create a significant power imbalance between landlords and leaseholders, with its use resulting in the leaseholder losing both their home and any equity accrued in the property.

We will address this through the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill by removing the disproportionate and draconian threat of forfeiture as a means of enforcing lease compliance. The Government also remains committed to addressing unregulated and unaffordable ground rents and doing so in legislation.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on the number of leases that have been forfeited because the leaseholder fell into ground rent arrears of 3 months in each of the last five years.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

My Department does not hold data on long leases that have been treated as assured shorthold tenancies as a result of ground rent increases. Nor does it hold data on the number of leases that have been forfeited due to ground rent arrears.

The government has acted through the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 to ensure that leases granted for more than 21 years will be excluded from the assured tenancy regime. The relevant provisions will come into force on 27 December 2025 and will mean that from that date it will no longer be the case that, under provisions of the Housing Act 1988, leaseholders paying a ground rent of more than £250 a year (or more than £1,000 in London) can be legally regarded as assured tenants, and as such can have their home repossessed if they fall behind on their ground rents.

We also recognise that under the current legal framework, landlords may rely on a contractual right to forfeit a lease where a leaseholder breaches a covenant – such as the failure to pay ground rent. The availability of forfeiture as a remedy can create a significant power imbalance between landlords and leaseholders, with its use resulting in the leaseholder losing both their home and any equity accrued in the property.

We will address this through the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill by removing the disproportionate and draconian threat of forfeiture as a means of enforcing lease compliance. The Government also remains committed to addressing unregulated and unaffordable ground rents and doing so in legislation.

Found: will benefit from stronger control, powers and protections, through the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill

Found: Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill

Found: Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill

Found: Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill

Found: Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill

Found: Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill

Found: Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill

Found: will benefit from stronger control, powers and protections, through the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill

Found: The upcoming draft UK Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, which is due to be published by the end

Found: The upcoming draft UK Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, which is due to be published by the end

Found: The upcoming draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, which is due to be published by the end of

Found: The upcoming draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, which is due to be published by the end of

Found: Written Statement: Publication of draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill (30 January 2026)