As the government announces plans to reform England's leasehold system to protect millions of homeowners from unfair practices, Attwells Solicitors says the changes could reshape the local property market.
Why it matters: The changes will affect approximately five million leasehold properties across England and Wales, including many in Suffolk, where homeowners currently pay annual ground rent and service charges to freeholders.
The anticipated reforms are expected to have a significant impact on homeowners in IpswichOliver Rouane-WilliamsIpswich.co.uk
The big picture: Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook has committed to making commonhold â where people own their homes without an expiring lease â the default tenure before the next election. The reform package includes:
Scrapping the "two-year rule" from January, which currently prevents leaseholders from extending their lease or buying their freehold during the first 24 months of ownership.
Enabling more leaseholders to take over building management by spring 2024.
Consulting on banning new leaseholds in the second half of 2024.
What they're saying: Christina Greer, Senior Litigation Solicitor at Attwells Solicitors, said:
Opinion
The proposed changes are a positive step towards creating a fairer property market. Many of our clients have experienced challenges with the existing leasehold system and these reforms will provide them with greater control over their homes.
However, campaigners warn the timeline may be too slow. Katie Kendrick, founder of the National Leasehold Campaign, said: "Our main concern now is the fate of existing leaseholders who are currently suffering at the mercy of unregulated managing agents and unscrupulous freeholders."
Between the lines: While the government has promised swift action, not all elements of the 2024 bill will be implemented immediately. Ministers say they have identified flaws that need to be "rectified" to ensure the reforms work as intended.
The bottom line: While local property law experts like Attwells are positioning themselves to help Suffolk residents navigate the changes, questions remain about how quickly these reforms will deliver relief to current leaseholders facing high charges.
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The West Stand Senior shares her account of Town Women's 3-1 defeat of Plymouth Argyle at Portman Road on Sunday, 23 March, as they go top of the league.
Pre-match thoughts
Having thoroughly enjoyed watching Englandâs Lionesses play â often more than the England menâs team of late, I confess my interest in womenâs football was piqued. I would have loved to play for a team when I was younger, but that opportunity was non-existent back in the mists of time.
I heard the Ipswich womenâs team are doing well, and as they are at Portman Road today, not their usual home ground in Felixstowe for this match, it was the ideal chance to go and see them at a more accessible ground for me and cheer them on.
ITFC mascot Bluey waving at fans as coaches arriveSophie DebenhamIpswich.co.uk
A brief history of the women's game
Women's football has been played in England for over a century, in common with the men's game. It was originally very popular in the early 20th century, but after being banned by the men's Football Association (boo hiss), its popularity declined.
It wasnât until the 1990s that the number of female players and spectators increased, eventually leading to England hosting (and winning) the Women's European Championships in 2022. We have yet to host a womenâs World Cup Competition, so perhaps thatâs one for the future.
Ipswich Town Womenâs FC
They currently compete in the Football Association Womenâs National League (FAWNL) Southern Premier Division, the country's third tier of women's football. If they win today, they will top that league and be a step closer to gaining promotion to the championship.
I must admit I wasnât very au fait with the structure of the womenâs football competition, but I understand that the league pyramid consists of 72 teams, divided into six divisions of 12 each. In a change from previous seasons, both winners of the Northern and Southern Premier divisions will be promoted to the Women's Championship.
Town are the current favourites to take that Southern slot.
Similarly to the menâs game the Championship is the second tier with the Womenâs Super League (WSL) at the top, which is peopled by the usual suspects â Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal etc.
Todayâs opponents are Plymouth Argyll Womenâs Football Club, currently sitting near the bottom of the Southern table, so this is a big game for both teams.
In 2024, Ipswich Town women played their first ever game at Portman Road on 23 March 2024 against Chatham Town, a game they went on to win 5-0 in front of a 10,173 crowd. Todayâs game is a year to the day from that match and hopefully they will be just as successful.
My train broke down just outside Manningtree, and I thought I was going to miss the kickoff. Aaaaagh!
The match
Iâm not going to give you a blow-by-blow detailed account of the game as the ITFC website has already covered it. The match is available to watch on Town TV, YouTube and X. I will, however, tell you quite simply the score line did not reflect the match as Town had so many more chances, near misses and scrambles in the goal mouth that itâs surprising their score was not doubled.
Town created chance after chance in a game that could've easily finished well beyond the modest scoreline of 3-1Sophie DebenhamIpswich.co.uk
The Town team dominated most of the match, playing skilful and attractive football. Townâs Lucy OâBrien scored within the first minute to show they meant business, and it certainly was a marker for the rest of the game.
Natasha Thomas got Town's second of the game in the 26th minute from a cross by Sophie Pesket.
Town made it three in the 57th minute after a rebound from the goalkeeper fell nicely for Sophie Peskett, who slotted it home with ease.
Peskett scoring for Ipswich Town vs PlymouthSophie DebenhamSophsinfocus
Plymouth were reduced to 10 players in the 80th minute after Papaioannou was shown a second yellow following a foul on Seaby. Having fought hard throughout the game and defended stoically, they came back with an excellent goal in the 82nd minute as Charlotte Whitmore intercepted a loose pass from Townâs goalkeeper, firing into an empty net from outside the box.
Final score: Town 3-1 Argyll
Round up
There was a nice vibe around the groundâlots of families enjoying an afternoon of shared entertainment and love of the beautiful game. Next to me, Alice Martin, aged 6 years old, had brought her Mum and Dad to her very first Ipswich game. She was very well-behaved and seemed to enjoy the match. A fan of the future? Or maybe, indeed, a player.
Ipswich players completing their lap around the pitchSophie DebenhamIpswich.co.uk
Great to see that games like these are being taken seriously and being supported so well with a record breaking crowd of 10,807 in attendance.
Matches like this one serve as an encouragement and an inspiration to young girls â to take part in sport and follow their dreams, as well as bringing people together. The club is all about inclusion and this is one of the ways they are showing it. Game Changer and Mark Ashton are championing the womenâs team, community and participation alongside the menâs, youth and disability teams.
Ed Sheeran turned heads in the stands every time he popped into viewBarbara Norrey
Ed Sheeranâs appearance at the game today, Iâm sure helped to boost the numbers and the excitement. He appeared in the gallery behind where I was sitting with a pink balloon in the shape of a heart so that everyone could take a quick picture. He also had a singsong with the players after the game in the dressing room to celebrate their win.
Youâve gotta love Ed â such a good ambassador for the club.
I thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon out.
Hats off to the players for the time and patience they showed at the end of the game with the fansâtalking to them, signing autographs, and taking selfies. It was lovely to see.
And hats off to the Club, the players, and all those involved â staff and volunteers â for this wonderful event.
So, if you love to watch good football and prefer to support your local team â consider following the Town Women â you wonât regret it.
