ALEP Lecture 2024

The ALEP Lecture 2024
Leasehold Reforms: The New World
The Practitioner’s Perspective

We are delighted to announce that we will be returning to One Great George Street in Westminster, London on Tuesday 12 March for the ALEP Lecture 2024.

The Leasehold & Freehold Reform Bill is making quick progress through parliament and this event will explore the ‘new world’ of leasehold and the impact of the proposed reforms on professional practice.

The ALEP Lecture will begin with registration and a networking lunch from 12 noon before the sessions begin promptly at 1.15pm.

This event is now sold out – please email us on events@alep.org.uk if you would like to be placed on the waiting list. 

The terms & conditions can be found here.

The Speakers

Mark Chick, ALEP Director & Host
Piers Harrison, Barrister, Tanfield Chambers
Eleanor Murray, Partner, CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang
Mark Loveday, Barrister, Tanfield Chambers
Tom Bill, Head of UK Residential Research, Knight Frank
Tim Martin, Partner, Marr-Johnson & Stevens
Damian Greenish, Consultant, Forsters
Henrietta Hammonds, Partner, Beckett & Kay

Leasehold Reform: Welcome to the New World

Introduction

The proposed Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill will make sweeping changes to both legal and valuation aspects of leasehold reform. The Lecture is made up of five sessions, during which our speakers will explore the extent of the impact of these changes on the legal practicalities of an enfranchisement claim, and the likely consequences for valuation.

Registration & Networking Lunch – from 12 noon

Session 1: Proposed Reforms – The Legal Aspects

Piers Harrison & Eleanor Murray

The draft Bill proposes significant changes to our old friend, the 1993 Act.
There are new ways of dealing with non-participants, as well as new criteria for qualification, claiming the appurtenant property and superior interests. In this session, Piers and Eleanor will explore what these could mean and how these will vary from current practice and procedure. 

Session 2: The Supreme Court Update – A1 Properties (Sunderland) vs Tudor Studios RTM Limited

Mark Loveday

The Supreme Court update – A1 Properties (Sunderland) vs Tudor Studios RTM Limited

ALEP has recently intervened in the Supreme Court in the case of A1 Properties (Sunderland) vs Tudor Studios RTM. The basis of our grounds of intervention was that ALEP, as a public body, would be able to offer assistance in the development of the case law in this area and provide an argument and assistance to the court in reaching its final decision.

The opportunity to intervene was exciting from the legal and professional point of view. There is a chance to potentially reset the direction of travel in the case law and review of the Court of Appeal’s decisions in Elim Court and Natt v Osman. This is of practical importance to practitioners (whether in the field of enfranchisement or RTM) because it may change the strictness of complying with requirements of property statutes. The public law test of subjective prejudice in Soneji is being considered along with the view from other common law jurisdictions.

Mark Loveday and Phillip Rainey KC of Tanfield Chambers appeared for ALEP instructed by Bishop & Sewell. All the professionals acted on a pro-bono basis.

In this talk, Mark Loveday will summarise the key aspects of the case, its importance to practitioners and  the reasons for ALEP’s intervention and what we might hope to see in the development in the future case law as it relates to notices.

Session 3: Knight Frank – Market Update

Tom Bill

In this session Tom will provide an update on the UK residential property market, including a focus on London / PCL, and will consider how recent trends – such as economic and political issues – are affecting the outlook.

Refreshment Break – 3pm

Session 4: Valuation in the New World

Tim Martin & Damian Greenish

Tim and Damian will explore the impact of the proposed reforms in the context of the new valuation model set out in Schedule 2 to the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill. They will identify some points of interest where there may be inconsistencies, a need for greater clarity and/or new areas for potential disputes.  They will end by comparing the existing and proposed valuation models to highlight how the changes ultimately affect the price payable.

Session 5: Panel Session – What will the new world look like – and when will we get there?   

For this session, led by Mark Chick, the afternoon’s speakers will be joined by ALEP Advisory Committee Member Henrietta Hammonds of Beckett & Kay. They will round up the day’s sessions, address any questions arising, and discuss the latest information concerning the progress of the draft Bill.

The event is scheduled to finish at 5.15pm.