A decade-long battle waged by three women from the North West has culminated in a landmark overhaul of the leasehold system in England and Wales. Cath Williams, Katie Kendrick, and Jo Darbyshire spearheaded a campaign against what they described as the 'feudal' practices of leasehold ownership, which saw homeowners burdened with escalating costs and unsellable properties. Their relentless advocacy has been instrumental in securing significant legislative changes aimed at protecting future buyers.
The campaigners' personal experiences highlight the systemic issues within the previous leasehold framework. Cath Williams, a retired university lecturer from Ellesmere Port, discovered her new-build home was leasehold only weeks before moving in, despite no prior mention in promotional materials. She was initially told she could purchase her freehold for approximately £2,000 after two years but found the price had soared to £11,500 when she attempted to do so. Similarly, paediatric nurse Katie Kendrick, also from Ellesmere Port, faced a dramatic increase in her freehold purchase price from £2,000 to £14,000, alongside a permission fee for a kitchen extension jumping from £300 to £3,000, after her freehold was sold without her knowledge.
These experiences were not isolated incidents. Research from 2017 suggested that around 100,000 homeowners were trapped in properties made unsellable due to leasehold terms, often involving exorbitant ground rents and permission fees for home alterations. The campaigners' efforts began with local outreach, including leaflets distributed by Kendrick that eventually reached Williams. This grassroots movement quickly grew into the National Leasehold Campaign (NLC), now representing 34,000 members nationwide.
The impact of their work is profound, paving the way for the biggest legislative changes to the centuries-old leasehold system. Key reforms include a ban on new leasehold houses and a shift towards a commonhold system for new flats. Under commonhold, buyers will own the freehold of their individual flats while collectively owning and managing the building's communal areas with their neighbours, eliminating many of the issues associated with traditional leasehold.
In recognition of their tireless efforts, Williams, Kendrick, and Darbyshire were awarded OBEs by King Charles last year. They continue to engage with ministers in Parliament, advocating for further protections for homeowners. Their campaign underscores the power of collective action in challenging established systems and bringing about meaningful change for consumers.