Leaseholder broadband rights are getting a genuine upgrade
New leaseholder broadband rights are moving through Parliament as part of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, after a government consultation on the idea closed in February 2026. The plan gives leaseholders in flats a statutory right to request a gigabit capable connection, with freeholders facing a new duty not to unreasonably refuse. Read more about Leaseholder Rights.
It’s aimed at a genuinely stuck problem. An estimated 1.2 million flats in England and Wales still can’t get gigabit broadband, often because a freeholder simply never replied to a wayleave request from a network wanting to install fibre.
Why do leaseholder broadband rights matter so much for flats specifically?
If you own a house, a fibre install is mostly between you and the network. In a block of flats, it’s not that simple. Openreach, CityFibre or an altnet usually needs the freeholder’s permission, called a wayleave, before running cable through shared areas like stairwells and risers.
Some freeholders sign off quickly. Others sit on the request for months, or never respond at all, and current law gives leaseholders very little to push back with. That silence is exactly what the new leaseholder broadband rights are designed to end.
Who actually gets these leaseholder broadband rights?
As drafted, it’s leaseholders, not renters directly. If you own the lease on your flat, you’d be able to make the formal request yourself. If you rent from a leaseholder landlord, you’d still need them to act on your behalf, the bill doesn’t hand tenants a direct route around their landlord.
That’s a genuine gap for renters in leasehold flats, and one worth knowing about if you’re currently stuck with a slow connection and a landlord who hasn’t got round to sorting it. Our broader guide on broadband when renting covers where tenants stand more generally.
When do leaseholder broadband rights actually come into force?
Not yet. The consultation closed in February 2026 and the measures are sitting inside the wider Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, which still needs to complete its passage through Parliament. There’s no confirmed date for when leaseholder broadband rights become enforceable law.
Worth checking back on this one rather than assuming it’s already live. Bills covering leasehold reform have a track record of taking longer than first expected, and the broadband provisions are only one part of a much larger piece of legislation.
What can you do in the meantime?
If you’re a leaseholder facing a slow or unresponsive freeholder today, it’s still worth submitting a wayleave request formally and in writing, since a paper trail helps if the new right does land and you want to point back to a prior refusal. Networks like Openreach and CityFibre also publish rollout maps, so it’s worth checking whether your building is even earmarked yet.
If you’re renting rather than owning the lease, raising it with your landlord and pointing them at the upcoming changes may nudge things along faster than waiting for the law to catch up. Once you are free to switch, our One Touch Switch guide covers how painless changing provider now is.
Leaseholder broadband rights, at a glance
- Part of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, still passing through Parliament.
- Consultation on the proposal closed February 2026.
- Would give leaseholders a right to request gigabit broadband; freeholders couldn’t unreasonably refuse.
- Applies to leaseholders, not renters directly.
- An estimated 1.2 million flats in England and Wales still lack gigabit access.
Frequently asked questions about leaseholder broadband rights
- Does this apply in Scotland or Northern Ireland?
- As proposed, the measures cover England and Wales. Leasehold and broadband access rules differ elsewhere in the UK, so it’s worth checking local guidance if you’re in Scotland or Northern Ireland.
- What counts as an “unreasonable” refusal by a freeholder?
- The detail is still being worked through as the bill progresses. Genuine structural or safety concerns are likely to count as reasonable grounds; simply ignoring the request is the behaviour the new right is aimed at.
- Will installing fibre under this right cost leaseholders anything?
- Standard installation is typically covered by the network wanting to connect the building, as with most fibre rollouts, though this hasn’t been finalised in the legislation itself.
- Can a freeholder charge a fee for granting a wayleave?
- Some do under current arrangements. Whether that continues once the new right is in force is one of the details still being settled as the bill moves through Parliament.
- Where can I check if my building already has gigabit broadband available?
- A postcode checker through a network or comparison site will tell you what’s live at your address right now, separate from whether the new leaseholder right applies. Our guide on moving home and broadband covers checking availability at a new address too.
Leaseholder broadband rights are a sensible fix for a problem that’s been quietly stalling flats across the country. Just don’t expect it overnight. Until the bill actually passes, a wayleave request in writing is still your strongest move if your freeholder has gone quiet.
