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20 June 2025
Issue: 8121 / Categories: Legal News , Property , Profession , Leasehold , Housing , Landlord&tenant
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NLJ this week: Repair leasehold, don’t replace it

223025
The government plans to replace leasehold with commonhold, recently consulting on the ‘best approach to banning new leasehold flats’. In this week’s NLJ, Mark Chick, senior partner at Bishop & Sewell, argues the case for reform rather than an outright ban

Chick considers the challenges that accompany commonhold, such as management of mixed-use blocks. He highlights some of the advantages of leasehold—flexibility, predictability and protection of leaseholders from any freeholder debts.

He shares the results of a recent Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners survey, in which ‘specific benefits of leasehold were identified, such as the flexibility that it provides to the market and the effective management of multi-occupancy buildings. The longevity of the existing system was also cited as evidence that it is the best available option and would be extremely complicated to replace.’ 

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Gateley Legal—Jack Kelly

Gateley Legal—Jack Kelly

Gateley Legal expands Midlands residential development team

Gibson Dunn—Richard Surtees

Gibson Dunn—Richard Surtees

Gibson Dunn adds employee benefits and executive compensation practice in London with partner Richard Surtees

Laytons ETL—Alec Cameron

Laytons ETL—Alec Cameron

Laytons ETL appoints new partner and head of intellectual property disputes

NEWS
A series of recent decisions has clarified important principles across property law, from perpetuities to lease renewals and public rights over land
Employers cannot rely on wellbeing services alone to defend workplace stress claims after a High Court decision awarding almost £1m to an overworked employee
Andy Burnham's brand of 'Manchesterism' could offer fresh thinking on legal aid and access to justice if it reaches Westminster, according to Roger Smith, NLJ columnist and former director of JUSTICE
The constitutional fallout from a change of prime minister, rather than the politics, is under scrutiny as questions arise over the limits of executive authority in a leadership transition
The legal profession is undergoing a fundamental shift from selling services to creating technology-enabled products, according to Professor Luke Mason, Head of School of Law at Regent's University London
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