Recent property law changes can affect the questions you ask when buying, owning or letting a home. A survey can highlight visible physical issues, while your legal adviser checks rights, liabilities and documents. It does not confirm legal compliance or replace specialist advice.
2022
The Building Safety Act 2022 introduced protections that can limit what qualifying leaseholders in England pay towards certain historic safety defects. Not every building or lease qualifies, and the rules for higher-risk buildings are separate. A survey can highlight visible defects and reasons for a specialist fire or structural assessment, but it is not a full building safety assessment. Your legal adviser should check whether the protections apply, review the relevant certificates and records, and establish who may be responsible for repair costs.
2024
The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 is being introduced in stages. From 31 January 2025, eligible leaseholders in England and Wales no longer have to own their property for two years before making a statutory lease extension or freehold purchase claim. Other conditions still apply, and not every announced reform is available yet. A survey can highlight disrepair and possible shared maintenance work. Your legal adviser should check the remaining lease term, repair responsibilities, service charge records and the rules currently in force.
2024
Planning enforcement time limits changed in England on 25 April 2024. Building works substantially completed on or after that date, and changes of use to a single home occurring on or after it, generally have a ten-year limit instead of four years. The earlier four-year rule remains for those cases before the change. Other planning breaches already generally had a ten-year limit, and exceptions can apply, including for concealed breaches and listed buildings. A survey can flag apparent alterations. Your legal adviser should check the dates and legal position rather than assume older work is lawful.
2025
The Renters' Rights Act 2025 changed private assured tenancies in England from 1 May 2026. The main reforms ended section 21 'no-fault' evictions and replaced assured shorthold and fixed-term assured tenancies with rolling assured periodic tenancies. Other measures are being introduced separately. If you are buying a property with tenants, a survey can highlight disrepair and visible safety concerns, but it cannot confirm that the tenants must leave. Your legal adviser should check the tenancy, any notices, the grounds for recovering possession and the responsibilities that may pass to you.