© 2025 News On The Block. All rights reserved.
News on the Block is a trading name of Premier Property Media Ltd.
© 2025 News On The Block. All rights reserved.
News on the Block is a trading name of Premier Property Media Ltd.
At the recent Leasehold Forum Conference, James Wyatt, Head of Valuation at John D Wood was forthright in giving a personal view that the basis on which deferment rates were set in the leading Sportelli decision is incorrect and that there is no reason to assume continual upward growth in the property market. He explained that when property prices are analysed over a longer period, rather than from 1952 which is the date traditionally used, it is clear to see that prices do fall. Whilst a departure from the Sportelli decision would be welcome, co-presenter Robert Orr-Ewing, Head of Leasehold Reform at Knight Frank thought that this would be unlikely and highlighted the fact there is no consensus between different data sets. However, the result of a forthcoming test case is awaited with anticipation.
The Leasehold Valuers Forum organises events specifically for enfranchisement valuers, offering an opportunity for practitioners to hear expert opinion and discuss current issues. The committee consists of several experienced practitioners, Peter Haler MBE, Richard Inniss of Richard Inniss & Co Ltd, Andrew Pridell of Andrew Pridell Associates and Geoff Holden of Parsons,Son & Basley.
The most recent conference, chaired by Damian Greenish, Senior Partner of Pemberton Greenish focused on evidence as an overall theme - how and where to find it, and how best to present it to your client’s advantage.
In another presentation, Ben Sharples of Wilsons LLP and Edward Rutledge of Lawrence Wightman gave a cautionary presentation on the potential risks faced by expert witnesses presenting evidence to Tribunals, particularly in light of recent case law which has removed immunity for expert witnesses. As expert witnesses can now be sued by their client if they are negligent, it is advisable that solicitors demand to see the expert’s professional indemnity policy and confirm from them that it covers them for negligence when acting in their capacity as an expert witness.
Following the ‘Arrowdell’ decision, RICS set up a working party to examine relativities at the request of the President of the Lands Tribunal. Therefore, Ellodie Gibbons, a barrister with Tanfield Chambers and William Bradley, of Bradley Harris asked delegates how much dependence should be given to graphs of relativity compared with direct evidence, and how such evidence should be found and adjusted.
Finally, Damian Greenish and Roger Nelson of Each Side Leasehold led a discussion on the issues resulting from the current Government proposals to raise value limits for qualification for enfranchisement which increases emphasis on differentiating between houses under Section 9 (1a) and 9 (1c) of the Act.