The National Leasehold Campaign (NLC) has hit out at the government after it failed to publish the draft Leasehold and Commonhold Bill before Christmas. The long-promised legislation would have provided much-needed clarity, but instead leaseholders face yet another festive season in limbo – left in the dark and burdened by crippling uncertainty.
The delay follows housing secretary Steve Reed’s assurance just last week that the draft bill would be released by year-end, fuelling fresh frustration and a growing loss of faith. For many leaseholders, the question now is whether real change will ever arrive.
The NLC said it had hoped to see a draft bill before the start of 2026 that would demonstrate the government’s commitment to ending the feudal leasehold system. Instead, leaseholders say they feel abandoned this Christmas – angry, frustrated and worn down by ongoing uncertainty.
The mental health toll of prolonged exploitation and insecurity is becoming impossible to ignore, according to the NLC, which described the continued delay as unacceptable and untenable.
Leaving confirmation of the delay until the final day of the parliamentary session, the group added, only compounded the distress, calling the timing needlessly cruel.
The NLC calls for the government to “get a grip” on the leasehold reform agenda and provide leaseholders with the change they have repeatedly promised.
“The draft bill must be published upon their return in the new year if there is any hope of restoring faith in their commitment to helping leaseholders”, said a spokesperson for the NLC. “”We also need reassurance and commitment that the bill supports the best interest of leaseholders and not wealthy investors who exploit the system and treat our homes merely as cash cows. Only sight of the bill can provide this.”
The spokesperson continued: “This poor PR performance by the government is made much worse by their additional failure to celebrate the Judicial Review (JR) win at the high court back in October 2025, which should have triggered immediate activation of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 (LAFRA2024) but didn’t. Housing Minister, Matthew Pennycook at the Labour Conference this year said once they had clarity from the JR they could proceed with LAFRA they would proceed. We are still waiting.
“Naturally leaseholders are concerned that both of these delays may be due to aggressive investor lobbying behind the scenes, and the apparent lack of comms from Steve Reed regarding anything leasehold related only feeds that narrative.
“Sadly “Build Baby Build” is not the message leaseholders want to hear right now when their lives are on hold with many facing forfeiture or bankruptcy due to the leasehold racket.
“Labour sits on the precipice between success and failure of their leasehold manifesto promises and we can only wait for the New Year to find out which it will be. NLC is ready to either celebrate or call their 34K members to action.”