Property Rights

Asset of Community Value UK — ACV Listing, Moratorium, and Landlord's Rights

Assets of Community Value (ACVs) are listed by local authorities under Part 5 Chapter 3 of the Localism Act 2011. A listing gives community groups a six-month moratorium when the owner decides to sell, during which community groups can raise funds to bid. ACV listing criteria: (i) current/recent use furthers local social wellbeing or social interests (cultural, recreational, sporting); and (ii) realistic prospect of continued community use — both must be satisfied. Common listings: public houses (over 1,700 listed in England); village halls; libraries; sports grounds; community theatres. Listing process: nominated by voluntary/community body with local connection; parish council; or neighbourhood forum. Owner notified and can make representations; listing proceeds without owner consent; owner can request internal review (within 8 weeks) and appeal to First-tier Tribunal (GRC) (within 28 days of review). Moratorium: owner must notify local authority before completing any triggering disposal (freehold sale; 25+ year lease); community groups have 6 weeks to register a Community Interest in Bidding (CIB) notice; if CIB registered, six-month moratorium runs from date of owner's original notice; during moratorium, owner can negotiate with all parties but cannot complete to non-community purchaser; after six months, owner free to sell to anyone. Exempt disposals (Regulations 2012): leases under 25 years; share sale of owning company; mortgagee sale; insolvency disposals; gifts; disposals to community purchaser (CIC/charity). Compensation: payable by local authority where listing or moratorium causes actual quantifiable loss (abortive transaction costs; holding costs; market value reduction). Wales: separate system under Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.

10 min readUpdated 7 June 2026Last reviewed: 17 May 2026asset-of-community-valueacv-listinglocalism-act-2011acv-moratorium

ACV Listing — Criteria, Nomination Process, and How to Challenge

Localism Act 2011 s.88: a building or land qualifies for listing if (i) its current/recent use furthers the social wellbeing or social interests (including cultural, recreational, sporting interests) of the local community; and (ii) it is realistic to think that there can be a non-ancillary use that will further those interests. Nomination: by any voluntary or community body with a local connection; parish council in respect of any land in their area; or neighbourhood forum with an area including the land. Owner is notified and can make representations before listing; listing proceeds without owner consent. Duration: 5 years on the list; can be re-nominated after expiry. Challenge: internal review request within 8 weeks of listing decision — carried out by a different officer to the original decision-maker; if internal review upholds listing, appeal to First-tier Tribunal (General Regulatory Chamber) within 28 days on legal grounds (criteria not met; nominator not eligible; procedural error). Compensation: owner can claim from the local authority for actual loss caused by the listing or moratorium (abortive transaction costs; holding costs; market value reduction) under the Assets of Community Value (England) Regulations 2012.

The Six-Month Moratorium and Exempt Disposals

Trigger: owner must notify the local authority before completing any 'intended disposal' — freehold sale; assignment of freehold; grant of 25+ year lease. Owner serves Moratorium Trigger Notice; local authority publicises the intended disposal. Six-week window: community groups have 6 weeks to serve a Community Interest in Bidding (CIB) notice. If no CIB: owner can proceed immediately. If CIB served: six-month moratorium runs from the date of the owner's original notice (not from the CIB date); during moratorium, owner can negotiate with all parties (including commercial buyers) but cannot complete a disposal to a non-community purchaser; after six months, owner free to sell to anyone. Moratorium does NOT: give community groups right of first refusal at a set price; prevent owner marketing to commercial buyers; require owner to sell to the community at any price. 18-month reset: if the owner does not complete within 18 months, a new notification and potential new moratorium are required. Exempt disposals: leases under 25 years; share sale of owning company (company law transaction, not land disposal — no moratorium triggered); mortgagee exercising power of sale; insolvency disposals; gifts; disposals to CIC, community benefit society, or registered charity.

Frequently asked questions

What is an Asset of Community Value?+

Land or a building listed by a local authority under the Localism Act 2011 because its current/recent use furthers local social wellbeing and there is a realistic prospect of continued community use. Public houses are the most commonly listed properties. The listing gives community groups a right to register an interest in bidding during a six-month moratorium if the owner decides to sell.

Does an ACV listing prevent me from selling my property?+

No. An ACV listing does not give community groups a veto or right to buy at a set price. It only creates a moratorium (up to six months) during which community groups can prepare a bid. After six months, the owner can sell to any buyer at any price. If no community group registers a CIB notice within the six-week window, the owner can proceed immediately.

Can I avoid the ACV moratorium by selling shares instead of land?+

A sale of shares in the company that owns the listed property does not trigger the ACV moratorium (a share sale is a company law transaction, not a land disposal). SDLT is calculated differently on a share sale, and lender consent will be needed. Take current legal advice — the Government has periodically discussed closing this exemption.

Found a gap or disagree with something?

Reply to any LetSafe email or write to Richard@letsafeuk.co.uk. We rewrite guides when we get something wrong, the sooner we hear, the sooner we fix it.

Hand-picked by topic overlap with this guide.

Planning Law

Change of Use Planning UK — Use Classes, HMOs, and Short-Term Lets

How the Use Classes Order and permitted development rights govern residential-to-HMO conversions, commercial-to-residential prior approval, and the new Use Class C5 for short-term lets.

Planning Law

Planning Enforcement UK — Enforcement Notices, Limitation Periods, and Defending Breaches

How local planning authorities investigate and remedy planning breaches — enforcement notices, breach of condition notices, stop notices, injunctions — and the limitation periods that provide immunity from enforcement after a fixed period.

Planning Law

Prior Approval UK — Converting Commercial Buildings and Agricultural Barns to Residential

The prior approval procedure under the GPDO 2015 — Class MA (office to residential), Class Q (barn conversion), the 56-day default, and other classes relevant to residential landlords and developers.

Energy efficiency · Government grant

Boiler Upgrade Scheme for Landlords — BUS Grant, Heat Pumps, and MEES 2026