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Written question asked by Baroness Maclean of Redditch (Conservative) on Wednesday, 11 February 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 25 February 2026. It was answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (Labour) on Wednesday, 25 February 2026 on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.


Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the statement on X by the Minister for Housing and Planning on 31 January that the Government could not commence the "relevant enfranchisement provisions" in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 until specific flaws within the Act were rectified, what specific flaws he was referring to; what plans they have to rectify these flaws through legislation; whether the Draft Leasehold and Commonhold Bill contains those legislative proposals; and if it does not, for what reason they are not included.

Answer

The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 contains a small number of specific but serious flaws which would prevent certain provisions from operating as intended and that need to be rectified via primary legislation.

The Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November 2024 HLWS240 (attached) outlined two flaws regarding a loophole in the valuation scheme set out in the Act, and an omission on shared ownership lease extensions.

Primary legislation will also be needed to address the following flaws:

  • Allow third parties to leases, such as resident-led management companies, to recover contributions toward their process costs in some instances. Without this change, these companies may be at risk of insolvency, which would be an unintended outcome of the reforms requiring landlords to pay their process costs;
  • Correct an unintended constraint on landlords’ existing redevelopment break rights that applies in certain limited circumstances; and
  • Correct technical cross references and make consequential amendments to ensure the smooth implementation of the Act.

As set out in the WMS of 27 January 2026 HLWS1278 (attached), the government will rectify these flaws in primary legislation.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL14534
Session
2024-26
Attachment
Written Statement 27 January 2026; Written Statement 21 November 2024
Related items
Leasehold and Commonhold Reform
Thursday, 21 November 2024
Written statements
House of Lords
Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024
Wednesday, 4 March 2026
Written questions
House of Lords
Leasehold: Valuation
Wednesday, 4 March 2026
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects
Leasehold Freehold Reform
Legislation
Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk