Who Else Is Fighting Leasehold? Meet the Movement

Us leasehold reform activists are not like the People’s Front of Judea, the Judean People’s Front and the assorted splinter groups as per Monty Python’s the life of Brian; Quite the opposite, we all work together towards a common objective but just from different angles.

Grassroots leaseholder campaign

The largest leaseholder movement in England and Wales, with more than 34,000 members. Its objectives include abolishing residential leasehold, promoting commonhold, regulating managing agents and improving redress for leaseholders.

https://www.nationalleaseholdcampaign.org/

Charity, research body and parliamentary secretariat

The UK’s leading leasehold reform charity. LKP provides advice, publishes investigative reporting, and acts as secretariat to the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Leasehold and Commonhold Reform.

https://www.leaseholdknowledge.com/

Grassroots activist organisation

Campaigns for the complete abolition of leasehold and for existing leaseholders to gain the benefits of commonhold. Has become increasingly active in policy responses and legal interventions relating to reform legislation.

https://www.freeleaseholders.org.uk/

Single-issue commonhold campaign

Focused specifically on replacing leasehold with commonhold ownership. Advocates a simpler system where flat owners collectively own and manage their buildings.

https://commonholdnow.uk/

Leaseholder and estate-owner campaign group

Originally active around “fleecehold” estates but increasingly involved in wider leasehold reform, estate management reform and homeowner protections. Representatives have been invited to give parliamentary evidence alongside other reform groups.

https://www.homeownersrights.net/

Cross-party parliamentary body

Not a campaigning organisation itself, but an important forum that brings together MPs, peers, campaigners and sector experts to develop reform proposals and scrutinise government policy. LKP serves as its secretariat.

Co-founder, National Leasehold Campaign (NLC)

One of the most prominent leasehold campaigners in the UK. Katie founded the NLC in 2017 after becoming affected by the leasehold house scandal. She has been instrumental in bringing leasehold issues into mainstream political debate and regularly engages with MPs, ministers and the media.

Co-founder, National Leasehold Campaign

Works alongside Katie Kendrick and Cath Williams in leading the NLC. She has campaigned extensively on leasehold houses, escalating ground rents and consumer protection issues.

Co-founder, National Leasehold Campaign

A leading campaigner for abolition of leasehold and transition to commonhold. She has given evidence to Parliament and remains one of the most recognised voices for leaseholders.

Chief Executive, Leasehold Knowledge Partnership (LKP)

Arguably the most influential investigative figure in leasehold reform. Through LKP he has spent years exposing abuses in the sector, providing evidence to Parliament and helping shape reform proposals.

Chair, Leasehold Knowledge Partnership

A long-standing leaseholder advocate and policy expert. Martin has been heavily involved in discussions around commonhold, service charges and resident control of buildings. He frequently gives evidence to policymakers.

Founding Director and CEO, Commonhold Now

Karolina is one of the UK’s strongest advocates for transitioning from leasehold to commonhold. Her campaign work is heavily influenced by her experience of Australian strata title systems, European co-ownership models and UK Right to Manage. She argues that homeowners should own and control their buildings directly rather than through third-party freeholders. She is also a vocal critic of forfeiture and supports giving homeowners the power to appoint and replace managing agents.

Director, Commonhold Now

A RICS Chartered Surveyor with extensive experience of both UK leasehold property and Australian strata title systems. Helen campaigns for commonhold on the basis that leasehold is often presented as home ownership despite leaseholders lacking meaningful control over their homes. She advocates greater homeowner control and decision-making authority in residential developments.

Founder, Free Leaseholders

Former journalist turned leasehold campaigner. Harry founded Free Leaseholders, a newer grassroots movement focused on ending leasehold entirely and extending commonhold to existing leaseholders, not just new developments.

Lawyer and Campaigner

A leaseholder barrister and campaigner who has become increasingly influential in parliamentary discussions. He provides detailed legal analysis of leasehold law and has appeared before Parliamentary committees considering reform.

Founder, Commonhold Now

A strong advocate for commonhold as the replacement tenure for leasehold flats. His campaign focuses less on incremental reform and more on promoting a wholesale transition to commonhold ownership.

Joint Campaign Co-ordinator / Co-ordinator

Halima is the public face of HORN and regularly represents the organisation before Parliament and government bodies. She has given evidence to the Public Bill Committee on the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill and to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee on property management companies.

Co-founder / Campaign Co-ordinator

Cathy is less visible publicly than Halima but is one of the original architects of the movement and has provided written evidence to parliament.

While not campaigners, these politicians have been particularly influential:

• Matthew Pennycook MP – Housing Minister leading current commonhold and leasehold reform proposals.
• Michael Gove – As Secretary of State, drove the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 and became highly critical of the existing system.
• Lord Best – Crossbench peer and former Chair of the Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE). He has been a long-standing advocate for leaseholder rights, better regulation of managing agents, and reform of leasehold tenure. His reports and parliamentary interventions have influenced much of the modern debate around regulation and commonhold.
• Sir Peter Bottomley – Former Conservative MP and one of the most consistent parliamentary champions of leaseholders over the last two decades. As Chair of the APPG on Leasehold and Commonhold Reform, he played a significant role in bringing leaseholder concerns into Parliament and challenging freeholder abuses.
• Justin Madders MP – A Labour MP who has been heavily involved in leasehold reform work and has worked closely with campaign groups including the National Leasehold Campaign.