Lease Extension. Leasehold Enfranchisement. A Diamond Jubilee Update

The four day diamond jubilee holiday weekend gave us time to “catch up” while watching the extensive coverage on television. It is appalling to note that our last update was on 13 February 2012; we express apologies to our many followers but our workload has been demanding.

In the last four months we have been involved in a complicated three day hearing in the Valuation Tribunal where the detail of a Section 9(1A) valuation was dissected. This resulted in us spending four and half hours in cross-examination. The outcome was settlement in advance of an LVT decision, which was a very good result.

Our instructions continue to increase month on month and year on year and we have taken on a trainee surveyor – Clive Scrivener. Clive has an RICS recognised degree and has three years post graduate experience as a senior lettings advisor for a leading firm of Surrey based estate agents with 12 offices.

We continue to be in demand to provide expert valuation evidence in Valuation Tribunals and, most recently, have been appointed as the Court appointed joint expert in a matter concerning a dispute over building alterations to a flat in Wimbledon.

Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP)

We remind our potential clients and instructing solicitors that we are active members of the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP) and also we are a member of ALEP’s PR Subcommittee.

ALEP is a not-for-profit association that brings together solicitors, surveyors, enfranchisement intermediaries and managing agents working in the residential leasehold sector. ALEP promotes best practice by vetting members to ensure they have significant expertise in leasehold enfranchisement. Membership of ALEP acts as a badge of assurance so that flat owners and freeholders can be confident that they are employing professionals with a right level of expertise in handling potentially complex transactions.

For further information about ALEP,  telephone 0845 225 2277 or visit www.alep.org.uk.

You can also follow ALEP on Twitter at twitter.com/alepofficial.