Prince William's property empire faces new legal crackdown

Ben McCaffrey
Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:06:54 +0000

The Prince of Wales's vast property empire is set to feel the brunt of significant legislative changes coming next month.

The Duchy of Cornwall, headed by Prince William, makes the heir to the throne the biggest private landowner in Britain.

He was passed the estate, along with the Duke of Cornwall title, when his father, King Charles, took the throne.

But the £23million portfolio is set to be significantly affected by fresh legislation, coming into force on May 1.

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Reforms to the Renters' Rights Act aim to increase security for millions of renters across Britain, and will abolish "no-fault" evictions, meaning landlords must provide a legal reason for evicting tenants.

Landlords will also be restricted to raising rent just once per year, with tenants empowered to contest any rises they deem excessive.

The Duchy of Cornwall, a land empire established centuries ago to provide a direct income to the heir to the throne, is not exempt from such rule changes.

Natalie Peacock, a litigation expert and specialist in housing law of solicitors Rogers and Norton, told Hello: "As there is no specific exemption in the Renters Rights Act that applies to the Crown Estate, tenants of Duchy properties will enjoy the same protection as tenants of other privately rented properties.

"Duchy tenants will therefore benefit from the reforms and will enjoy greater security of tenure with the abolition of fixed-term shorthold tenancies and no-fault evictions.

"They will also benefit from fair rent practices and have recourse to enforce breaches of their landlord’s obligations."

Mrs Peacock concluded that the Duchy "must ensure" it obeys the new law, as failing to do so "can result in hefty fines for landlords for which the Duchy will not be exempt."

The historic portfolio sprawls across 23 counties, and includes Oval Cricket Ground, 75 per cent of the Isles of Scilly, and 67,000 acres in Dartmoor.

William, therefore, serves as landlord to a considerable number of residents occupying various property types throughout the nation.

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HMP Dartmoor, in Devon, is also owned by the prince through the Duchy. It was revealed over the weekend that William had raked in at least £2.5million in rent while the prison sat dormant.

The facility was a Category C prison that shut in July 2024 after dangerous levels of the hazardous radon gas were detected.

The Duchy has leased it to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) since December 2023, at a charge of £1.5million per year.

Over the 20 months since its closure, this lease has generated at least £2.5million, according to The Sunday Times.

The Duchy said: "We have been actively engaged in discussions with the Ministry of Justice since the closure to find a fair and sustainable solution to this issue as soon as possible.

"The Duchy of Cornwall is focused on making positive social and environmental impact in all our communities.

"We have a long-term commitment to Princetown, home to HMP Dartmoor, as well as the wider area.

"The Duchy of Cornwall has already kick-started a significant decade-long investment programme, which is being shaped by public consultation launched in the village in the last year."

The Duchy added that HMP Dartmoor "reflects long-standing arrangements governing the site". They confirmed they "remain in regular contact" with the MoJ.