28 January 2026
Gary Scott features in national media on leasehold reform
Partner Gary Scott is featured in the national and property press, including The Guardian and Housing Today, discussing the newly announced ground rent cap for leaseholders.
The draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill caps ground rent at £250 a year, and will change the structure of homeowning across England and Wales, also banning new leasehold flats.
Gary said the proposed cap would “materially affect a relatively small minority of leaseholders,” despite the government’s broader claims of widespread benefit. Citing official estimates, he noted that no more than 900,000 leaseholders currently pay more than the proposed cap, out of around 3.8 million leasehold properties that charge ground rent.
While this means most leaseholders are unlikely to see a direct financial change, Gary emphasised that the reforms will be highly significant for those facing onerous, doubling or investment-linked ground rents. For this smaller group, he said, the impact will be “substantial,” potentially easing long-standing financial pressures.
Gary also welcomed the proposed 40-year transition period, describing it as “a measured and balanced transition” that fairly reflects the interests of both leaseholders and landlords as the sector moves towards reform.
Read Gary’s comments:
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