The Nationwide Leasehold Marketing campaign (NLC) has hit out on the authorities after it did not publish the draft Leasehold and Commonhold Invoice earlier than Christmas. The long-promised laws would have offered much-needed readability, however as a substitute leaseholders face yet one more festive season in limbo – left at the hours of darkness and burdened by crippling uncertainty.
The delay follows housing secretary Steve Reed’s assurance simply final week that the draft invoice could be launched by year-end, fuelling contemporary frustration and a rising lack of religion. For a lot of leaseholders, the query now’s whether or not actual change will ever arrive.
The NLC stated it had hoped to see a draft invoice earlier than the beginning of 2026 that may reveal the federal government’s dedication to ending the feudal leasehold system. As an alternative, leaseholders say they really feel deserted this Christmas – indignant, pissed off and worn down by ongoing uncertainty.
The psychological well being toll of extended exploitation and insecurity is turning into unimaginable to disregard, in accordance with the NLC, which described the continued delay as unacceptable and untenable.
Leaving affirmation of the delay till the ultimate day of the parliamentary session, the group added, solely compounded the misery, calling the timing needlessly merciless.
The NLC requires the federal government to “get a grip” on the leasehold reform agenda and supply leaseholders with the change they’ve repeatedly promised.
“The draft invoice have to be revealed upon their return within the new yr if there’s any hope of restoring religion of their dedication to serving to leaseholders”, stated a spokesperson for the NLC. “”We additionally want reassurance and dedication that the invoice helps the very best curiosity of leaseholders and never rich traders who exploit the system and deal with our properties merely as money cows. Solely sight of the invoice can present this.”
The spokesperson continued: “This poor PR efficiency by the federal government is made a lot worse by their extra failure to have fun the Judicial Overview (JR) win on the excessive court docket again in October 2025, which ought to have triggered instant activation of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 (LAFRA2024) however didn’t. Housing Minister, Matthew Pennycook on the Labour Convention this yr stated as soon as they’d readability from the JR they may proceed with LAFRA they’d proceed. We’re nonetheless ready.
“Naturally leaseholders are involved that each of those delays could also be because of aggressive investor lobbying behind the scenes, and the obvious lack of comms from Steve Reed relating to something leasehold associated solely feeds that narrative.
“Sadly “Construct Child Construct” isn’t the message leaseholders need to hear proper now when their lives are on maintain with many going through forfeiture or chapter because of the leasehold racket.
“Labour sits on the precipice between success and failure of their leasehold manifesto guarantees and we will solely watch for the New Yr to search out out which will probably be. NLC is able to both have fun or name their 34K members to motion.”
