Notice:
In November 2023, Harry Scoffin, veteran anti-leasehold campaigner and driving force behind Commonhold Now, the original political campaign, left with his team to form Free Leaseholders, following the King's Speech announcement that the then Conservative government would bring forward a Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill.
After Number 10 dropped the legislation in a shock move owing to a snap election and, likely, lobbying by vested interests, Free Leaseholders was pivotal in forcing a last minute u-turn and getting the law onto the statute books on 24 May 2024. This was the first Act of Parliament tackling leasehold tenure in twenty-two years.
Free Leaseholders is now fighting for the provisions of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 to be activated by the new Labour government. It is also fighting for the Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill, promised in the July 2024 King's Speech, to be enacted. Through a mass shift to commonhold and other reforms, Free Leaseholders will make sure that this legislation finally ends the systemic exploitation of leaseholders and provides proper democratic self-rule for flat owners.
Follow Free Leaseholders on X, LinkedIn and YouTube. If you want to get in touch, email Harry on harry@freeleaseholders.org.uk
Disclaimer: This website is solely an archive of the seminal work of the founding line-up of Commonhold Now, March to November 2023. It is not an endorsement of any company or individuals that may continue to be using its name today.
Blurb for Commonhold Now, the original political campaign, March to November 2023:
COMMONHOLD NOW is a grassroots campaign organisation committed to real homeownership by ending the unfair leasehold system in England and Wales for existing and new residential properties.
If you live in a flat or a new-build on private managed estates, including 'fleecehold' and shared owners, we want to hear from you.
We are calling on the UK Government to announce a new law later this year (in the King's Speech) that will end over 5 million homeowners being ripped off in our own homes, unable to control the fees or management company.
We believe this can be best delivered via a mass shift to 'commonhold', a system used across the globe including in Scotland, Canada and Australia.
Working together, we can take control of our homes, money and lives.
The English and Welsh leasehold system enables landlords to subject homeowners to unfair ground rents, escalating service charges, unexpected fees and harsh terms, leaving many feeling trapped and financially vulnerable.
We have no say or control in the management of our homes.
The building safety crisis that has emerged since the Grenfell Tower tragedy has highlighted the need for radical change.
Our mission is to create a simpler and fairer way of living for flat owners and 'fleeceholders'.
Commonhold will mean that homeowners will own their properties outright, have a share in the common parts and participate in decision-making over our own bills and buildings.
This brings us in line with Scotland and the rest of the world.
Since 2002, only twenty Commonhold schemes have been brought into existence in England and Wales. It must change!
These quotes are provided to illustrate a range of opinions relevant to our campaign and do not necessarily imply endorsement of, or support for, Commonhold Now.