Keir Starmer took to the social media platform to announce that the ground rents leaseholders pay will be capped at £250 per year, with a view to reducing this to zero over the next 40 years. Ground rents are charges paid by leaseholders, who overwhelmingly live in flats, to their freeholder - the company or person that owns the land and building. But some owners pay far more. But for most leaseholders - and especially those who own new-build flats - ground rent is a drop in the ocean when it comes to the headaches they face. Unsurprisingly, those who already own leasehold flats now face an uphill struggle when it comes to selling them.