Advice

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Disclaimer
This questionnaire does not constitute formal advice; it is intended only to give broad guidance to a complex subject. Our web site cannot cover every situation or provide a full interpretation of the law; every case is likely to be fact sensitive. We therefore recommend that before making any claim, you should seek further specialist advice from your solicitor. We can help you select the right solicitor to advise you.

Formal lease extension and enfranchisement processes are started by leaseholders, or groups of leaseholders, serving a Notice (the “Initial Notice”) on the freeholder.

Preparing the Notice , and preparing for the procedures that follow, involve a lot of detailed work. It’s vital to get this right, because a mistake or omission in the Notice, or failure to meet subsequent deadlines and demands for information, will seriously endanger the action and could even cause it to fail. You will be liable for reasonable costs for the freeholder’s valuation, initial legal expenses and final conveyancing from the moment you serve the Notice, whether or not the process is completed.

We can provide advice on:

  • Whether you qualify for leasehold extension or enfranchisement under the legislation
  • The likely range of premium to acquire the freehold or a longer lease
  • The offer to be made to the freeholder (and intermediate leaseholder if necessary) for a flat’s lease extension
  • The response you should make to the freeholder’s counter-claim
  • The relevant evidence required for negotiation, and, if ultimately necessary, for reference to the “FtT” [full name First-tier Tribunal Property Chamber (Residential Property) – formerly called the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal] and the “UT” [full name Upper Tribunal Property Chamber (Residential Property) – formerly the Lands Tribunal]. We would attend a Tribunal as expert witness.