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06 September 2024 / Kate Rigby
Issue: 8084 / Categories: Features , Property , Leasehold
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A new era in home ownership

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A shake-up of the residential leasehold property system is on the horizon, writes Kate Rigby. What will this mean for all the parties involved?
  • Examines the Labour government’s plans for home ownership, including and beyond the measures introduced in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024.
  • Assesses the likely impact of the changes on leaseholders, landlords and institutional investors.

The Freehold and Leasehold Reform Bill, introduced to Parliament on 27 November 2023, was hailed as a significant step towards improving home ownership for millions of leaseholders in England and Wales.

This legislation, which became law on 24 May 2024, is set to bring about substantial changes to the residential leasehold property system. Despite the Bill passing on the final day of the Conservative government, it has yet to come into effect. Some of the key provisions require secondary legislation, the timing of which will depend on the new government’s priorities. Briefing documents published alongside the King’s Speech said the government would ‘act quickly’ to implement provisions in the Leasehold

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Bellevue Law—Lianne Craig

Bellevue Law—Lianne Craig

Workplace law firm expands commercial disputes team with senior consultant hire

EIP—Rob Barker

EIP—Rob Barker

IP firm promotes patent attorney to partner

Muckle LLP—Ryan Butler

Muckle LLP—Ryan Butler

Banking and restructuring team bolstered by insolvency specialist

NEWS
A High Court ruling involving the Longleat estate has exposed the fault line between modern family building and historic trust drafting. Writing in NLJ this week, Charlotte Coyle, director and family law expert at Freeths, examines Cator v Thynn [2026] EWHC 209 (Ch), where trustees sought approval to modernise trusts that retain pre-1970 definitions of ‘child’, ‘grandchild’ and ‘issue’
Fresh proposals to criminalise ‘nudification’ apps, prioritise cyberflashing and non-consensual intimate images, and even ban under-16s from social media have reignited debate over whether the Online Safety Act 2023 (OSA 2023) is fit for purpose. Writing in NLJ this week, Alexander Brown, head of technology, media and telecommunications, and Alexandra Webster, managing associate, Simmons & Simmons, caution against reactive law-making that could undermine the Act’s ‘risk-based and outcomes-focused’ design
Recent allegations surrounding Peter Mandelson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor have reignited scrutiny of the ancient common law offence of misconduct in public office. Writing in NLJ this week, Simon Parsons, teaching fellow at Bath Spa University, asks whether their conduct could clear a notoriously high legal hurdle
A landmark ruling has reshaped child clinical negligence claims. Writing in NLJ this week, Jodi Newton, head of birth and paediatric negligence at Osbornes Law, explains how the Supreme Court in CCC v Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2026] UKSC 5 has overturned Croke v Wiseman, ending the long-standing bar on children recovering ‘lost years’ earnings
A Court of Appeal ruling has drawn a firm line under party autonomy in arbitration. Writing in NLJ this week, Masood Ahmed, associate professor at the University of Leicester, analyses Gluck v Endzweig [2026] EWCA Civ 145, where a clause allowing arbitrators to amend an award ‘at any time’ was held incompatible with the Arbitration Act 1996
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