Boultons - Magazine - Page 4
PROPERTY MARKET
IMPROVEMENTS:
RECAP ON RECENT
GOVERNMENT ACTIVITY
W
ith us now in December 2025 it is timely to review
key government initiatives in the UK property
market and what they mean for sellers, prospective
sellers, landlords and those considering becoming landlords.
While no reform is without complexity, several recent changes
offer genuine positives around transaction efficiency, tenure
transparency, rights and supply.
MODERNISING THE HOME BUYING AND SELLING
PROCESS
The Home Buying and Selling Bill (announced 9 February 2025)
sets out plans to reduce the frustrating delays and fall throughs
that have hampered many property transactions. Among the
measures: better sharing of property data between trusted
professionals, digitisation of identity and information services
and a target to shorten what has been nearly five months of
average transaction time.
For sellers and would be sellers this matters: a more efficient
process and fewer breakdowns can mean a stronger chance
of completion and less wasted time. For landlords considering
disposing of assets or transitioning portfolios, increased fluidity
in the market is a positive structural shift.
BOOSTING TENURE REFORM FOR
LEASEHOLDERS
The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 (now law)
introduces a stronger rights framework for leaseholders
and initiates the path to a modernised tenure system. Key
changes already in effect: the two year minimum ownership
requirement before extending a lease or buying a freehold has
been removed (from 31 January 2025) for many leaseholders.
The limit on non‐residential floor space for collective
enfranchisement or Right to Manage has been raised from 25%
to 50% from 3 March 2025.
While some reform elements (such as brakes on marriage
value, new calculation formulae and the full move to
commonhold) are still in consultation or pending full
enactment. For sellers of leasehold property this is a signal
of increasing buyer confidence, especially as transparency
improves. For landlords in leasehold flats the changes bring
clarity on enfranchisement and managing rights and may
reduce some barriers to sale or refinance.
REFORM OF THE PRIVATE RENTED SECTOR
The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 received Royal Assent on
27 October 2025. That means the legislation is now law, but
most of the substantive provisions are not yet in force.
Key headings: abolition of the ‘no fault’ eviction route under
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PROPERTY NEWS
