Kings Speech - Here's What It Means for You  

At Palmer & Partners, we always keep a close eye on the latest news and guidance affecting the housing market – so you don't have to. As your local, family-run estate and letting agents covering Essex and Suffolk, we want to make sure our clients and prospective clients feel informed, supported, and confident, whatever the headlines may bring.

The UK Government has recently set out a fresh wave of reforms across the housing sector, and there are some important proposals worth knowing about.

What's Been Announced?  

The Government's latest programme of reform touches on several areas of the housing market, including leasehold, building safety, social housing, local authority standards, and tourism levies. The changes could affect property owners, landlords, leaseholders, and residents across England and Wales.

The headline piece of legislation is the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, published in January 2026.

Leasehold Reform – What Does It Mean?  

If you own or are considering buying a leasehold flat, this is particularly relevant. The key proposals include:
Making commonhold the default for new flats. The Government wants to restrict the granting of new long leases on flats, making commonhold – where residents collectively own and manage their building – the standard going forward. This is intended to give flat owners greater control and stronger consumer protections.

Capping ground rents. For existing leases, ground rents would be capped at £250 per year, reducing to a peppercorn (essentially zero) after 40 years. This is welcome news for many leaseholders who currently pay escalating ground rents.

Abolishing forfeiture. The controversial practice of forfeiture – where a landlord can reclaim a property over unpaid charges – would be abolished and replaced with a fairer statutory enforcement scheme.

Fairer handling of maintenance charge arrears. Rules around rent charge arrears would be tightened so that recovery can only happen through proportionate means, such as cost recovery clauses or the small claims court.

New rights for leaseholders. Leaseholders in flats would gain the right to request improvements to their property, such as a gigabit-capable broadband connection.

What Does This Mean in Practice?  

It's important to note that these are proposals at this stage. The legislation is in draft form and will go through further scrutiny before becoming law. As industry body Propertymark has noted, while the ambition behind these reforms is positive, it's essential that any transition is carefully phased to avoid disruption to the market and to allow leaseholders, agents, and developers time to adapt.

At Palmer & Partners, we share that view. We welcome reforms that improve transparency, strengthen consumer confidence, and make the property market fairer for everyone. But we also know that change can feel unsettling – particularly if you currently own a leasehold property or are thinking about buying one.

We're Here to Help  

Whether you're a landlord, a leaseholder, a first-time buyer, or simply keeping an eye on the market, our team is always on hand to talk things through. We're proud to be a local, independent business with deep roots in Essex and Suffolk, and we believe in giving straightforward, honest advice – not jargon.

If you have any questions about how these proposals might affect your property, a purchase you're considering, or a tenancy you manage, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us. That's exactly what we're here for. Contact Us HERE.






Sources: UK Government draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill; Propertymark.