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Recent figures have revealed that nearly one in five of all properties in England are now leasehold. This is partly due to the continued increase in urban apartment developments, but also reflects developers’ controversial shift to selling houses as leasehold.

The Government's consultation on leasehold reforms closed on the 19th September 2017. The proposals to ban sale of new-build leasehold houses, and slash ground rents on new-build leasehold flats, have perhaps understandably provoked stiff opposition from developers. In their favour, the Civil Justice Council, chaired by the master of the rolls, Sir Terence Etherton, has stated that prohibition should be a “last resort”.

The industry now awaits the response of the  communities secretary, Sajid Javid.