Peppercorn Law

05/05/2026

Should you wait for leasehold reform before extending your lease?

A recent government update has confirmed that key changes, including the abolition of marriage value and reforms to ground rent may still be some way off, with growing expectation that they won’t take effect until closer to 2029.

While reform is still on the agenda, there are real uncertainties around timing, legal challenges, and how these changes will actually be implemented.

In this blog, we explain:
✔ What’s been confirmed
✔ What’s still uncertain
✔ What it means if you’re thinking about extending your lease

Read more:

On 29th April 2026, Housing and Planning Minister Matthew Pennycook delivered a keynote speech at the Institute for Government, offering a candid update on the Government’s progress toward leasehold reform. The speech was keenly watched for many looking for updates on when marriage value will be a...

21/04/2026

If you're extending your lease with a London council, one of the biggest unknowns is the landlord’s costs.

We’ve just published a practical guide based on real cases from 2025, covering typical costs for councils including London Borough of Islington, London Borough of Hackney and London Borough of Southwark.

The guide breaks down:
✔ Legal fees
✔ Valuation fees
✔ Administration charges

It also explains why costs vary between councils and what you should budget for overall.

If you're looking for clarity on lease extension costs before getting started, this is a helpful place to begin.

👉 Read the full guide:

This guide explains typical London council lease extension costs, including landlord legal, valuation and admin fees for London Borough of Islington, London Borough of Hackney and London Borough of Southwark, based on 2025 cases. It focuses on landlord costs only under the Leasehold Reform, Housing....

28/01/2026

The government has announced plans to cap ground rent at £250 from 2028.

Good news for leaseholders with doubling and RPI linked ground rents but not everyone can afford to wait.

We explain what’s changing, who benefits, and what it means if you need to sell or remortgage sooner

The government has announced plans to introduce a ground rent cap of £250 for existing long residential leases, with changes expected to take effect from late 2028. The proposals are aimed at tackling doubling ground rents and aggressive RPI linked ground rent clauses that have made many flats diff...

09/12/2025

Most leaseholders don’t know the exact number of years left on their lease, and it matters far more than people realise.
Dropping below 80 years can increase your lease extension premium dramatically due to marriage value.

A new free, open-source tool now lets you check your lease length instantly, without searching for deeds or paying the Land Registry £7.

In our latest blog, we explain:
✔️ Why your lease length is so important
✔️ How the new checker works
✔️ What to do if you're close to the 80-year threshold
✔️ How to plan your lease extension with confidence

Read the full post here 👇https://www.peppercornlaw.co.uk/post/new-free-tool-to-check-your-lease-length

02/12/2025

Thinking about buying the freehold on your block?
🏡 Under the new Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024, the rules for Collective Enfranchisement are changing, and it could get a lot easier (and cheaper) for leaseholders.

Find out what’s about to shift 👉

Peppercorn Law offers a fixed fee collective enfranchisement service, helping leaseholders take control of their building—especially where short leases are causing value to fall or where poor management has led to rising service charges and unresolved maintenance issues.

03/11/2025

🚨 Leasehold Reform Update

The High Court has dismissed the Judicial Review challenge to key parts of the Leasehold & Freehold Reform Act 2024 — including the abolition of marriage value, the ground rent cap, and the end of freeholder cost recovery.

A major step forward for leasehold reform.

Next move: Government must deliver secondary legislation. ⚖️🏛️

The recent decision by the High Court in the judicial review brought by major freeholders against the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 (LAFRA 2024) is an important step forward for leasehold reform.With the ruling upholding key provisions of the Act, the way is now clearer for the Government t...

07/08/2025

Missing freeholder? 🏚️ Leaseholders can still extend their lease or buy the freehold via a vesting order through the court.

📚 Read the blog to explore your legal options:
👉https://www.peppercornlaw.co.uk/post/freeholder-not-responding-your-options

27/07/2025

🚨 Thinking about taking control of your building? You’ve got 2 routes: Right to Manage or a Tribunal-Appointed Manager.

But which is right for you?

🔍 We break it down step-by-step 👉

Why would you choose the Right to Manage over an FTT manager? The decision usually becomes clear after considering the pros and cons of each route

22/07/2025

When should you extend your lease? Are there are any big milestones to be aware of? Read on

If you own a flat, one of the most important decisions you’ll face is when to extend your lease. Many leaseholders don’t realise that the length of the lease can drastically affect the value of their property—and waiting too long can cost thousands of pounds more than dealing with the problem ...

10/07/2025

Thinking about extending your lease or buying the freehold with neighbours?

Understand the pros, pitfalls, and when to act—before marriage value kicks in or ground rent doubles again.

👇 Start your leasehold journey here:

https://www.peppercornlaw.co.uk/post/lease-extension-or-collective-enfranchisement

Should I extend my lease or organise a freehold purchase with other flat owners? There are benefits to both