MPs step forward in the new All Party Parliamentary Group for leasehold and commonhold reform

New Cross-Party Group Steps Up to Tackle Leasehold and Commonhold Reform

Four MPs have been appointed co-chairs of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on leasehold and commonhold reform, marking a fresh effort to address persistent issues in England and Wales’ leasehold system.

The new co-chairs are Amanda Hack (Labour), Neil O’Brien (Conservative), Joseph Powell (Labour), and Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat). With 83 current members, the APPG is smaller than in the previous Parliament, but includes influential figures like former housing ministers Lord Young and Lord Greenhalgh. The group’s goal is to drive forward much-needed reforms, though progress is currently hampered by ongoing legal challenges to the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024.

Six major freeholders are contesting key aspects of the Act, such as the removal of “marriage value” and the reduction of ground rents to 0.1%, claiming these changes violate their property rights. Until this legal battle is resolved, further reforms - including secondary legislation on leasehold costs, right-to-manage improvements, and the rollout of commonhold - remain in limbo. Despite the delay, the APPG co-chairs are actively seeking engagement with industry bodies and leaseholders alike. Campaigners, including the Leasehold Knowledge Partnership (LKP), urge leaseholders to contact their MPs and encourage them to join the APPG to ensure their voices are heard in this critical reform process.

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