Andy Burnham Vows to Prioritise Leasehold Reforms 

Newly appointed Prime Minister Andy Burnham delivered his first speech in the House of Commons since taking up the position, and he provided some clear indications of his top priorities.  

In addition to outlining his plans to strengthen public control over water, Burnham also conveyed his intention to press ahead with leasehold reforms: 

“I’m looking at every facet of the cost-of-living crisis and where people face unfair charges that they can’t avoid, and this area of leasehold is absolutely in that territory. 

It is my intention, the intention of the Government, to bring forward that Commonhold and Leasehold Bill, so that finally we can reform this unfair system, and we will do that in this session.” 

Under Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership, a draft version of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill was published in January 2026, and the Bill was also mentioned in the King’s Speech.  

The draft Bill included plans to limit ground rents to £250 per year and also set out plans for all new flats to be commonhold tenure by default, phasing out leasehold ownership. 

What Does This Mean for Homeowners and Prospective Buyers? 

If the proposed reforms are delivered, many owners of leasehold properties will benefit from more affordable ground rent and greater transparency around management fees. The standard lease extension is expected to become 990 years, meaning the costs involved in arranging lease extensions will be removed. 

The reforms should also simplify the buying and selling processes for leaseholds. Short lease lengths currently cause issues such as mortgage lenders declining loans for properties with leases under 70 to 85 years.  

Buying a new build flat will be on a commonhold ownership, so buyers of these properties will not have the additional costs and complexities of leasehold purchases. London has the highest proportion of leasehold properties compared to any other region, so London’s property market will see the biggest impact from a fairer system. 

Burnham’s commitment to commonhold and leasehold reforms is positive news for leasehold owners and should boost buyer confidence but implementation will take time.