Law updates
Leasehold reform: enacted does not always mean in force
How to separate enacted reforms, commenced provisions, consultations and future valuation rules.
Reform arrives in stages
An Act can receive Royal Assent without every section taking effect immediately. Commencement regulations may bring provisions into force on different dates, and detailed secondary legislation may still be needed.
That distinction is essential for lease-extension calculations. A future valuation method should not be applied to a current claim merely because it has been announced or appears in an Act.
A change already commenced
The previous two-year ownership requirement for qualifying flat leaseholders was removed from 31 January 2025. That does not mean every other reform in the 2024 Act commenced on the same date.
Position at this guide’s review date
Government material published in July 2026 said that major valuation reforms still required further work, consultation or legislation. The current calculation service must therefore version its methodology and check commencement rather than anticipating proposed rules.
Because this area is changing, verify the position with official sources and professional advisers immediately before taking action.