text: Leasehold property sales could finally be banned: what would it mean for buyers and homeowners? - Which? News
  The Law Commission's 'Residential leasehold and commonhold' investigation also recommends existing leaseholders should be able to extend their leases by 900 years, and ground rents should be cut to zero.
  Here, Which? analyses how today's announcement could be significant news for homebuyers in future and we explain what it means for homeowners trapped in unsellable leasehold houses.
  The Commission says a commonhold system would 'overcome the inherent limitations of leasehold ownership'.
  The government is already set to ban houses being sold as leasehold in future, except for in 'exceptional circumstances'.
  It says lease extensions should be for 900 years (rather than 90) so they'll only need to be made once. In addition, ground rents should be cut to zero.
  The Commission also addressed the cost of buying freeholds and recommended homeowners should no longer need to pay the freeholder's legal costs at tribunals.
  Find out more:Law Commission leasehold report into leasehold
  It's now up to the government to consider the Law Commission's recommendations, which it described this morning as 'a significant milestone'.
  It said it had found 'serious issues' in the selling of leasehold homes and would launch enforcement proceedings against those responsible.
  Some developers included 'double clauses' in their contracts which meant ground rents would ultimately run to thousands of pounds a year.
  In addition, we found examples of developers selling freeholds to faceless investment companies, who then used managing agents to invoke 'permission fees' for alterations as minor as changing a doorbell.
  June 2018:our investigation into the leasehold scandal
  March 2019:select committee calls for an overhaul of the leasehold system (see our submission to the inquiry here)