Because the length of residential Leases reduces year by year it is quite often the case that Tenants need to acquire an extension to their Leases in order to sell their flats. The department acts for Landlords and Tenants in these circumstances in advising on and completing Agreements for Extensions of Leases negotiated between Landlord and Tenant (with professional valuation advice as necessary) or, alternatively, in the context of Lease Extensions applied for by Tenants under the Leasehold Reform Housing and Urban Development Act 1993.  The requirement on application under the 1993 Act is that the Lease is extended by 90 years and the ground rent is replaced by a ‘peppercorn’ rent (that is no ground rent at all).  In connection with the 1993 Act we represent Landlords and Tenants in pursuing and responding to applications under the Act and dealing with referrals that may be made to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal in respect of applications where the terms of the extension cannot be agreed between the Landlord and Tenant. 

We also deal with appeals from the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal to the Upper Chamber (previously the Lands Tribunal).

For technical reasons it is extremely important that Tenants consider extending their Leases before the Leases have less than 80 years left to run. Tenants who are in the position of having 81 or 82 years left to run on their Leases should therefore take professional advice in the very near future.