Ground rent cap offers some relief, but leaseholders still need control over how buildings are run

So Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s announcement of a £250 ground rent cap, effective from 2028, seems likely to land well. This is because in practice, the difference between an affordable home and an unaffordable one rarely comes down to ground rent. A ground rent cap does not, by itself, change who controls those decisions. While some service charges have naturally risen due to inflation, it’s the lack of justification or explanation that aggravates leaseholders most. In this context, a ground rent cap is a welcome reprieve, but limited.