The big housing reform that may be easier said than done

The compensation that British owners are likely to demand will be much greater.

Gerber says Scotland’s current system, which has similarities to the mainstream system, “generally works”.

“You’ll always find someone who doesn’t want to waste their money… that can be a problem,” he says.

Most experts agree that there is no perfect system where more than one person shares responsibility for a building.

Hopkins believes common ground will occur despite further legal challenges. “The judicial review failed at the first stage, and failed quite comprehensively. I think a lot of the arguments were really lost.”

He says there is now broad political support for reform.

Former housing secretaries Angela Rayner and Michael Gove backed the reform as they gave evidence together to MPs. While the Liberal Democrats and Greens also support shared ownership, Reform UK stopped short of supporting the complete abolition of leasehold.

A spokesman for the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government said its reforms would “transform the flat ownership experience in England by giving landlords more power and control over high costs”.

Professor Sherry acknowledges that “things may be complicated, but they are doable.”

“Common ownership is better because I don’t believe people who don’t live in their homes should own the land below and enjoy the benefits that come from it.”

The realization of this vision now depends on policy as well as policy.

The likely next prime minister, Andy Burnham, has previously voiced his support for rent reform, but who he appoints as housing minister will be important. Described as “technical and lengthy”, the draft law still has a long way to go before the manifesto commitment comes to fruition.

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