Mark Vinall

The High Court has now issued its much-anticipated judgment in Arc Time Freehold Income Authorised Fund and others -v- Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government [2025] EWHC 2751 (Admin), firmly rejecting the judicial review brought by several of London’s largest landed estates.

Earlier this week, the long‐awaited Renters’ Rights Bill cleared the ‘ping-pong’ stage between the Commons and Lords to receive Royal Assent and become law. For tenants, landlords and property professionals alike, this marks a major overhaul for the residential rental market.

Flat leases often contain defects which one party or the other would like to see changed. This can be a particular problem on resale as lenders continue to tighten their requirements over time.  Such a change would usually be documented by varying the lease via a Deed known as a “Variation”.

The Government’s consultation, Strengthening Leaseholder Protections Over Charges and Services, closed on 26 September 2025. The consultation marked a pivotal step toward implementing the new leasehold regime introduced by the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 (‘the Act’) at the end of last year.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch announced at the Conservative Party Conference 2025 yesterday that the next Tory Government to be elected will completely abolish stamp duty land tax (SDLT) paid by buyers on primary residences in England.  

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, which had its first reading in the House of Commons on 10 July 2025, contains an unexpected ban on upward-only rent review clauses in new commercial leases.

Following its Third Reading in the House of Lords on 21 July 2025, only minor drafting amendments were made to the Renters (Reform) Bill (‘the Bill’), signalling the Lords’ broad approval of its substance.

As part of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024, the government has proposed introducing new regulations to define what landlords and managing agents can charge leaseholders in connection with arranging building insurance.

The Government has published an open consultation titled “Strengthening Leaseholder Protections over Charges and Services,” which runs until 26 September 2025.

The Government has now brought into force a number of provisions under the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024, implementing parts of the Law Commission’s recommendations relating to the Right to Manage (RTM).