Leasehold enfranchisement

We are specialists in this niche area of leasehold enfranchisement.  Our work covers the acquisition by tenants (either an individual or a collective) of the freehold to their houses or blocks of flats, as well as extending tenants' leases under the Leasehold Reform Act 1967 and the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993.

We act mainly for landlords (including two major central London estates) and have experience of challenging tenants’ rights to enfranchisement. 

We have extensive experience of representing clients at hearings before the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal, the Lands Tribunal the courts, from the County Court right up to the House of Lords.

Experience

Collective enfranchisement on a large block of flats for a London estate
Acting for a landlord in the Court of Appeal relating to the collective enfranchisement of a large block of flats.  Our client defeated the tenants’ appeal against the decision of the Lands Tribunal to reduce the historic deferment rates, used for calculating the premiums payable by enfranchising tenants (‘Sportelli’). 

Restrictive covenants included in freehold enfranchisement
Appealing on behalf of an estate owner to the Lands Tribunal which clarified the landlord’s entitlement to include restrictive covenants in a conveyance of freehold.

Dispute as to ownership of airspace
Acting for an intermediate landlord in County Court proceedings seeking a declaration as to its entitlement to construct in the airspace above a flat in the context of a claim for an extended lease of it.

Extending leases for group of tenants in stately home
Representing and coordinating a large group of stately home tenants claiming lease extensions of their flats.

Successful appeal in the House of Lords (Aggio)
Fighting an appeal to the House of Lords on the issue of whether the head tenant of a block of flats can claim an extended lease of a flat within that block.

Advising on enfranchisement or right to manage
Advising a large group of tenants in dispute with their landlords (over management issues) regarding their difficulties with a collective enfranchisement claim, and recommending that the tenants exercise their right to manage instead.

Establishing when is a house not a house
Acting for a landlord in County Court proceedings to determine whether office premises qualify as a ‘house’ for the purposes of a freehold enfranchisement claim.