Ban On Ground Rents For New Homes (And Other Leasehold Reforms)26th Jan 2018
Ground rents for new homes have had a bad press. Many buyers are facing horrendous bills because they didn’t realise what they were signing up for.
They’re stuck with ground rents that double every 10 or 25 years. Some buyers didn’t realise they were buying leasehold instead of freehold. (What’s the difference? Find out here.)
In December the government announced a crackdown. Now it has published more details. Here’s what they could mean for you…
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No More Long Leases On New Build Houses
Thinking of buying a new build house? Long leases could be banned in all but exceptional circumstances.
That means you’d be buying the freehold. So you’d own the land, instead of just a right to live in your property for a set number of years.
But What If I’ve Already Bought A New House Leasehold?
You can buy the freehold (under the Leasehold Reform Act 1967). There is a long-established way of calculating how much it would cost you.
At present, there’s no right to first refusal on leasehold houses. If the freeholder (landlord) decides to sell the house, they don’t have to offer it to you first (unlike with flats, where they do).
But now the law could change, giving leaseholders in houses a similar right of first refusal as enjoyed by leaseholders in flats.
Ground Rents On New Leases Would Cost You Virtually Nothing
The government wants to restrict ground rents on new leases to a peppercorn (a token rent – virtually nothing at all).
After all, why should someone who pays full market value to buy a new home then have to pay a costly ground rent year after year?
In most housing association leases (and local authority tenants exercising the Right to Buy) there is a ground rent of just £10 per year. So they’re already paying a nominal rent.
Making It Easier To Extend Your Lease Or Buy The Freehold
The government is to work with the Law Commission to make life easier for existing leaseholders.
New proposals this summer could make it cheaper and quicker to extend your lease or buy the freehold.
One proposal is to order a minimum term for leases. Currently many leases are for just 100 years. That sounds like a long time but lenders won’t loan on properties where the lease has dropped below 80 years – making it harder to sell up and move.
Other Ways To Make Life Fairer For Leaseholders
The government is to address other loopholes in the law. That could include:
- Reforming ‘forfeiture’ – the freeholder’s/landlord’s right to seize your home if you fail to pay the ground rent or fail to obey the covenants of the lease.
- Exempting leaseholders from Ground 8 possession claims. These allow freeholders/landlords to evict you if your ground rent is £1,000 in London (or £250 elsewhere) and you’re three months or more in arrears. Subject to further criteria, at present the judge cannot refuse to grant these orders. Pay your ground rent on time – you risk losing your property if you don’t!
But Don’t Be Complacent! Always Read The Small Print
Don’t assume that ‘the government is changing the law so everything will be OK’. Remember that all these proposed reforms are still just that…proposals. They’re not set in stone yet!
So if you’re about to sign a lease on any kind of property – whether it’s a new build house or a flat – make sure you read the small print. Especially when it comes to the ground rent and covenants.
Sign up to anything bad and you could struggle to get a mortgage or to sell the property in the future. Seek legal advice before you sign.
Get Expert Legal Advice
Our leasehold solicitors based in Bournemouth help clients all over the country. Book a free chat to see how we can help you.
Contact Coles Miller’s Residential Leasehold Department, for more information, 01202 355697.
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This document is not intended to constitute and should not be used as a substitute for legal advice on any specific matter. No liability for the accuracy of the content of this document, or the consequences of relying on it, is assumed by the author. If you seek further information, please contact Managing Partner Neil Andrews at Coles Miller Solicitors LLP.
