Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill undergoes Lords line by line scrutiny
2 May 2024
Members of the House of Lords concluded their detailed examination of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill at committee stage on Wednesday 1 May.
The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill aims to improve homeownership for leaseholders by 'empowering' them and 'improving their consumer rights'. It is the second part of the government’s legislative package to deliver on its commitments on leasehold reform.
Line by line examination
Committee stage is a thorough examination of the individual parts (clauses) of the bill.
Starting from the front of the bill, members work through the clauses in order, considering changes (amendments) to the wording or proposals for new clauses.
Proposed changes
Members speaking on the final day of committee stage put forward amendments (PDF) to the bill on a range of subjects, including:
- value for money of service charges
- building safety remediation
- regulation of property agents.
Catch up
- Watch on Parliament TV.
- Read the Lords Hansard transcript.
Explore further information
Find out more about the bill in the House of Lords Library briefing.
Next steps
Report stage, a further chance to closely scrutinise elements of the bill and make changes, is yet to be scheduled.
What's happened so far?
Committee stage day three: Monday 29 April
Members speaking on day three of committee stage have put forward amendments (PDF) to the bill on a range of subjects, including:
- crowdfunding for prosecutions of landlords
- establishing a right to manage regime.
Catch up
- Watch on Parliament TV.
- Read the Lords Hansard transcript.
Committee stage day two: Wednesday 24 April
Members speaking on day two of committee stage put forward amendments to the bill on a range of subjects, including:
- payment of landlord's non-litigation costs
- the process for setting the deferment rate.
Catch up
- Watch on Parliament TV (part one and part two).
- Read the Lords Hansard transcript (part one and part two).
Committee stage day one: Monday 22 April
Members speaking on day one of committee stage put forward amendments (PDF) to the bill on subjects including:
- shared ownership schemes
- providing leaseholders in flats with a share of the freehold
- banning the creation of new leasehold flats.
Catch up
- Watch on Parliament TV.
- Read the Lords Hansard transcript.
Second reading
Second reading, a full debate on the key principles of the bill, took place on Wednesday 27 March.
Image: Adobe