What is Leasehold Enfranchisement (also known as Leasehold Reform)?

Leasehold Enfranchisement is simply the technical name given to the process by which tenants can, in certain circumstances, buy their freehold or acquire a new lease (often called a ‘lease extension’) from their landlords.

Buying your freehold (also known as Collective Enfranchisement)

The Leasehold Reform Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 (‘the 1993 Act’) gives the owners of flats (‘tenants’) the right to acquire the freehold of their building. Subject to certain exclusions, tenants can exercise this right as long as at least 50% of the tenants in their building wish to proceed.

Individual right to a new lease (also known as lease extension or renewing a lease)

The 1993 Act also gives a further right to tenants to acquire a lease extension of 90 years on top of the remaining length of the lease at a peppercorn rent (that is, rent free).  Subject to certain exclusions, tenants can exercise this right if they have owned their flat for at least 2 years.  If you need a lease extension solicitor we would be delighted to act for you.

Buying the freehold of your leasehold house

The Leasehold Reform Act 1967 gives the owners of leasehold houses the right to acquire the freehold of their houses. Subject to certain exclusions, the owners of leasehold houses can exercise this right if they have owned their house for at least 2 years.

Right to Manage claims, Right of First Refusal matters & Appointment of Managers

In addition to collective enfranchisement and lease extension claims we also have extensive experience in relation to Right to Manage claims, Right of First refusal matters, the Appointment of Managers and other residential leasehold issues.

Our Leasehold Enfranchisement Department – Landlord solicitors   & Tenant solicitors

Our firm has one of the strongest Leasehold Enfranchisement Departments in the South of England and has a wealth of experience and technical knowledge.  Our head of department is Tim Morgan who has over 16 years experience in leasehold enfranchisement matters.

Our Leasehold Enfranchisement Department has helped countless tenants and Residents Associations to acquire their freeholds and obtain lease extensions across the South of England.  We have also acted for numerous landlords dealing with such applications made by tenants.

We also advise the Brighton & Hove District Leaseholders Association on a voluntary basis on all areas of leasehold enfranchisement.

We deal with flats in Brighton, London & beyond

The majority of our work is in Brighton and Hove but we also carry out work in London, East Sussex (in particular Eastbourne), West Sussex (in particular Worthing), Surrey (in particular Croydon), Hampshire and Kent.  The type of blocks we deal with range from small 2-flat buildings to blocks containing over 100 flats. In addition we have dealt with applications to the County Court, First-tier Tribunal and in relation to a number of appeals to the Upper Tribunal.

We have also had continued success at the ERMAS (the Enfranchisement and Right to Manage Awards) (www.theermas.co.uk) as follows:-

  • The ERMAS 2023 – Our Head of Department Tim Morgan was a finalist in the ‘Professional of the Year’ award category.
  • The ERMAS 2022 – ODT solicitors were finalists in the ‘Solicitors Firm of the Year’  category. Our Head of Department Tim Morgan was a finalist in the ‘Solicitor of the Year’ award category.
  • The ERMAS 2019 – ODT solicitors were finalists in the ‘Solicitors Firm of the Year – Outside London’ category.
  • The ERMAS 2018 – ODT solicitors were finalists in the ‘Solicitors Firm of the Year’ category.  Our Head of Department Tim Morgan was a finalist in the ‘Solicitor of the Year’ and the ‘Regional Professional of the Year’ award categories
  • The ERMAS 2017 – ODT solicitors were ‘Highly Commended’ in the ‘Solicitors Firm of the Year’ category.  Our Head of Department Tim Morgan was ‘Highly Commended’ in the ‘Solicitor of the Year’ and the ‘Regional Professional of the Year’ award categories
  • The ERMAS 2016 – ODT Solicitors were finalists in the ‘Solicitors Firm of the Year’ and ‘Regional Professional of the Year’ award categories. Our Head of Department Tim Morgan was ‘Highly Commended’ in the ‘Regional Professional of the Year’ category and a finalist in the ‘Solicitor of the Year’ category
  • The ERMAS 2015 – Our Head of Department Tim Morgan was a finalist in the ‘Regional Professional of the Year’ and ‘Solicitor of the Year’ award categories
  • The ERMAS 2014 – ODT Solicitors were ‘Highly Commended’ in the ‘Regional Professional of the Year’ award category
  • The ERMAS 2013 – ODT Solicitors were finalists in the ‘Regional Professional of the Year’ award category.  Our Head of Department Tim Morgan was  ‘Highly Commended’ in the ‘Solicitor of the Year’ award category
  • The ERMAS 2012 – ODT Solicitors were the winners of the ‘Regional Professional of the Year’ award

Contacting one of our lease extension solicitors or enfranchisement solicitors

Whether or not you are the owner of of a leasehold flat, owner of a leasehold house or a landlord, our Leasehold Enfranchisement Department will always be happy to discuss any residential leasehold matters and offer you the benefit of our experience and the close ties we enjoy with local valuers.

If you would like to find out more information about our Leasehold Enfranchisement Department generally then please feel free to contact Tim Morgan at tmorgan@odt.co.uk Paul Barnes at pbarnes@odt.co.uk or Richard Buckland at rbuckland@odt.co.uk or by telephoning our offices on 01273 710712.

We also have a particular specialism in general landlord and tenant work including service charge disputes, maintenance issues, disrepair and dilapidations claims, injunction and housing law.  For more information please click here to view information about our Landlord and Tenant team.

Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners
Member of the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners www.alep.org.uk

ERMAs logo 2016 New landscape col

Enfranchisement and Right to Manage Awards 2014

Enfranchisement Awards