Home > News > Expert committee on England homeownership has not met for over a year

Expert committee on England homeownership has not met for over a year

An expert committee set up to advise ministers on how to change England’s archaic homeownership laws has not met for over a year, the Guardian can reveal, as campaigners warn the issue is slipping down the government’s agenda.

The Commonhold Council – a panel of 11 people from the property industry, the legal profession and academia – was convened in 2021 as ministers promised sweeping reforms to the leasehold system.

Last week Rachel Maclean, the housing minister, reassured MPs during a Commons debate that the council met “regularly” and was working closely with ministers. Information released to the campaigner Martin Keegan under the Freedom of Information Act, however, shows it has not met since last April – something one member of the panel blamed on successive changes in government.

The Guardian revealed in May that Michael Gove had watered down his promise to abolish the “feudal” leasehold system as he was under pressure from Downing Street. Now campaigners warn that the Council’s lack of meetings is another sign that ministers are rowing back from the bold reform agenda they outlined earlier this year.

Harry Scoffin, the co-founder of the anti-leasehold campaign group Commonhold Now, said: “At a time when the Tories’ electoral offering to millennial voters is coming under immense scrutiny, it is disappointing to learn that the government’s flagship homeownership body, the Homeownership Council, hasn’t met in over a year.

“The Conservative party urgently needs to revisit its commonhold policy programme as part of its wider housing package for voters under the age of 40.”

Martin Boyd, the chair of the Leasehold Knowledge Partnership and one of the council members, said: “Several meetings have been cancelled due to many changes of housing ministers, but members of the Commonhold Council continue to work with officials on different aspects of the proposals”.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities did not comment.

About 10 million Britons own their homes through leasehold, an almost unique system that can leave homeowners facing steep bills for building maintenance, service charges and lease extensions.

HICH LTD has continually raised the quality standards in the UK property survey market. Our multi-award-winning property survey service has made us the leading reference in the property survey market.

We offer property survey services of the highest quality. Using state-of-the-art equipment, we provide excellent property surveys at affordable prices. Our prices are based on the number of rooms rather than the value of the properties, so you will always get the best value for money with our services.

Please look at our Trustpilot page and see why customers have chosen us as their favourite property survey provider!

At HICH LTD, we work to serve our clients and make the world a better place for everyone. We actively collaborate with NGOs to promote environmental, social and charitable causes. If you want to know more about our efforts or how you can help, contact us at admin@hich-ltd.co.uk.

HICH LTD extends a warm invitation to contractors and service providers throughout the UK to join our network; by joining the Contractors and Service Providers Network, you will enjoy benefits such as a significant increase in customer flow, advertising on our high-traffic website, and direct contact with thousands of customers in your postcode area. Find more information here or by following the QR code in the video.