4 March 2025, 09:02

By Harry Scoffin

If delivered, yesterday’s announcement that the government is to compel commonhold on all new flats will stop the next generation of homebuyers from having their wealth plundered by mysterious, often offshore freeholders.

This long overdue move will drag England and Wales into line with the rest of the world where flat owners are in control of their homes, money and lives under commonhold equivalents, including condominium in North America, Italy and Thailand, and strata title in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Dubai.

But for the 5.3 million households already subject to this exploitative and antiquated leasehold system, the white paper is fuelling anxiety.

Banning leasehold for new flats while being vague on when and how those already trapped can convert to commonhold will create a two-tier flats market. Already, the price........

© LBC