Read the full BBC article here.

The UK Labour government has announced plans to ban new leaseholds and introduce measures to protect homeowners from unfair management practices. These proposed changes aim to ensure greater transparency and fairness for leaseholders, particularly regarding service charges and property management.

As part of the discussion, Simon Care, Partner at Berry Smith Lawyers, shared his expert insights with the BBC, highlighting the need for targeted reforms rather than an outright ban on leaseholds. He emphasized three key areas that require closer scrutiny:

• Transparent and competitive service charges

• Competitive building insurance

• Regulation of management fees 

At Berry Smith, we believe that well-structured regulation, rather than elimination, is key to improving the leasehold system for homeowners and property investors alike.