COMMONHOLD AND LEASEHOLD REFORM
Commonhold and leasehold reform is set to reshape the property sector. In a one of our webinar polls, 30% of participants identified leasehold and commonhold reform as the legislative change most likely to have the greatest commercial impact on the property market over the next three years. The Government's consultation on the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill represents one of the most significant changes to property ownership in decades, including restrictions on the creation of new long leasehold flats and a shift towards commonhold as the default ownership model for many future residential developments. While much of the discussion has focused on the impact on leaseholders, the proposed reforms have far-reaching implications for developers, housing providers, institutional investors, pension schemes, landed estates and others with long-term property interests.
We have produced a range of resources to help organisations understand the changing landscape. Explore our articles, podcasts and training materials for insight into commonhold reform, its potential impact and the issues stakeholders should be considering now.

RESOURCES
Our Head of Legal Training, Richard Snape, hosted the webinar Restrictive Covenants, Positive Covenants and Commonhold. The webinar covered key issues relating to the enforceability of restrictive and positive covenants in freehold land.
Topics included:
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Enforceability of restrictive covenants against third parties;
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Identifying the dominant land;
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Tips as to how to render restrictive covenants unenforceable;
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Enforceability of Positive Covenants; and
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Commonhold as a means of enforcing positive covenants.
In this episode, hosts Richard and Lizzie answer some of our audiences’ questions from our webinar on Restrictive Covenants, Positive Covenants and Commonhold. Richard covers restrictive and positive covenants enforcement, disputes, and the future of commonhold.
Drawing on scenarios faced by developers, surveyors, and other property professionals, we explore what actually happens when covenants are breached, how enforceability works in practice, and where the law still leaves uncertainty.
Read our article we wrote for BE News on the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill.
Head of Legal Training, Richard Snape, featured in BeNews 'The draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill: common by name, complicated by nature'. In the article, Richard discusses the proposed legislation, impact on ground rent and, what's next for occupiers and developers. Read the full article here.

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With just over 75 senior lawyers, each bringing an average of 25 years’ post-qualification experience from top-tier private practice and in-house roles, we offer unparalleled expertise across the full range of real estate legal services — including commercial property, planning, construction, environment, real estate finance, property litigation, and more.
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