King Charles announces leasehold reform and building‑safety measures in King's Speech

King Charles will deliver the King's Speech on Wednesday, setting out the government's legislative programme for the new parliamentary session. The address is expected to feature two property‑related bills. The Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill aims to broaden leaseholders’ rights in England and Wales, allowing extensions of leases and the purchase of freeholds, while capping ground rents at £250 a year and reducing them to pepper‑corn rents after 40 years. A separate Building Safety Remediation Bill is slated to tighten safety standards for high‑rise blocks, building on reforms introduced after the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire. The speech comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer seeks to regain momentum following a difficult election outcome and as UK house‑price growth shows signs of slowing, underscoring the government's focus on housing, planning and broader policy areas.