(National Context for Leaseholders)
Purpose of this page
This page provides neutral background information on current UK Government proposals to reform leasehold and commonhold law. It is intended to help leaseholders understand the national policy context within which residential developments, Right to Manage (RTM) companies, and managing agents operate.
The content below does not comment on any individual or organisation. It exists to provide authoritative reference material for leaseholders who wish to better understand how the legal framework governing leasehold is evolving.
Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill (Command Paper)
In January 2025, the UK Government published a Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill as a Command Paper. This document sets out proposed legislative changes aimed at:
- Improving fairness and transparency for leaseholders
- Reforming how residential buildings are governed and managed
- Reducing complexity and imbalance within the leasehold system
- Making commonhold a more viable and widely adopted form of ownership
The draft Bill is part of a wider programme of leasehold reform and has been published to allow scrutiny before formal legislation is introduced to Parliament.
Official source
The draft Bill can be read in full here (external government publication):
👉 Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill – Command Paper (PDF)
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/697865d0d345446f8ce71f82/Draft_Commonhold_and_Leasehold_Reform_Bill_-_Command_paper.pdf
Why this matters to leaseholders
While the draft Bill is not yet law, it signals the direction of travel in government policy. Key themes include:
- Stronger expectations around transparency and accountability
- Clearer separation between personal interests and governance roles
- Greater emphasis on member participation and informed decision-making
- Reduced tolerance for opaque or informal management practices
Leaseholders may therefore find it useful to familiarise themselves with these proposals when considering how residential developments are run, both now and in the future.
What this could mean for Centenary Mill (illustrative)
If proposals of this nature were to become law in whole or in part, developments such as Centenary Mill could, over time, experience:
- Clearer governance standards for RTM companies and directors
- Greater expectations of procedural rigour, particularly around meetings, notices, and member engagement
- Increased emphasis on transparency in decision-making, expenditure, and conflicts of interest
- More informed and empowered leaseholders, supported by clearer statutory guidance
These themes reflect the Government’s stated objective of improving confidence in residential management and reducing disputes through more robust governance frameworks.
This section is illustrative only. It does not assert that the draft Bill applies at present, applies retrospectively, or that any existing arrangements are unlawful.
How this page is used
This page is provided as contextual reference material. It supports leaseholders who wish to:
- Understand the broader legal environment affecting leasehold
- Read primary source material directly from the government
- Place local governance discussions within a national framework
It does not replace legal advice and should be read alongside the lease, company articles, and existing statutory obligations.
