Guidance

Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022

Documents related to the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act setting out the government’s approach to restricting ground rents in future long residential leases.

Applies to England and Wales

The Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022 comes into force on 30 June 2022, except for retirement properties where it will not come into force before 1 April 2023.

It puts an end to ground rents for new, qualifying long residential leasehold properties in England and Wales. This is part of the most significant changes to property law in a generation.

After the Act comes into force, ground rent in most new leases cannot legally be for anything more than “one peppercorn per year”. This “peppercorn rent” means that no money can be legally charged or paid as ground rent on leases regulated by this Act.

The Act bans freeholders from charging administration fees for collecting a peppercorn rent.

Fines of up to £30,000 may be levied where ground rent is charged in contravention of the Act.

There are very few exceptions from the Act, which are:

  • applicable community-led housing
  • certain financial products
  • business leases which are defined by the Act as leases of commercial premises which include a dwelling, use of which substantially contributes to the business purposes

Statutory lease extensions for both houses and flats remain unchanged and are therefore exempt from the provisions of the Bill.

For existing leaseholders entering into voluntary lease extensions after commencement, the extended portion of their lease will be reduced to a peppercorn.

Documents relevant to the legislation can be found on the Parliamentary Bills website and final versions of the Act are on legislation.gov.uk .

The government will shortly publish guidance for consumers and enforcement authorities on the operation of the Act.

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Published 11 February 2022

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