In October 2025, the High Court dismissed the case of a group of major freeholders who had instigated a judicial review on the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 (LAFRA).
Context of the LFRA
The LFRA received Royal Assent on 24 May 2024 with the purpose of making it easier and cheaper for leaseholders to extend their leases or buy their freehold.
Key changes that were introduced were:
- – Abolishing the marriage value, eliminating elevated premiums payable to obtain the freehold title of a property as a leaseholder.
- – Ground rent capped at 0.1% of the value of the property for enfranchisement calculations.
- – Removing the 2-year ownership requirement, allowing leaseholders to purchase the freehold title without waiting.
- – Leaseholders gain the Right to Manage, empowering them to take control over the management of their building.
- – Greater transparency in service charges, including how they are calculated and how funds are spent.
- – Freeholders become responsible for their own legal and valuation costs in lease extension or enfranchisement claims, rather than passing these costs on to leaseholders.
Basis of the Judicial Review
The judicial review case challenged mainly the abolition of marriage value, the cap on ground rent and the burden of costs for the freeholder in enfranchisement and lease extension cases.
Freeholders Involved in the Claim
The six claimants included Alpha Real Capital LLP, the Duke of Westminster’s Cadogan Group Ltd, Abacus Land and other major freeholders, which together control approximately 390,000 leasehold properties. Their main argument relied on Article 1 of the First Protocol (A1P1) to the European Convention of Human Rights, which protects the right to peaceful enjoyment of private property.
The High Court ruled that the new law was not “incompatible” with the ECHR and therefore dismissed the claim.
Consequences of the Dismissal
The Court’s decision represents a significant victory for leaseholders and a major step toward full implementation of the LFRA. However, further delays are possible. The claimant group may choose to appeal to the Court of Appeal, and if the ruling is upheld, could seek to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court or the European Court of Human Rights.
How Fiona Bruce Solicitors Can Help Leaseholders Navigate the LFRA 2024
The implications of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 are significant, and its ongoing legal challenges make it even more important for leaseholders and freeholders to seek clear, reliable advice.
At Fiona Bruce, our specialist Property and Private Client solicitors team can guide you through lease extensions, enfranchisement, service charge disputes and the broader impact of the LFRA on your rights and obligations.
If you need tailored legal support or want to understand how this legislation affects your situation, our experienced solicitors are here to help.
The contents of this post do not constitute legal advice and are provided for general information purposes only ■