Burnham vows to reform 'unfair' leasehold system impacting millions of homeowners
The PM made the pledge during his first appearance at the House of Commons despatch box since taking office
Andy Burnham has committed to bringing forward legislation to allow people to move from leasehold to commonhold home ownership within this parliamentary session.
Listen to this article
The Prime Minister pledged to “reform this unfair system” during his first appearance at the House of Commons despatch box since taking office.
Under the current framework, homeowners pay recurring ground rents to occupy the land underneath their buildings.
New protections against unfair ground rent charges and easier routes for existing leaseholders to switch to commonhold form part of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill.
The Bill would also give homeowners a new right to request a faster broadband connection, if it became law.
Read more: NHS and council reforms blasted as 'reckless' as John Swinney takes axe to public sector
Speaking in the Commons on Tuesday, Mr Burnham said: “I’m looking at every facet of the cost-of-living crisis and where people face unfair charges that they can’t avoid, and this area of leasehold is absolutely in that territory.”
He added: “It is my intention, the intention of the Government, to bring forward that Commonhold and Leasehold Bill, so that finally we can reform this unfair system, and we will do that in this session.”
A draft version of the legislation was published in January this year, under Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership, and was included in the King’s Speech.
Since 2022, landowners have been banned from charging ground rents in most new residential leasehold properties throughout England and Wales.