LEASEHOLDERS LEFT IN THE DARK FOR CHRISTMAS – NLC PRESS RELEASE

Leaseholders left in the dark for another Christmas as Government fail to publish the promised Leasehold & Commonhold Draft Bill

The National Leasehold Campaign (NLC) is deeply disappointed that the government has failed to publish the draft Leasehold and Commonhold Bill prior to Christmas.  Publishing this draft bill would have offered much needed clarity.  Instead, leaseholders face yet another Christmas in Leasehold Limbo, left in the dark, facing uncertainty that is both crippling and disheartening. This delay comes on the heels of Secretary of State for housing Steve Reed’s commitment made just last week, indicating that the draft bill would be released by the end of the year. The government should not say things they cannot deliver. It is no surprise Leaseholders have lost faith wondering whether real change will ever happen.

We had hoped that before the start of 2026, we would finally see a draft bill indicative of this government’s commitment to ending the feudal leasehold system.  Instead, leaseholders are left feeling abandoned at Christmas, angry and frustrated. Their mental health is deteriorating under the weight of uncertainty and exploitation which is unacceptable and untenable. The prolonged wait is torture for leaseholders and leaving this announcement of the delay until the final day of the parliamentary session was cruel. 

The NLC calls for the government to get a grip on the leasehold reform agenda and provide leaseholders with the change they have repeatedly promised.

The draft bill must be published upon their return in the new year if there is any hope of restoring faith in their commitment to helping leaseholders.

We also need reassurance and commitment that the bill supports the best interest of leaseholders and not wealthy investors who exploit the system and treat our homes merely as cash cows.  Only sight of the bill can provide this.

This poor PR performance by the government is made much worse by their additional failure to celebrate the Judicial Review (JR) win at the high court back in October 2025, which should have triggered immediate activation of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 (LAFRA2024) but didn’t. Housing Minister, Matthew Pennycook at the Labour Conference this year said once they had clarity from the JR they could proceed with LAFRA they would proceed. We are still waiting.

Naturally leaseholders are concerned that both of these delays may be due to aggressive investor lobbying behind the scenes, and the apparent lack of comms from Steve Reed regarding anything leasehold related only feeds that narrative.
Sadly “Build Baby Build” is not the message leaseholders want to hear right now when their lives are on hold with many facing forfeiture or bankruptcy due to the leasehold racket.

Labour sits on the precipice between success and failure of their leasehold manifesto promises and we can only wait for the New Year to find out which it will be.

NLC is ready to either celebrate or  call their 34K members to action