NOBODY does pomp and ceremony like us Brits and, wow, it was on full display in Westminster last week. Despite the prestige...
Archive
22 July 2024
From: Breaking News
![General Election: estate agents react to Tory manifesto](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/PropertyNews3-400x310.png)
The Conservative Party’s General Election manifesto has committed to resurrecting the Help to Buy Equity Loan Scheme and temporarily removing Capital...
12 June 2024
From: Breaking News
![Liberal Democrat manifesto: UK housing policies revealed](/upload/images/shutterstock_1975463168.jpg)
The Liberal Democrat General Election manifesto has been published, promising more housebuilding, abolishing leasehold tenures and its own buyer support scheme. Its...
11 June 2024
From: Breaking News
!['A muted win' – leasehold reform bill passes](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/PropertyNews-400x310.png)
The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill was the final piece of legislation to pass before Parliament closed ahead of the General...
28 May 2024
From: Breaking News
![MPs demand scrapping of ground rents on leasehold properties](/upload/images/shutterstock_385772824.jpg)
Sky News is reporting that up to 30 Conservative MPs are threatening to rebel against the government’s approach to ground rents...
02 May 2024
From: Breaking News
![Clarity needed on Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill report](/upload/images/3%20--%20Proofed%20--%20Weekend%20feature%20-%20Clarity%20needed%20By%20Mark%20Chick%2C%20Director%20of%20ALEP.jpg)
Last weekend a story by The Sunday Times’ Deputy Political Editor indicated that the Government is proposing implementing a £250 cap...
27 April 2024
From: Features
![Ground rent reform set for scrapheap - reports](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/PropertyNews-400x310.png)
Plans to set ground rents at a ‘peppercorn rate’ are reported to have been dropped amid opposition from freehold campaigners and...
25 March 2024
From: Breaking News
![Competition watchdog frees 500 households from doubling ground rents](/upload/images/shutterstock_1750387934.jpg)
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has secured agreements from eight freeholders to remove “problematic ground rent” terms from leases. The competition...
14 March 2024
From: Breaking News
![Government's leasehold reform proposals come under the spotlight](/upload/images/5%20proofed%20-%20Government's%20leasehold%20reform%20weekend%20feature%20by%20EAT%20team.jpg)
The complexities of the government’s leasehold reform proposals affecting millions of homeowners came under the spotlight at a seminar organised by...
02 March 2024
From: Features
![Leasehold reform bill returns to Parliament – will it be improved?](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/PropertyNews1-400x310.png)
Parliamentary news may have been dominated by the fallout from the Rwanda Bill yesterday but another important piece of legislation also...
17 January 2024
From: Breaking News
![Leasehold activists: Peppercorn ground rents are best reform option](/upload/images/shutterstock_1155447730.jpg)
Leasehold campaigners are urging anyone responding to the Government’s consultation on ground rents reform to boycott all options but capping them...
06 December 2023
From: Breaking News
![Revolutionising leasehold -the road ahead for owners and managers of blocks of flats](/upload/images/__thumbs/3%20--%20%20Proofed%20--%20Revolutionising%20Leasehold%20The%20Road%20Ahead%20for%20Owners%20and%20Managers%20of%20Blocks%20of%20Flats%20FINAL%20by%20Robert%20Poole.jpg/3%20--%20%20Proofed%20--%20Revolutionising%20Leasehold%20The%20Road%20Ahead%20for%20Owners%20and%20Managers%20of%20Blocks%20of%20Flats%20FINAL%20by%20Robert%20Poole__400x268.jpg)
The United Kingdom stands on the precipice of a historic overhaul in property ownership. With the King's speech unveiling the anticipated...
25 November 2023
From: Features
![Government unveils proposals to reform ground rents](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/PropertyNews3-400x310.png)
The Government has outlined five proposals to reduce ground rents for existing leaseholders as its latest attempt to reform the sector...
10 November 2023
From: Breaking News
![King’s Speech: ‘Disappointing for existing leaseholders’](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Rental%20Market/LearningAgents-400x310.png)
Campaigners and commentators have reacted cautiously to leasehold reform proposals put forward in the King’s Speech. The King took part in his...
08 November 2023
From: Breaking News
![Propertymark backs leasehold reform proposals](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/PropertyNews-400x310.png)
Propertymark has given its backing to commitments from the Housing Minister on the long-awaited next steps of leasehold reform. Timothy Douglas, head...
01 November 2023
From: Breaking News
![Gove resurrects bid to phase out leasehold system for houses](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/PropertyNews-400x310.png)
All new houses in England and Wales will have to be sold as freehold properties under government plans to phase out...
30 October 2023
From: Breaking News
![‘Fundamental’ leasehold reform promised in King’s Speech](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/PropertyNews1-400x310.png)
Housing Secretary Michael Gove has signalled that legislation to allow for further leasehold reform will be included in the next parliamentary...
21 February 2023
From: Breaking News
![Michael Gove 'gets it' - why his return is good news for the industry](/upload/images/Politics%20(MPs%2C%20party%20logos%2C%20etc)/MichaelGove-400x310.jpg)
Recent political changes – and there have been quite a few in recent weeks – have brought about something of a...
29 October 2022
From: Features
![Competition watchdog secures ground rent reductions for leaseholders](/upload/images/library/New%20Rental%20Index-400x310.png)
Thousands more leaseholders are expected to see ground rents cut and some may even receive refunds. It forms part of the Competition...
25 August 2022
From: Breaking News
![Government must fix competitive disadvantage of leasehold reforms](/upload/images/Back-link-images/house%20and%20happer%20scale.jpg)
A parliamentary petition calling for ground rent charges to be extended to existing leases has reached the required number of signatures...
28 July 2022
From: Breaking News
![Older leaseholds homes could become harder to sell until full reform - claim](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/LeaseholdImage-2020-400x310.jpg)
New rules on leasehold homes came in this week, banning ground rents on new leases but a property expert warns this...
30 June 2022
From: Breaking News
![Agency trade body backs ground rent ban and hopes for further reform](/upload/images/Logos/NAEA-ARLA-Propertymark-400x310.jpg)
Propertymark has given its backing to the ban on ground rents for new leasehold properties and has reminded agents of their...
25 April 2022
From: Breaking News
![More leaseholders freed from doubling ground rents](/upload/images/Politics%20(MPs%2C%20party%20logos%2C%20etc)/MichaelGove2-400x310.png)
Fifteen businesses which had bought freeholds from housing developer Countryside have now given formal undertakings to remove terms that cause ground...
21 March 2022
From: Breaking News
22 January 2022
From: Features
![Legal warning that sales market still hurt by ground rent problem](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/LeaseholdImage-2020-400x310.jpg)
House and apartment sales are still being hit by confusion and worry over ground rents on existing second-hand leasehold properties. This is...
24 December 2021
From: Breaking News
![Breakthrough in ground rents and leasehold controversy](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/LeaseholdImage-2020-400x310.jpg)
A probe by the Competition and Markets Authority has led housebuilder Taylor Wimpey to make changes for the benefit of leaseholders. Taylor...
23 December 2021
From: Breaking News
![ALEP welcomes ground rents action as Countryside scraps unfair lease terms](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/UK-Houses-Row-2019-400x310.jpg)
The Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP) has become the latest body to welcome the decision by Countryside Properties to scrap the requirement to pay...
17 September 2021
From: Breaking News
![National Leasehold Campaign backs latest CMA action on ground rents](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/NewHomes-400x310.png)
One of the biggest campaign groups calling for leasehold reform has welcomed the action taken by the Competition and Markets Authority...
16 September 2021
From: Breaking News
![Leasehold victory – leaseholders with Countryside freed from costly terms](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/UK-Houses-Row-2019-400x310.jpg)
In what will be seen as the latest win for leaseholders across the UK, it’s been revealed that – following action...
15 September 2021
From: Breaking News
![Get on with it! Leasehold reform delays hurting the market - claim](/upload/images/library/LeaseholdImage-2020-400x310.jpg)
The lack of progress on the much-anticipated government reforms of the leasehold system is leaving thousands of homeowners stranded, according to...
20 August 2021
From: Breaking News
![Ground Rent refunds: Agents demand rest of industry must follow suit](/img/default/eat.png)
NAEA Propertymark says the news that two major players in the leasehold sector have reformed their activities must be just the...
24 June 2021
From: Breaking News
![Ground rent refunds after watchdog strikes leasehold deal](/img/default/eat.png)
The Competition and Markets Authority has struck a deal with house builders over leasehold abuses. Aviva has committed to remove certain terms...
23 June 2021
From: Breaking News
![Ground rent scandal: Housebuilders bite back after attack by watchdog](/img/default/eat.png)
Two of Britain’s largest house builders have reacted sharply to calls by Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick and the Competition and Markets...
22 March 2021
From: Breaking News
![Rip-Off leasehold charges to be abolished by government](/img/default/eat.png)
Millions of leaseholders will be given the right to extend their lease by a maximum term of 990 years at zero...
07 January 2021
From: Breaking News
![Agents back investigation into “unfair sales tactics” over leasehold](/img/default/eat.png)
NAEA Propertymark has thrown its weight behind a Competitions and Markets Authority investigation into whether consumer protection law has been broken...
07 September 2020
From: Breaking News
![Watchdog launches probe into unfair sales tactics of leasehold homes](/img/default/eat.png)
The Competition and Markets Authority is today opening enforcement cases focusing on the sale of leasehold homes by four leading housebuilders. They...
04 September 2020
From: Breaking News
![990-year lease extensions could help end leasehold scandal](/img/default/eat.png)
The long-awaited proposals for leasehold reform produced by the Law Commission suggests giving owners the right to extend their lease for...
22 July 2020
From: Breaking News
![There’s still a market - over £28m raised at online auction](/img/default/eat.png)
Allsop has staged its first principal residential auction entirely online, and has raised £28m. Some 76 per cent of all lots offered...
15 April 2020
From: Breaking News
![First-time buyers shun Shared Ownership for Help to Buy](/img/default/eat.png)
New research of the buying habits of first-time buyers in the UK we’ve undertaken here at reallymoving.com shows that Shared Ownership...
25 March 2020
From: Features
![Industry welcome for clampdown on developers’ leasehold sales](/img/default/eat.png)
There’s been a broad welcome from agents and other industry organisations for the latest report from the Competition and Markets Authority...
02 March 2020
From: Breaking News
![“Fat cat freeholders” would be stopped by Commonhold - claim](/img/default/eat.png)
The government is being urged to make commonhold ownership compulsory on all new apartments - and the move could even begin a...
21 February 2020
From: Breaking News
![Phil Spencer: which areas of the moving process do consumers least understand?](/img/default/eat.png)
Unfortunately for consumers, buying and selling properties is rarely plain sailing. But fortunately for agents, this provides you with an opportunity to...
03 February 2020
From: Breaking News
![More reforms on their way as government ponders leasehold changes](/img/default/eat.png)
The Law Commission has set out three ways to cut the cost that leaseholders have to pay to buy the freehold...
10 January 2020
From: Breaking News
![Details of 30% discounts for 'First Home' local buyers revealed](/img/default/eat.png)
The government has given details of a scheme allowing 30 per cent reductions for what it calls ‘local first time buyers’...
19 December 2019
From: Breaking News
![General election 2019: The housing crisis remains a top issue](/img/default/eat.png)
With Brexit still unresolved, the domestic agenda has been pushed from the headlines by the seemingly overwhelming public and political discord...
07 December 2019
From: Features
![Breakthrough as agent sells apartments without ground rents](/img/default/eat.png)
A London estate agency says a new scheme of apartments being launched for sale this weekend will be the first ever...
07 November 2019
From: Breaking News
![Regulating agents is key demand from leasehold campaigner](/img/default/eat.png)
A 10 point manifesto to drive forward leasehold reform has been published by prominent campaigner Louie Burns, of The Leasehold Solutions Group. The 10...
06 November 2019
From: Breaking News
![How can the government help the millions of 'trapped' movers?](/img/default/eat.png)
There’s no doubt that we live in politically charged times and every day appears to bring something new to the ‘party’. For...
05 October 2019
From: Features
![Price gap between freehold and leasehold widens to eight-year high](/img/default/eat.png)
The price premium paid by purchasers for a freehold property rather than a leasehold is at its highest for eight years. An...
26 September 2019
From: Breaking News
![Buyers advised to check charges and clauses in retirement schemes](/img/default/eat.png)
A retirement development specialist is warning buyers on such schemes to beware unexpected clauses or restrictions which they may not have...
09 August 2019
From: Breaking News
![Government blasted over ‘scandalous’ leasehold reform proposals](/img/default/eat.png)
A leasehold reform campaigner says government proposals risk creating a two-tier market and do nothing to assist leaseholders already hit by...
02 July 2019
From: Breaking News
![CMA launches investigation into sale of leasehold properties](/img/default/eat.png)
The Competition and Markets Authority has formally launched an investigation into the sale of leasehold properties - including possible mis-selling. This follows...
11 June 2019
From: Breaking News
![‘Punish rip-off culprits’ - CMA urged to be aggressive on leasehold abuse](/img/default/eat.png)
A firm supporting leaseholders across the UK says the ongoing Competition and Markets Authority probe should “punish” what it calls “rip off...
24 May 2019
From: Breaking News
![Commonhold in action – one small builder’s attempts to change the system](/img/default/eat.png)
So far in our contribution to the campaign to replace leasehold with commonhold we have outlined the stories of some of...
18 May 2019
From: Features
![Expert view on the leasehold scandal - is Commonhold the answer?](/img/default/eat.png)
The leasehold scandal continues to generate plenty of column inches, with fresh stories emerging almost daily of people living in unsellable...
18 April 2019
From: Breaking News
![Replacing leasehold with commonhold – we’re backing the campaign!](/img/default/eat.png)
The leasehold scandal has received plenty of press coverage, with horror stories of people living in homes that are impossible to...
06 April 2019
From: Features
![“Pathetic” government pledge mocked by leasehold expert](/img/default/eat.png)
Almost as soon as the government yesterday made its latest announcement to outlaw rogue leasehold deals, the measure was branded “pathetic. More...
29 March 2019
From: Breaking News
![Stamp Duty and conveyancing are growing worries for home owners](/img/default/eat.png)
A large-scale survey by a consumer group has revealed that over half of home owners regard stamp duty as a growing...
26 March 2019
From: Breaking News
![Agents back call for CMA probe into possible leasehold ‘mis-selling’](/img/default/eat.png)
The leasehold system has created many unsellable and unmortgageable homes and should change, MPs say. The all-party Housing, Communities and Local Government...
19 March 2019
From: Breaking News
![NTSEAT issues new guidance on redress in leasehold disputes](/img/default/eat.png)
The National Trading Standards Estate Agency team has issued new guidance for those seeking redress over leasehold disputes. This guidance contains a...
30 January 2019
From: Breaking News
![Buyers 'taken for a ride' as new-build leasehold house prices soar](/img/default/eat.png)
The cost of new-build leasehold properties has surged 16 times faster than freeholds according to research from property investment platform. The revelation...
16 October 2018
From: Breaking News
![Agents want help for existing leaseholders as well as new ones](/img/default/eat.png)
The National Association of Estate Agents has welcomed the government’s move to ensure most future new-build houses are sold as freehold...
15 October 2018
From: Breaking News
![Government to make new homes freehold with ground rents capped](/img/default/eat.png)
The vast majority of new-build houses are to be sold as freehold with ground rents for new leases capped at £10...
14 October 2018
From: Breaking News
![Leasehold scandal continues - almost all buyers regret their purchase](/img/default/eat.png)
Almost all buyers of new build houses who purchased a leasehold regret doing so, and the vast majority say they definitely wouldn't...
07 September 2018
From: Breaking News
![Property Natter: are we on the verge of a cashless, paperless society?](/img/default/eat.png)
Out and about recently, I got to thinking: how often do I actually have the call for cash anymore? Or, for...
25 August 2018
From: Features
![Speed up ban on abusive leasehold rules, law firm urges government](/img/default/eat.png)
A specialist property law firm is calling on the government to speed up changes in the law to avoid abusive leasehold...
23 August 2018
From: Breaking News
![Help To Buy and similar schemes curtailed on new leasehold houses](/img/default/eat.png)
The government says its funding schemes such as Help To Buy will no longer be applied to what it calls “unjustified...
03 July 2018
From: Breaking News
![Could embracing Commonhold put an end to leasehold nightmare?](/img/default/eat.png)
At any given moment it’s difficult to say which issue dominates our marketplace, but I think it’s fair to acknowledge during...
31 March 2018
From: Features
![Ex-Countrywide man's legal case could hit value of two million homes](/img/default/eat.png)
The Court of Appeal is today expected to rule on a legal battle which may be critical in determining the value...
16 January 2018
From: Breaking News
![Group slams 'incredibly weak' government leasehold reforms](/img/default/eat.png)
A specialist leasehold enfranchisement firm has branded government leasehold reforms as "incredibly weak". In an announcement lost in the noise following Damian Green’s sacking,...
22 December 2017
From: Breaking News
![Ban leasehold houses and new ground rents, MPs urge government](/img/default/eat.png)
The All Party Parliamentary Group on Leasehold and Commonhold Reform has made a hard-hitting submission to formal government consultations on the...
25 September 2017
From: Breaking News
![Summer of love? More like summer of leasehold](/img/default/eat.png)
Even so close to the event, I don’t think anyone will be deeming 2017 as the ‘summer of love’. The summer of...
16 September 2017
From: Features
![Why the new build leasehold ban is a big moment for our industry](/img/default/eat.png)
Without wishing to blow our own trumpet at this time, we did say at the start of the year that 2017...
28 July 2017
From: Features
![Industry backs leasehold reform as government releases more details](/img/default/eat.png)
There has been general support from the industry for the government’s apparent intention to ban new homes in England being sold...
26 July 2017
From: Breaking News
![Government set to ban leaseholds on new-builds in England](/img/default/eat.png)
The government says it wants to ban “unfair” leasehold charges imposed on buyers of new-build homes in England. Under the measure, subject to...
25 July 2017
From: Breaking News
![Call for action over 'forgotten casualties' of ground lease scandal](/img/default/eat.png)
A leasehold enfranchisement expert wants government action over what he calls the "forgotten casualties" of the recent ground rent scandal. Louie Burns,...
14 July 2017
From: Breaking News
![The Queen's Speech marks another step forward for leasehold reform](/img/default/eat.png)
The political ebb and flow continues - seemingly with all the subtlety of a Boris Johnson rugby tackle on a 10-year...
01 July 2017
From: Features
![Conveyancers set out their ideas for leasehold reform](/img/default/eat.png)
A cluster of conveyancing and legal experts, known as the Legal Sector Group, has published a raft of proposals on leasehold...
21 June 2017
From: Breaking News
![Leasehold reform: major political parties don't promise enough, says group](/img/default/eat.png)
The Conservative and Labour party manifestos do not go far enough to tackle problems with the leasehold system. That’s the view of...
30 May 2017
From: Breaking News
![Tories propose house buying reforms in election manifesto](/img/default/eat.png)
The Conservatives have this morning announced a reform of the house buying process in the party’s manifesto for the June 8...
18 May 2017
From: Breaking News
![Praise for Nationwide's crackdown on leasehold mortgage conditions](/img/default/eat.png)
There has been widespread praise for the Nationwide building society's crackdown on criteria for mortgages for leasehold new build homes. From May...
05 May 2017
From: Breaking News
![Housing policy progress will suffer thanks to snap General Election](/img/default/eat.png)
Not only did Theresa May stun everyone with her decision to call a ‘snap election’ but with the campaign now underway...
29 April 2017
From: Features
![Conveyancers publish consumer guide to lease administration fees](/img/default/eat.png)
The Conveyancing Association (CA) has this week published a consumer guide on leasehold property. The document, released yesterday, has a specific focus...
07 March 2017
From: Breaking News
![Firm warns of wave of litigation against new-build conveyancers](/img/default/eat.png)
A firm is warning of “a wave of litigation from home owners who were given inadequate advice from their solicitors or...