In conversation with Bishop & Sewell: Leasehold Question Time
Leasehold Question Time – Lease extensions
The next webinar in our popular series ‘In conversation with Bishop & Sewell’ a chance for you to meet our experts
‘To extend or not to extend’ - that is the question.. and if so, whether to go under the statute or not.
Leaseholders who have a lease that is close to 80 years will want to extend their leases to as to avoid the additional cost of marriage value that will be incurred when the lease falls under 80 years. Those looking to sell or re-mortgage may not be able to do so without the lease being made longer or an extension or variation being put in place to correct other lease terms that are not acceptable.
There are a range of options open to leaseholders when considering whether to extend under the statute (the Leasehold Reform Housing and Urban Development Act 1993), or whether to agree to do so on a voluntary or ‘agreed’ basis with the freeholder. There are advantages and disadvantages to both routes and we will discuss these and explain them.
A further twist comes in the form of the recent Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022, which whilst not yet in force will change the way that ground rent is charged in new leases. We will be discussing and updating on this too.
Our experts
In this session Chris Macartney and other experts from the Landlord & Tenant team will discuss the pros and cons of these approaches and also the changes to be brought in by the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022.
This session is an essential for anyone considering extending their lease.
In addition to acting for HNW individuals and large groups of tenants in coordinated applications for lease extensions and collective claims, Chris has developed a niche practice in acting for leaseholders in applications for new leases from the Crown, advising and acting for leaseholders in claims to acquire the freehold where the landlord is absent under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 and acquiring interests where the crown has disclaimed their interest in the building following dissolution of a limited company.
Added to significant advisory experience acting for clients including companies post enfranchisement in dealing with management of large blocks of flats Chris has a wide ranging client base encompassing individuals, corporates, developers and high net worth individuals.
Chris has been published in the Guardian and the Times in relation to Leasehold Reform matters and other industry related publications.
An approachable and friendly face Chris is well known in the sector as a safe pair of hands with practical and technical experience. Chris jointly heads the firm’s Landlord & Tenant department focusing on leasehold reform matters.
He is a director and a founder committee member of the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP) the sector body to which all reputable valuers and solicitors working in the field of Leasehold Reform now belong.
Over the past ten years he has developed Bishop & Sewell’s Landlord & Tenant practice to be one of the largest specialist teams in the UK. Under his direction the department has flourished and he now leads a team of specialist solicitors and property experts.
He is a very well-known and highly-regarded specialist in Landlord & Tenant matters. His expertise when it comes to leasehold reform issues is unparalleled, and in 2016 he was awarded Solicitor of the Year at the Enfranchisement and Right To Manage Awards (ERMAs).
Mark is a member of the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal Frequent User Group Panel. His views as a leasehold reform specialist dealing with freehold purchase, lease extension, services charges and landlord & tenant matters can also be followed direct on LinkedIn and Twitter.
