The government has, as expected, reintroduced its bill to reform the purchase of freeholds by leaseholders and to create a new form of tenure for flat owners, or unit-holders, known as commonhold, under which the organisation managing the common parts of developments of flats would be set up as a company.

Under commonhold, there would be no landlord and no-one would have rights in the property which would be superior to the unit-holder's. Also, the owner's interest in the property would not run out over time as it does in leasehold.

The main points of the bill are:

It provides a way of allowing people in inter-dependent properties to own the freehold;

It gives leaseholders the right to take over management of building without having to prove landlord fault or pay compensation on new contracts;

Makes it easier for leaseholders to buy their freeholds and means that more leaseholders will qualify for right to buy, with simpler valuation rules;

Provides range of measures to prevent leasehold abuse.

House of Lords

First reading: June 21 2001 ((HL Bill 5))

Second reading: July 5 2001

Committee

• 1st day: October 16 2001
• 2nd day: October 22 2001
• The bill as amended in committee: HL Bill 22

Report: November 13 2001

Third reading: November 19 2001

House of Commons

First reading: November 19 2001 HC Bill 51

Second reading: January 8 2002

Standing Committee D

• 1st sitting: January 15 2002 (am)
• 2nd sitting: January 15 2002 (pm)
• 3rd sitting: January 17 2002 (am)
• 4th sitting: January 17 2002 (pm)
• 5th sitting: January 22 2002 (am)
• 6th sitting: January 22 2002 (pm)
• 7th sitting: January 24 2002 (am)
• 8th sitting: January 24 2002 (pm)
• The bill as amended in committee: HC Bill 89

Remaining stages:

• March 11 2002
• March 12 2002

House of Lords

Consideration of Commons amendments: April 15 2002

House of Commons

Consideration of Lords consequential amendment: April 24 2002

Royal Assent: May 1 2002