Petition · past parliament
To abolish ground rent payments on existing residential property leases
Closed
6,451 signatures
What the petition asks
1)Ground rent is a form of exploitation, particularly when it is set to double over the life of a lease every 10,15,20 or 25 years
2)The government supports setting ground rent to zero on new leases: a disparity of treatment between old and new leases would put existing leases at disadvantage
2)The government supports setting ground rent to zero on new leases: a disparity of treatment between old and new leases would put existing leases at disadvantage
No service is essentially provided in return for ground rent payments
Freeholders already receive an income when lease is extended
Setting ground rent to zero would likely reduce rent charged to tenants by leaseholder landlords
As an alternative the government should set the maximum ground rent to £200 per year over the life of the lease
Leasehold properties with increasing ground rents are more difficult to sell as lenders are reluctant to approve mortgages to buy these properties
Freeholders already receive an income when lease is extended
Setting ground rent to zero would likely reduce rent charged to tenants by leaseholder landlords
As an alternative the government should set the maximum ground rent to £200 per year over the life of the lease
Leasehold properties with increasing ground rents are more difficult to sell as lenders are reluctant to approve mortgages to buy these properties
Timeline
| 12 Mar 2018 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 12 Sep 2018 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
6,451
Status
Closed
Opened
12 Mar 2018
Closed
12 Sep 2018
Follow this petition
Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.
Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.