Mark Chick

The Government introduced its long-awaited draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill (CLRB) to Parliament in late January, signalling a significant moment for leasehold reform. Is the draft Bill historic?  Yes. Is there scope for change within it? Most definitely yes.

Mark Chick, director of the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP) gave oral evidence to the Housing, Communities & Local Government Select Committee on Tuesday as part of the government’s scrutiny of the Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill. 

ALEP (the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners) has welcomed the publication of the Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, describing it as an important step in the government’s long stated aim to modernise tenure structures in England and Wales. 

In March the Government published a Commonhold White Paper: the first stage in its fulfilment of a manifesto promise to abolish leasehold. The Ministerial foreword to the white paper states, that ‘The government is determined to ensure that commonhold becomes the default tenure… commonhold is not merely an alternative to leasehold ownership, but a radical improvement on it’.

Open letter to new Secretary of State for MHCLG on leasehold reform debate at the Labour Party Conference (the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners).

Matthew Pennycook recently announced proposals to reinvigorate commonhold to make it the default tenure and a Commonhold white paper was published by the government shortly afterwards. The intention is that new leasehold flats will be banned as the government takes steps to ensure commonhold becomes the default tenure.

The qualifying criteria opens up new opportunities for leaseholders but presents challenges too says Mark Chick, director of ALEP and a Partner at Bishop & Sewell LLP

And how will it change property ownership for the owners and purchasers of leasehold properties? On Monday 3 March, the government published a Commonhold White Paper and announced plans to bring the sale of new leasehold flats to an end. 

Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook’s November 2024 statement makes a further promise to reform the law of forfeiture as it affects residential leases. We know from the passage of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 (‘LAFRA’) (and the amendments tabled by Mr Pennycook when he was in opposition during the reading of the Act in the House of Lords) that this is something about which he feels passionately. However, the suggestion of reform of the law in this area is nothing new - indeed, the Law Commiss

The Government’s recent reform of the leasehold system has understandably focussed on ground rents, with new legislation introduced in June 2022 through the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act having effectively put an end to ground rents for most new long residential leases. However, widespread problems with service charges also need to be urgently addressed if the Government is to fulfil its pledge to make the system fairer for leaseholders. Leaseholders across the country routinely engage in battles ove

The Upper Tribunal has handed tenants an important victory concerning ‘common parts’ including roof spaces and airspace leases in leasehold enfranchisement.  The Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) has held that a lease of the airspace above, and the subsoil below a leasehold block of flats must be classed as "common parts" of the building when deciding if they were to be acquired, in a decision that could potentially have a profound impact on the property sector.   For the full reference see LM Homes (a

The Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP) has reviewed the Law Commission’s consultation paper ‘Leasehold home ownership: buying your freehold or extending your lease’ published on 20th September.    Mark Chick, ALEP Director, and Partner and Bishop & Sewell commented:  “Leasehold enfranchisement has been in the spotlight now for many months, and with the furore surrounding this issue it is crucial that leaseholders are well informed and educated. ALEP welcomes the oppor