The Government has begun formal discussions on its draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, with the Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee holding a session as part of the pre-legislative scrutiny process.

During the meeting, MPs questioned key witnesses including senior ministers, campaigners and industry representatives to examine whether the proposed reforms will effectively strengthen the rights of leaseholders and improve how residential buildings are managed.

The draft Bill aims to modernise property ownership in England and Wales by promoting commonhold as a long-term alternative to the leasehold system and improving protections for the millions of existing leasehold homeowners.

Proposals under consideration include making it easier for leaseholders to convert their buildings to commonhold ownership, changes to how buildings are managed, and wider reforms intended to reduce reliance on the traditional leasehold model.

The Committee will continue gathering evidence from policymakers, campaigners and property industry stakeholders before publishing its findings and recommendations, which will help shape the final version of the legislation before it is formally introduced to Parliament.

If adopted, the reforms could represent one of the most significant overhauls of the leasehold system in decades, potentially reshaping property ownership for future generations of homeowners.