Leasehold Enfranchisement experts

Tenants of flats have a qualified right to a 90-year lease extension at a peppercorn ground rent in return for the payment of a premium to the landlord. We assist tenants in making statutory lease extension claims and regularly act for landlords in conducting lease extension claims made against them.

Groups of tenants in blocks of flats or converted buildings are entitled to join together to claim the freehold of their building so long as they can meet the minimum qualifying criteria. Our experienced lawyers are on hand to assist even very large groups of tenants in navigating these claims from preliminary enquiries all the way through to completion.

Tenants must own their flats for at least two years before being able to make a statutory lease extension claim. Our team of experts can deal with the assignment of lease extension claims on the sale of a property so that the purchaser avoids waiting for the two-year period to expire.

On occasion, the landlord may be willing to grant a lease extension or sell the freehold without insisting that the tenants make a statutory claim. These voluntary transactions grant a greater degree of flexibility to the parties, albeit without the protection of the statutory framework to structure the negotiations.

Owners of leasehold houses benefit from leasehold enfranchisement rights under the Leasehold Reform Act 1967. Qualifying tenants have the right to claim a lease extension or purchase the freehold so that they own the property outright.

Landlords who wish to sell their head lease or freehold, grant certain leases of their property or otherwise dispose of their interest in a predominantly residential building may be caught by the right of first refusal provisions of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987. This legislation requires that, in certain circumstances, the landlord must first offer their proposed disposal to the qualifying tenants in the building – failure to do so is a criminal offence.

Tenants who would qualify for leasehold enfranchisement rights are not prohibited from doing so if their landlord cannot be found. Our solicitors are able to guide you through the complicated process of proving the landlord's absence, applying to Court to exercise your rights and asking the First-tier Tribunal to determine an appropriate price to be paid into Court.

Our legal experts can advise whether tenants have the option of making a claim to exercise their right to manage the building. This gives the tenants much more control over repairs and maintenance but avoids the need to pay a premium to the landlord as the freehold has not changed hands.

Our team of experienced lawyers is well versed in leasehold enfranchisement-specific applications to the First-tier Tribunal or County Court. Whether seeking a determination from the Tribunal on the price payable for a lease extension or applying for a vesting order to force the completion of a collective enfranchisement claim, we're here to help.