Conservative Voters Support Abolishing Ground Rents on Leasehold Properties
Conservative voters are showing strong support for the abolition of ground rents on leasehold properties, despite some resistance within the party. Polling data reveals interesting insights into the views of Tory voters on this issue.
Key Findings from the Polling Data
- 64% of Tory voters are in favor of abolishing ground rents
- Only 17% of Conservative supporters oppose scrapping ground rents
- 61% of Conservative voters from 2019 support removing ground rents
- Leaseholders pay ground rent to the freeholder for using their property
Overview of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill
The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill aims to modernize property ownership rules by addressing the issue of ground rents. One of the proposed reforms is to set ground rents to a peppercorn, effectively eliminating the financial burden on leaseholders.
Regional Support for Abolishing Ground Rents
Opinium’s polling data indicates that support for abolishing ground rents is evenly split across England, with varying levels of support in different regions.
- 58% of voters in the North want to remove ground rents
- 60% of voters in the South support abolishing ground rents
Stakeholder Perspectives
Harry Scoffin, founder of Free Leaseholders, criticizes the government for not fulfilling the 2019 Conservative manifesto promise to restrict ground rents to a peppercorn. He highlights the popularity of this measure among voters, especially Conservatives and the elderly.
Conservative MP Bob Blackman advocates for the abolition of ground rents, emphasizing the financial impact on voters. He urges the government to prioritize this reform.
Government Response and Future Plans
A spokesperson from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) reaffirms the government’s commitment to protecting leaseholders and implementing reforms through the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill.
The government is considering responses to the consultation on capping ground rents and will announce its policy in due course.
