The draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill was published in January 2026 and has been controversial from the start. One of its key aims is to cap ground rents in existing long residential leases at £250 a year from an implementation date in late 2028, reducing in 2068 to a peppercorn.  This follows from a previous consultation under the last Conservative government in 2023/24 which weighed up five different options for tackling excessive ground rents.

On 4 June this year, HMRC quietly updated its published guidance in relation to input tax recovery for defined benefit (DB) pension schemes. These changes to HMRC's internal VAT Input Tax Manual clarify an improved position for the way in which input tax on asset management costs can be recovered, but appear to make recovery of input tax on administration costs more difficult.

Deloitte’s recent report predicts that global revenue generated by elite women’s sport will reach at least US$3 billion this year, representing a 25% increase on the 2025 figure. This highlights women’s sport as not only a fast-growing independent industry, but also a rich commercial opportunity, particularly for brands looking for new and innovative sponsorship arrangements.

From 1 October 2026, the UK government will significantly expand the scope of right to work ("RTW") checks for businesses. Introduced under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025, these changes will mean that responsibility for RTW compliance is no longer limited to traditional employment.

Latest episode: HMRC's consultation on modernising the distributions framework (Part 1: The big picture)

Latest episode: HMRC's consultation on modernising the distributions framework (Part 1: The big picture)