Leasehold Enfranchisement

Our market leading team of more than 20 solicitors is equally adept at acting for landlords and tenants alike, and also provides expert advice to landed estates and investors.

Clients choose us because of our in-depth experience in this highly specialised field. We understand the challenges faced and our experienced practitioners are skilled in providing comprehensive and commercial advice.

Whether it be an individual lease extension or a collective claim for the freehold under the Leasehold Reform Housing and Urban Development Act 1993, a claim for the freehold of a house under the Leasehold Reform Act 1967 or a Right to Manage matter, we can guide you through the process.

The legal provisions relating to enfranchisement are complex and we have extensive experience in all aspects of this field. We also have an established network of contacts with specialist surveyors and valuers.

Our work includes representing clients at hearings before the Leasehold ValuationResidential Property Tribunal, the Upper Tribunal and the Courts, from the County Court up to the Supreme Court.

We are active members of the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners and the Property Litigation Association, and regularly attend and speak at industry events and conferences.

Experience

What is a house?
Representing the Howard de Walden Estate as one of the successful landlords in the landmark case of Hosebay/Lexgorge in the Supreme Court. This decision ended years of uncertainty and dispute as to whether commercial premises would qualify for enfranchisement as "a house" within the meaning of the legislation. The decision was of paramount importance to the major urban estates which risked losing very many freeholds and thereby seeing the integrity of their estates threatened.

Lease extensions in a stately home
Acted for a group of tenants on the extension of the leases of their flats in a stately home. This included dealing with complicated issues including their rights to use the significant grounds including an arboretum. The grounds also play host to an annual international music festival.

Ground-breaking collective enfranchisement claim
Advising on one of the largest central London enfranchisement claims for the freehold of a prestigious mansion block valued at £21m. The appeal to the Upper Tribunal gave rise to a number of novel points of law.

Right to Manage
Acted for one of the UK’s leading house-builders on a right to manage claim by the tenants in a significant mixed use development in North London. The development contained over a hundred flats together with commercial premises, including a Marks & Spencer store and a gym.

Representing tenants in prime Central London
Acting for tenants in London’s most prestigious postcodes on both lease extension and freehold claims on a regular basis. This includes working together with the leading surveyors and valuers in the field on claims that frequently run into many millions of pounds and often produce novel points of law and valuation.