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Leasehold owners have two rights afforded to them if they wish to take over the management of their building.  First, the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 enables leaseholders to acquire the freehold of their building following a collective enfranchisement claim.  Secondly, the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 permits leaseholders to take over the management of their building.  Apart from the obvious benefit that comes with a collective claim, securing the ownership

This pull out and keep guide to enfranchisement introduces the key con-cepts and is written by independent industry practitioners.  Articles Include: 22 Leasehold enfranchisement or right to manage? A lessees’ conundrum 24 “Ping-pong” freeholds! A legislative loophole. 26 Why 2013 may be time to enfranchise in prime central London 28 Can you enfranchise a “house”? an interpretation of a long awaited court decision 30 Capitalisation rates: the next major battle ground in enfranchisement? report on the “

As 2013 gets underway and best intentions made on New Year’s Day start to fall by the wayside, Alex Greenslade, Honorary Secretary of ALEP (the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners), urges flat owners to stick to one important New Year’s resolution – to check the length of their lease. At the end of December, and at other times throughout the year, the length of many flat owners’ leases becomes one year shorter. The inherent value of a flat is linked to the length of its lease, wh

PILE EM HIGH, SELL EM CHEAP. This was the motto of Tesco founder Jack Cohen when he started out as an enterprising retailer in London’s East End over 90 years ago. Tesco is now the second most profitable retailer in the world. So does his motto work for residential property management? Not for the leaseholder. Thankfully, Resident Management Companies (RMCs), who are the hardest to please, are starting to accept the advantages that paying decent fees brings. As the residential property management sector

QUESTION Dear Sir I live in a block of 15 flats which is managed by a residents management company - of which I am a director. The block is situated on a road where the local council have introduced restricted parking. Because of these restrictions we find that non-residents park in our small, off street, car park. Please advise me if we have any rights in this respect and, if so, how we may enforce them Reader name withheld ANSWER Thank you for your query about the ‘thorny’ issue of parking.

Katie Cohen, has joined Child & Child as a Partner in the Leasehold Enfranchisement Team working alongside Claire Allan and Lubna Islam.  Acting on behalf of a variety of property companies, private landlords, UK based and international investors and private leaseholders, Katie has significant experience in all aspects of leasehold enfranchisement claims and has specialist expertise in advising landlords and tenants in respect of voluntary and statutory lease extensions, collective enfranchisements and th

The Lord Chancellor, the Right Honourable Chris Grayling MP, has appointed Siobhan McGrath as President of the Property Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal. She will be based in London with effect from 1 May 2013, and will be known as Judge McGrath. The Senior President of Tribunals has agreed that until this time Judge McGrath will serve as Chamber President Designate. Judge McGrath was called to the Bar in 1982. She was appointed as a Fee-paid Chairman of the Social Security Appeal Tribunals between 1996

Put your mind to it and you can directly employ and source any of the services you need in property management. However, being able to do this largely depends on how much time and expertise you have, as well as the corporate infrastructure to manage direct employment. One of the property management services that have the most temptation for direct employment is porter, concierge and caretakers. Since the business climate is constantly changing, businesses must adapt and adjust operational functions to mi

JLT Specialty Limited, (JLT) has announced that Penny Jepson will be joining to manage JLT’s new Residential Real Estate offering. JLT is one of the leading players within the UK commercial real estate sector. Nigel Todd, Head of the Real Estate Practice at JLT said: “Penny is recognised as one of the leading players in the Residential Real Estate Insurance market and we are delighted to welcome her on board. By launching a specific UK Residential Real Estate Practice, JLT can focus our product offering t

Ground Rents Income Fund plc, a listed real estate investment trust (REIT) investing in UK ground rents, has announced it is now 50% invested following its IPO in August 2012. The fund has recently invested in several landmark new-build developments including Clapham One in South West London (for £1 million )and One Park West in Liverpool, acquired for £2.7 million. James Agar, Investment Director of Braemar Estates, Adviser to the Company said: “The Company has been successful in acquiring assets which

The Government has been challenged in the House of Lords on the existing costs limit in the LVT.  In a Parliamentary debate, Baroness Gardner asked Government Minister Lord McNally whether he was aware that “...when the leasehold valuation tribunal was set up, the aim was to make it within the reach of every leaseholder to be able, for the amount of £500, to bring his case to the tribunal?” and “...that now many landlords-whether they win or lose, even if they have no hope of costs-are charging their heav

A frosty chill settled on managing agents, landlords and flat owners across the country in January 2013 - and it was not caused by the snow.  Instead, the impact of the recent High Court decision in Phillips v Francis has caused confusion, doubt, despair, and even anger as a coach and horses was effectively driven through the existing major works regime.   Giving one of his final judgements before retiring on 10th January 2013, Sir Andrew Morritt, the Chancellor of the High Court ruled that, without app