Reforms around Lease extension and freehold enfranchisement
The Government has recently reconfirmed its proposal to implement reforms in this regard in the current term of Parliament.
Litigation is an unwelcome experience at any time. Dealing with a dispute, be it small or large, can be a particularly demanding experience, especially where there is uncertainty around the cost implications and procedures involved.
The Litigation Team at AWS LLP manages disputes for a wide range of clientele. We provide practical and specialist advice with the aim of resolving your dispute quickly and cost-effectively. Working in partnership with you it will always be our objective to:
- Focus on the issues that are paramount to you, the client
- Identifying the goals that you seek to achieve from litigation
- Avoid the cost and uncertainty of long-running litigation.
Whatever the cause for litigation, as your legal advisers, we will fully protect your interests at all times. A failure to appreciate the seriousness of the circumstances may lead to an adverse decision against a person/company which could have been avoided if the correct legal advice had been sought and obtained at an early stage.
Litigation can be very expensive. Even a victor in court can find that recovery of the costs involved is often difficult and carries further expense. Understanding our Clients’ aims means that we can then tailor our advice to give the best possible chance of achieving a successful outcome.
An honest assessment of the costs implication of the various options open to the Client will be provided to you at the outset of our consultation prior to the instigation of litigation or other legal action.
Wherever possible, we always seek to settle disputes by negotiation as this is often in the best interests of our clients. Our Litigation Team will work with you to reach a mutually satisfactory outcome to both parties within the dispute.
There are occasions when court action is necessary and in these cicrumstances you can rest assured that our team will provide a robust and efficient presentation of your case in order to gain the best possible result.
In many cases, disputes can be resolved by using alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods such as mediation and arbitration. These procedures tend to be more informal and less adversarial and indeed, more economical than engaging full Court proceedings.
The Government has recently reconfirmed its proposal to implement reforms in this regard in the current term of Parliament.
Does a development constitute a single “building” or a number of separate “buildings” for the purpose of freehold enfranchisement?
There have been a number of decisions around the question of whether flat owners’ rights operate on a block by block basis or in respect of a number of blocks via single claim in connection with collective enfranchisement, the enfranchisement of the freehold to a single house, the right to manage and the right of first refusal.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has now published its much-anticipated roadmap for implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 (‘The Act’), confirming how – and when – the biggest reform of residential tenancy law in a generation will take effect.
The changes – such as the abolition of section 21 no-fault evictions and assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs) – will be introduced in phases starting in May next year, with significant practical consequences for residential landlords and tenants, managing agents, and investors alike. This article outlines the key changes and implementation dates below.