Various Acts entitle you to extend your lease, buy your freehold or take over the management of your building, provided you meet certain criteria. We have a full understanding of these Acts and can advise you on how they translate into the reality of extending your lease or buying your freehold and related activities.

The most recent is The Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002, which in terms of lease extension and freehold acquisition made the conditions contained within The Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 easier to fulfil.

Another significant piece of legislation in this area is The Landlord and Tenant Act 1987, which makes it a criminal offence for freeholders to sell the freehold to a third party without having first offered it to the flat owners.

IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED A 'SECTION 5' NOTICE FROM YOUR FREEHOLDER, YOU ARE BEING OFFERED THE RIGHT TO BUY YOUR FREEHOLD. In other words, the freeholder wants to sell the freehold, although you may not be their first choice. However, in law, the flat owners have the right to first refusal. WE URGE YOU NOT TO WASTE THIS OPPORTUNITY, SINCE IT IS MUCH EASIER TO ACQUIRE IT THIS WAY THAN TO GO AFTER AN UNWILLING FREEHOLDER.

However, it is imperative that you act quickly, since if you do not respond by the deadline, the opportunity may be lost. In our experience, it is difficult for flat owners to pull this off without our help, so please call us WITHOUT DELAY and without commitment on Freephone 0808 1311 109.