Leasehold campaigners say a possible Andy Burnham premiership could be good news for those wanting radical reform of the sector.

Burnham convincingly won last week’s Makerfield by election, making it increasingly likely that a Labour Party leadership challenge will shortly be launched, and that Burnham has a strong chance of becoming Prime Minister.

A statement over the weekend from Mark Chick, director of the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners and a senior partner at the Bishop & Sewell LLP law practice – says: “Burnham has actively backed the national Labour government’s platform to ban the sale of new leasehold flats and houses, repeatedly highlighting the need for a fairer system that better protects leaseholders. 

“He has also worked closely alongside campaign groups and individual residents who have been impacted.

“While Burnham hasn’t said anything explicitly regarding leasehold reform during the by-election campaign, it can be expected that were he to become PM the policy direction would remain on course. 

“Some sector commentators have suggested that speeding up the process could give him a major positive in his first, crucial, 100 days, but that will depend on if and when he becomes PM, and where the legislation is in its timetable when that happens.

“What isn’t in doubt is that housing is, and has been for a while, a priority for Burnham and during his time as Mayor of Manchester he has implemented many significant policies – it is therefore likely that this priority will not change if he goes through the doors of Number 10, and that the housing sector in the UK could be in for some significant changes over the coming years.