The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 is the law set to give freehold estate residents real protection over their estate charges. It received Royal Assent on 24 May 2024, but the part that matters most for estate charges — Part 5 — is not yet in force as of July 2026. It needs secondary legislation first.
So the headline is simple: better rights are coming, but they are not live yet. This guide explains what the Act will change, where it stands today, and what you can do in the meantime.
TL;DR: The Act has Royal Assent, but the Part 5 estate-charge rights — the right to information, the tribunal challenge route, administration charge limits and Section 121 reform — all still need secondary legislation and are not yet in force as of July 2026. The government's consultation closed on 12 March 2026 and commencement is expected during 2026, but no firm date is confirmed. Until then, freeholders should ask for a written charge breakdown, keep records, compare against similar estates, and use the existing complaint and Ombudsman routes.
- Royal Assent — In force (24 May 2024)
- Right to information about charges — Not yet in force (awaiting secondary legislation)
- Right to challenge charges at First-tier Tribunal — Not yet in force (awaiting secondary legislation)
- Administration charge limits and transparency — Not yet in force (awaiting secondary legislation)
- Section 121 repossession reform — Not yet in force (consultation closed 12 March 2026)
- Right to change managing agent — Not yet in force (awaiting secondary legislation)
Comuna is independent and homeowner-side. This is general information, not legal advice.
What is the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024?
The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 is a major reform of residential property law in England and Wales. It covers leasehold extensions, ground rent and more — and, crucially for managed-estate residents, it includes a dedicated set of provisions for freehold homeowners who pay estate charges.
Those estate-management provisions sit in Part 5 of the Act. They exist because freehold estate residents have long had weaker protection than leaseholders, even though an estimated 1.6 to 1.75 million homes in England are now on privately managed estates.
Can I already challenge my estate charge at tribunal?
Not yet. The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) route for freehold estate charges is part of the pending Part 5 reforms — it is not available to freeholders today. Right now, if you think your charge is unreasonable, your options are to ask for a written breakdown, complain formally to the managing agent, escalate to the Property Ombudsman where the agent is a member, and in some cases go to the county court. See can you challenge estate management charges for the current routes.
Do I have a right to change managing agent yet?
No. A clearer route for freehold estate residents to change or have more say over their managing agent is expected under the wider reform agenda, but it has not commenced. Today, changing agent generally depends on what your deed of covenant or estate management scheme allows, and in many cases on taking over the estate's management company. See setting up or taking over a residents' management company for where that stands.
Has the Section 121 repossession power been abolished?
No. Section 121 of the Law of Property Act 1925 still allows, in extreme cases, action over unpaid rentcharges. The 2024 Act includes proposals to reform this remedy, but they are pending secondary legislation and Section 121 has not been changed or abolished as of July 2026. Read more in Section 121 explained.
What will Part 5 change for estate charges?
Part 5 is designed to give estate residents protections similar to a leaseholder's. The key changes are a right to information, a right to challenge unreasonable charges at a tribunal, limits on administration charges, and stronger protection from the Section 121 remedy. All four are pending.
In more detail, the new rights are expected to cover:
- a right to information — clear, itemised charges and proper accounts, so you can see exactly what you are paying for
- a right to challenge unreasonable charges at the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber)
- limits and transparency on administration charges, such as fees for consents or chasing arrears
- stronger protection around the Section 121 remedy that, in extreme cases, allows action over unpaid rentcharges
We unpack the challenge route in can you challenge estate management charges and the repossession risk in Section 121 explained.
Is it in force yet?
No. The Act has Royal Assent, but the Part 5 estate-management rights are not yet in force as of July 2026. They require secondary legislation to commence, and that has not happened. Commencement dates for all of the provisions below depend entirely on secondary legislation being laid and approved — always check gov.uk for the latest position before relying on any of them.
The government ran a consultation, "Enhanced protections for homeowners on freehold estates," which closed on 12 March 2026. Secondary legislation is expected to follow during 2026, but no firm commencement date for the main estate-management rights had been confirmed at the time of writing.
| Provision | Status (July 2026) |
|---|---|
| Act received Royal Assent | In force (24 May 2024) |
| Right to information (Part 5) | Not yet in force — pending secondary legislation |
| Right to challenge at First-tier Tribunal | Not yet in force — pending secondary legislation |
| Administration charge limits | Not yet in force — pending secondary legislation |
| Right to change managing agent | Not yet in force — pending secondary legislation |
| Section 121 reform | Not yet in force — consultation closed 12 Mar 2026 |
It is easy to read about the tribunal route or the right to information and assume you can use them today. You can't yet. Until the secondary legislation commences, the older, more limited routes still apply. Always check the date on anything you read about these rights, including this page — last reviewed 15 July 2026.
What should you do now?
You don't have to wait for commencement to get on the front foot. The evidence you build today will make any future challenge — at a tribunal or otherwise — far stronger.
- Ask your managing agent for a full, itemised breakdown of your charge and the accounts behind it.
- Keep records of what is actually maintained on your estate, and how well it's done.
- Compare your charge against similar estates to see whether it looks reasonable.
- Raise any problems formally, in writing, and keep copies.
- If you get nowhere, complain and escalate to the Property Ombudsman where your agent is a member.
You can check whether your charge looks fair in about 30 seconds on our homepage, then read the practical steps in how to challenge an unreasonable estate charge.
Common questions
Is the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 in force? It received Royal Assent on 24 May 2024, but the Part 5 estate-management rights need secondary legislation and are not yet in force as of June 2026.
When will the new estate-charge rights start? The consultation closed on 12 March 2026 and legislation is expected during 2026, but no firm commencement date for the main rights was confirmed at the time of writing.
What new rights will I get? A right to clear information, a right to challenge unreasonable charges at the First-tier Tribunal, limits on administration charges, and stronger protection from Section 121 — all pending.
Can I challenge my charge now? Only through the limited existing routes — an information request, a complaint and escalation to the Property Ombudsman, and in some cases the county court. The tribunal route is not yet available to freeholders.
Part of our rights tracker for freehold estate residents. For the current challenge process, see can you challenge estate management charges and Section 121 explained.
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