Featured Articles

The case of Brightbest Ltd v Meyrick arose after the claimant leaseholder investigated whether they were permitted to purchase the freehold to the two properties, which comprised one main building and a cottage. However, this raised questions as to whether the properties could be classed as a house, given that they had been converted into flats and bedsits and used as a hostel.   Mark Vinall, a partner at Winckworth Sherwood Solicitors, commented: “The court applied the principles from the Supreme Court

Leaseholders in Wales will soon no longer be required to sign notices personally when exercising their rights under the Urban Development Act 1993.   The Welsh Assembly has passed an amendment to the Housing (Wales) Bill, bringing the principality into line with England, where the Leasehold Reform (Amendment) Act 2014 received Royal Assent on 13 March this year and came into force on 13 May.   When collectively enfranchising or extending their leases under the 1993 Act, the need for tenants to sign no

The government-backed Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE) is conducting research into leasehold housing. The research is focussing on two areas: the current issues mainly affecting leaseholders, and which organisations they turn to for help, advice or advocacy. "We want to find out whether the issues that our data highlight are in fact the day-to-day issues for leaseholders, and also identify who represents or helps leaseholders to ensure that we are coordinating with them," says Anthony Essien, Chief Exe

The Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) study into the provision of residential property management services in England and Wales has identified a number of causes for concern about how the market works. The authority is now seeking views on possible remedial action to improve the performance of the market and secure better outcomes for leaseholders. The study, which was launched in March by the CMA’s predecessor, the Office of Fair Trading, looks at whether the market is working well for leasehol

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has issued an update on its market study into the provision of residential property management services in England and Wales. The study, which was launched in March 2014 by the CMA’s predecessor the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), is looking at whether the market is working well for leaseholders and whether there is effective competition in the sector. The CMA has identified a number of causes for concern about how the market works. Some leaseholders appear to s

Eric Pickles MP has announced an end to the rules that prevented the short term letting of private homes. This comes as excellent news to property owners who are now legally allowed to rent out their property to London visitors on a short-to-medium term basis. One great option for these short-to-medium term lets is FlatClub, a London-based startup that specializes in such stays. Bookings made on FlatClub average about 30 days, which is significantly more days (and therefore more money) than their nearest

Chestertons Polo in the Park 2014, was held in April 2014 at a glamorous sponsors’ reception held at the exquisite Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park. Some of the world’s most respected players attended the reception, including crowd favourite George Meyrick, who will be captaining City AM Team London; Oscar Mancini, the legendary Argentine captain for Air Europa Team Buenos Aires; and four time winner, Jamie Morrison, who returns this year for his sixth Chestertons Polo in the Park, as captain of Team New York

We were instructed by the leaseholders of a building converted into two flats who wanted to acquire the freehold, pursuant to section 26 of the Leasehold Reform, Urban Housing and Development Act 1993 (1993 Act), on the basis that the landlord was missing and/or could not be found. Two individuals jointly held the freehold of the building as tenants in common. The leaseholders had on many occasions and over a period of several years attempted to locate the landlord and written to various addresses they h

As a landlord or RTM board you will at some point likely face the prospect of facilitating the internal common parts refurbishment of your block. Appoint a surveyor, prepare specification, tender the works, appoint contractor and off you go. But what if there is the requirement to re-wire or install a new fire alarm system? Do you need a services consultant as well to deal with these aspects? It is possible that the surveyor incorporate electrical design into a specification particularly where there is m

On 22 January, the Court of Appeal handed down its decision in Bolton v Godwin-Austen [2014]. The decision was in favour of the tenants. The Court revisited Burman v Mount Cook Land Limited [2002].* The case has been a ‘wake-up call’ for landlords and their advisers in relation to the drafting of counter-notices under the 1993 Act. 17 Clarges Street is a substantial building in Mayfair. There was a head lease in favour of St. Anselm Development Company Limited. Each of the flat underleases included the

A common complaint of tenants is that their property has been badly managed and/or the landlord is collecting excessive amounts of service/administration charges. To deal with these problems, the First Tier Tribunal (FTT) has the power to appoint a manager and/or receiver to manage the property instead of the landlord or his agent. The right can be exercised pursuant to Section 24 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987. The role of the manager The manager appointed by the FTT is not appointed to favour the

The latest house case has confirmed that the issue of what constitutes a “house” under the Leasehold Reform Act 1967 is going to continue to test judges. It concerned two derelict buildings on the Meyrick Family Estate in Bournemouth. They were acquired by Brightbest Limited at auction from a housing association in 2008. The first building was originally constructed in 1876 as a private dwelling house and had been used as such until 1927. The second building was a coach house to be used in connection wit