Leasehold Enfranchisement

Whether you are a leaseholder of a flat or a house, a group of leaseholders, a freeholder or a property professional, David Cooper Associates Chartered Surveyors are here to help.

If you own the Leasehold of a house or flat, Government legislation over the last few decades has made it easier to acquire the freehold of your house or extend the lease of your flat by 90 years (over and above the remaining term of your lease) at a ‘peppercorn’ ground rent, or, together with your fellow lessees even buy the freehold (called “enfranchising”). If your lease is getting short, (particularly if it is under, or approaching, eighty years unexpired), to protect the value of your property, you should consider whether you qualify for either of these options.

To see you through the process our services include:

When acting on behalf of the Leaseholder:

An initial consultation to assess your needs and to ascertain whether you qualify to extend your lease or acquire the freehold
An assessment of the premium (price) likely to be payable under provisions of the relevant legislation.
An assessment of the best-case and worst case scenarios and the recommended sum to be included in a Notice, to be served (by solicitors) upon the Landlord
A formal report which will include the above, together with our recommendations and advice
Negotiations with the Landlord and/or any professional representative he/she may appoint
Liaising with the instructed solicitor
Representations, both written and in person to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal (the LVT), if necessary

When acting on behalf of the Landlord:

An initial consultation to assess your needs and to ascertain whether the Lessee(s) qualifies to extend the lease or acquire the freehold
An assessment of the premium (price) likely to be payable under provisions of the relevant legislation
An assessment of the best-case and worst-case scenarios and the recommended sum to include in the Counter-Notice, to be served (by solicitors) upon the Lessee(s)
A formal report which will include the above, together with our recommendations and advice
Negotiations with the Lessee(s) and/or any professional representative he/she may appoint
Liaising with the instructed solicitor
Representations, both written and in person to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal (the LVT), if necessary

As you might expect, the process requires a detailed working knowledge of the relevant Acts, particularly The Leasehold Reform Act 1967 and The Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 (amended in 2002).

With offices in Mayfair, Richmond and Harrow, we at David Cooper Associates Chartered Surveyors act on behalf of Landlords and Leaseholders throughout the UK but with particular emphasis on properties located in Central London, the City and the West End, Kensington, Knightsbridge and Chelsea, Belgravia and Pimlico, North-West London including St John’s Wood and Hampstead, Harrow and all surrounding areas in Middlesex, North and West London, Hertfordshire, Richmond and Guildford and all surrounding areas in Surrey, and the surrounding areas of the South-East and the Home Counties. For further detailed information in respect of the areas we cover please go to Locations.

For further professional advice and to discuss your needs in detail, please call
David Cooper Associates Chartered Surveyors on 0800 6124 960.

Alternatively, if you would like to contact us by other methods please click here.

What our Clients say about us…

“…I am delighted at how smoothly it all went through once I put my Lease Extension in the hands of David Cooper Associates. Once again, thank you, for your excellent and unwavering assistance in this matter.”
Dr Z Gajiwala, Rickmansworth

“Thank you for your assistance and efficiency throughout the process of my Lease Extension. We are so pleased with the result which thoroughly exceeded our expectations.”
Mr & Mrs D Williamson, Regents Park, London W1

“Well done to you, David Cooper Associates… Your persistence and tenacity throughout the negotiation process was so appreciated. I cannot thank you enough…”
Ms S B Howe, Oxford

Further Information and Useful Links

Leasehold Reform Act 1967

Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993

Residential: Lease