Nearly a decade ago, Cath Williams, a retired university lecturer in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, tossed a leaflet about leasehold injustice into the bin. But when she discovered her own new-build home was leasehold—with hidden costs and escalating ground rent—she joined forces with Katie Kendrick and Jo Darbyshire to found the National Leasehold Campaign (NLC). Their efforts have now led to the biggest overhaul of the centuries-old leasehold system in England and Wales.
The Hidden Trap
Williams bought her home unaware it was leasehold; the term was added to her paperwork in pencil just weeks before completion. She was told she could buy the freehold for £2,000 after two years, but the price later jumped to £11,500. Similarly, Kendrick, a paediatric nurse, faced a 600% increase in the cost to buy her freehold—from £2,000 to £14,000—after the developer sold it without her knowledge. Darbyshire, a business director, saw her freehold purchase price rise from £5,000 to £40,000, with ground rent doubling every decade.
Campaign and Breakthrough
The trio launched a Facebook group, distributed leaflets, and organized mass email campaigns to MPs. In 2018, a select committee inquiry received over 6,000 responses. Their breakthrough came with the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022, which ended ground rents for most new leaseholds. The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 extended lease terms to 990 years and abolished marriage value. In January 2026, a draft bill proposed banning new leasehold flats and capping ground rents at £250 a year, reducing to zero after 40 years.
Ongoing Challenges
Despite these wins, existing leaseholders still face issues. A recent NLC survey found 41% of leaseholders had suicidal thoughts due to financial stress. Management companies like FirstPort face criticism for high service charges and poor repairs. The campaigners, now OBE recipients, continue to push for full enactment of reforms before the next general election. “We’re going to see this through to the end,” says Kendrick.
