Leasehold Reform

The landlord and tenant team at Bishop & Sewell LLP can assist with all aspects of the leasehold reform legislation. Headed by Mark Chick the team regularly advise on freehold purchase and lease extension. The team has a particular focus on larger projects, complex transactions and Central London properties.

Known and recognised as experts in this field, over the past five years the team have helped quite literally hundreds of people buy their freehold or extend their lease. At any one given time the team will be dealing with in excess of 500-600 cases of which the majority are ‘contentious’ leasehold reform matters (i.e. cases where notices have been served).

The team act regularly not only for tenants but also for landlords, including intermediate landlords with headleases of Central London properties.

The leasehold reform team can also assist in particular in the following situations:-

• Buying/ Selling a property (house or flat) subject to and with the benefit of a notice of claim
• Cases where there is a ‘missing’ or absentee landlord
• Litigation arising out of leasehold reform matters – (e.g time limits/ enforcing the grant of a lease or transfer of the freehold)
• Actions against other professional advisors
• Long leasehold houses under the Leasehold Reform Act 1967 – particularly high value properties
• Serving acceptance notices/ responding to a landlord’s offer to sell under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987
• Agency work for firms that lack this specialist capability

We realise that certain aspects of collective work require appropriate planning and co-ordination to progress effectively and so we have systems in place actively manage all our cases to ensure progress. Our experience of large-scale projects makes us a natural choice for matters that require a high degree of co-ordination in order to succeed.

Bishop & Sewell LLP are located close to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal (‘LVT’) in Alfred Place and are prepared to accept agency instructions from other professional advisors subject to appropriate notice.

The team also has established links with a large number of valuation experts experienced in Leasehold Reform matters from our experience over the years. If appropriate we will be delighted to assist you in choosing a suitable surveyor.

Mark Chick is on the LVT frequent user group panel and writes regularly on the subject of leasehold reform.

The firm are also members of ALEP, (the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners) an organisation committed to maintaining high standards and continuing education for those working in the field of Leasehold Reform.