Housebuilders will be prevented from selling leasehold new-build houses in England, with ground rents also being banned on such properties, as the government tackles the exploitative contracts. Communities Secretary Sajid Javid will publish plans to ban new-build houses from being sold as leasehold next week, however, flats will not be included in any new legislation. Tens of thousands of homebuyers have been caught in spiralling ground rents, which have in some cases left homes virtually unsaleable. The move is part of a wider crackdown by Mr Javid, who has been accused of “playing politics over people’s lives” and “trying to get his own way”. There is no information as yet about remedies or assistance for existing leasehold house owners.
Housebuilders will be prevented from selling leasehold new-build houses in England, with ground rents also being banned on such properties, as the government tackles the exploitative contracts. Communities Secretary Sajid Javid will publish plans to ban new-build houses from being sold as leasehold next week, however, flats will not be included in any new legislation. The move is part of a wider crackdown by Mr Javid, who has been accused of “playing politics over people’s lives” and “trying to get his own way”. There is no information as yet about remedies or assistance for existing leasehold house owners.