Housing Committee chair welcomes PM’s promise on leasehold changes and broader housing plans

Abena Oppong‑Asare, MP and chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee, has welcomed the prime minister’s commitment to introduce the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill to Parliament by Christmas. She highlighted that leaseholders have waited far too long for successive governments to address the unfair leasehold system, cap ground rents and give owners control over building management.

The announcement of an independent regulator for property‑management agents was also praised. The regulator was a key recommendation of the committee’s pre‑legislative report on the draft reform bill, and the government’s agreement to create it is seen as a step towards greater accountability in the sector.

Oppong‑Asare urged the prime minister to go further, asking that the committee’s recommendations be incorporated into the legislation. In particular she wants the proposed ground‑rent cap to be introduced by late 2027 and the Law Commission’s remaining recommendations – especially those on development value – to be enacted.

The week’s wider housing announcements were also noted. The government has outlined plans to boost house building and home ownership, give councils stronger powers to deal with empty homes, focus on homelessness and tighten enforcement of standards in the private rented sector. All of these issues fall within the committee’s remit, and the chair said the committee will hold the government to account for progress in each area.

For renters, landlords and prospective buyers the reforms could reshape the market in the coming years. A ground‑rent cap and a dedicated regulator promise more transparent and fairer tenancy arrangements, while the push for new homes and stricter standards may improve supply and quality. Stakeholders should monitor the bill’s passage through Parliament and the details of the regulator’s remit to see how quickly the promised changes are delivered.