Reducing the prevalence of private estate management arrangements

Overview

Scope of this consultation

Topic of this consultation

The consultation focuses on tackling the growing issue of unadopted amenities on privately managed housing estates in England, where roads, drainage systems, green spaces, and other communal infrastructure are maintained by private estate management companies rather than public authorities. This trend has led to unfair charges, poor transparency, and limited homeowner rights, creating significant consumer detriment.

The government aims to:

• Reduce reliance on private estate management and increase adoption of amenities by public authorities.
• Implement common standards for adoptable amenities to improve quality and consistency.
• Explore mandatory adoption for certain public amenities, while considering exceptions for premium or exclusive features.
• Remove perverse incentives that make non-adoption attractive to developers.
• Improve data transparency, homeowner protections, and dispute resolution mechanisms.
• Consider prohibiting embedded management arrangements and promoting resident-controlled management.
• Assess financial sustainability of estate management charges and introduce affordability safeguards.
• Seek evidence on impacts for homeowners, developers, local authorities, and management companies.

The government recognises the importance of new housing supply to meet national demand, and we must deliver reform in parallel with our wider housing ambitions, including building a record number of desperately needed new homes, while making sure that public services are sustainable.

Geographical scope

The proposals relate to England, but we are inviting perspectives from across the UK (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland). Following consultation, we intend to work closely with the devolved administrations as future policy develops, in case there are opportunities for a joined-up approach.

Impact Assessment

The UK government is mindful of its responsibilities, including those under the Public Sector Equality Duty to have due regard to the potential impact of their proposals on people with protected characteristics, and their responsibilities to consider environmental principles in any proposals, including, in relation to England, as set out in the Environment Act 2021. We welcome evidence and views on the impact of this policy as part of this consultation. All regulations bought forward as a result of this consultation will be subject to appropriate assessment.

Basic information

Bodies responsible for the consultation

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Duration

This consultation will last for 12 weeks from 18 December 2025 to 12 March 2026.

Enquiries

For any enquiries about the consultation please contact: reducingprevalence@communities.gov.uk

How to respond

You may respond by completing an online survey on CitizenSpace.

The consultation contains a mixture of open and closed questions with options to provide further information. Many questions are technical in nature, and you do not have to answer every question if they do not apply to your particular circumstances or you do not hold a view. Alternatively, you can email your response to the questions in this consultation to reducingprevalence@communities.gov.uk

When you respond it would be very useful if you confirm whether you are responding as an individual or submitting an official response on behalf of an organisation, and if so, include the name of the organisation and your position.