Government Unveils Leasehold Reforms
January 7, 2021
The Government has today published the following press release:
Government reforms make it easier and cheaper for leaseholders to buy their homes
The Government has today published the following press release:
- Millions of leaseholders will be given a new right to extend their lease by 990 years
- Changes could save households from thousands to tens of thousands of pounds
- Elderly also protected by reducing ground rents to zero for all new retirement properties
Millions of leaseholders will be given the right to extend their lease by a maximum term of 990 years at zero ground rent, the Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has announced today (7 January 2021).
Today’s measures come as part of the biggest reforms to English property law for 40 years, fundamentally making home ownership fairer and more secure.
Under the current law many people face high ground rents, which combined with a mortgage, can make it feel like they are paying rent on a property they own.
Freeholders can increase the amount of ground rent with little or no benefit seen to those faced with extra charges. It can also lengthen and lead to increased costs when buying or selling the property.
Today’s changes will mean that any leaseholder who chooses to extend their lease on their home will no longer pay any ground rent to the freeholder, enabling those who dream of fully owning their home to do so without cumbersome bureaucracy and additional, unnecessary and unfair expenses
For some leaseholders, these changes could save them thousands, to tens of thousands of pounds.
Housing Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said:
Across the country people are struggling to realise the dream of owning their own home but find the reality of being a leaseholder far too bureaucratic, burdensome and expensive.
The full press release is available to read here.
