The government has launched the Commonhold Council – an advisory panel of leasehold groups and industry experts who will inform the government on the future of this type of homeownership.
The expert group will aim to help homeowners gain more control over their homes, as the advisory panel prepares them and the market for the widespread uptake of a collective form of homeownership – commonhold.
The commonhold model is used widely around the world and provides a structure for homeowners to collectively own the building their flat is in, with a greater say on their building’s management, shared facilities and related costs. There are no hidden costs or charges, preventing some of the egregious practices currently seen in some leaseholds.
The Commonhold Council, chaired by building safety minister Lord Greenhalgh, will form a partnership of leasehold groups and industry representatives. These members – including Leasehold Knowledge Partnership, the National Leasehold Campaign, UK Finance and the British Property Federation – will bring their expertise on the consumer needs and market readiness for commonhold within the housing sector.
The government argues that Commonhold gives homeowners more autonomy over the decisions that are made. It says that they are in control of their building in what is known as the building’s ‘commonhold association’.
The Commonhold Council has been formed following recommendations made by the Law Commission to simplify the commonhold system and expand its use for both new homes and existing leasehold buildings. The government says it will respond to these recommendations in due course.
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “We want to give homeowners across the country the autonomy they deserve.
“The new Commonhold Council launched today will – together with leasehold groups and industry experts – pave the way for homeowners in England to access the benefits that come with greater control over your home.
“We are taking forward the biggest reforms to English property law for 40 years – and the widespread introduction of commonhold builds on our work to provide more security for millions of existing leaseholders across England, putting an end to rip-off charges and creating a fairer system.”
The newly appointed members of the Commonhold Council are:
- Damian Greenish, British Property Federation
- Paul Broadhead, Building Societies Association
- Bob Smytherman, Federation of Private Residents’ Associations
- Kate Faulkner, Home Buying & Selling Group
- David O’Leary, Home Builders Federation
- Andrew Bulmer, Institute of Residential Property Management
- Philip Freedman CBE, QC (Hon), Law Society
- Sebastian O’Kelly, Leasehold Knowledge Partnership
- Katie Kendrick, National Leasehold Campaign
- Professor Chris Hodges, University of Oxford
- Charles Roe, UK Finance
A Technical Support Group will also be established to offer practical, legal and analytical expertise to the council. This will be provided by:
- Tim Collins, Barratt Developments PLC
- Professor Nick Hopkins, Law Commission
- Anthony Essien, LEASE
- Rob Stevens, Nationwide Building Society
- Mairead Carroll, RICS
- Philip Rainey QC, Tanfield Chambers
- Professor David Clarke, University of Bristol
- Professor Hazel Easthope, University of New South Wales
- Dr Sarah Payne, University of Sheffield
Comments (3)
Fantastic
YET ANOTHER CONSERVATIVE QUANGO to guess what? Increased red tape and control a sector that has been operating successfully for many ears, except it required simple tweaking to make it more fair to Lessees.
Our question to our MP’s must be ‘how can we get to sit on these well paid Quangos and bring in the experienced voice of reason?’
It’s certainly “opertating successfully” for those who want a license to print money at the expense of ordinary people and in return for little or no benefit. It is long overdue that this wholly unjust section of the market was overhauled and that these charges were seen to be in return for tangible improvements to the lives of those paying them. Instead of making politically biased slurs, do some research into what has been going on and how so called “management companies” have been getting away with making people’s lives a misery for decades. Collectively making billions over that time through a host of increasingly creative charges where figures appear to be plucked out of thin air. Poor regulation and outdated legislation alongside cumbersome, ineffective and frankly out for touch dispute resolution pathways have left people vulnerable to unscupulous dishonest companies…
Totally agree with you Chris, you are so right, the present leasehold system has been taken advantage of and is not fit for purpose..
However the fact Commonhold is accepted and works well in other countries of the world is a poor reason to use it here. It has been around together with the right to manage and purchase Freeholds all which appear not wanted by the majority..
Like many things Britain leads or has lead the world in law and law of property.
In my experience the leasehold system is a perfect title where a freehold title is not suited.
In view of that why not find the holes and fill them? Far more simple than starting again with new legislation that we all know ill be imperfect to start with. Think of time and money that will be wasted.
So Chris how about you and i applying to sit on the Quango?