Housing secretary vows new regulator and fee caps to curb rogue leasehold agents

Housing secretary Angela Rayner used Labour's annual conference to unveil a crackdown on the leasehold sector’s “cowboy” agents, proposing an independent regulator that will licence and oversee estate, managing and estate-manager firms. The regulator will set practice standards, handle complaints and can revoke licences for non-compliance. Alongside this, the government will introduce a cap on permission and administration fees that leaseholders currently pay for routine alterations, with a consultation to determine the exact limits.

The move builds on a previously announced £250 annual ground-rent ceiling, which is expected to take effect by late 2028 or earlier. Rayner also highlighted broader housing reforms, including the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill aimed at replacing leasehold with commonhold ownership. Critics argue the measures are insufficient to meet Labour’s broader housing-building targets.