A big moment for commonhold

Originally written as a column for Inside Housing.

England and Wales have a long history of trying and failing to introduce commonhold and an even longer one of trying and failing to reform leasehold. 

So this week’s white paper is a big moment, coming 60 years after Labour first pledged commonhold and 23 years after it botched its implementation.

After decades of frustration and failed attempts at reform, leaseholders will have to be patient for a little bit longer and take the housing minister at his word that this is ‘the beginning of the end for leasehold’. 

While some have criticised Labour for going too slowly, the white paper highlights the flaws in previous legislation and the importance of getting things right. 

So there will be both a draft Bill setting out how the existing commonhold framework will be amended and a further consultation on banning leasehold for new-build flats before all the pieces can be put into place.

Commonhold was first introduced in England and Wales in 2002 to bring them into line with what has been the default for at least 50 years in much of the rest of the developed world.