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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

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Private wealth and tax team welcomes cross-border specialist as consultant

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

International hospitality and leisure specialist joins corporate team as partner

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Firm appoints head of intellectual property to drive northern growth

NEWS
Talk of a reserved ‘Welsh seat’ on the Supreme Court is misplaced. In NLJ this week, Professor Graham Zellick KC explains that the Constitutional Reform Act treats ‘England and Wales’ as one jurisdiction, with no statutory Welsh slot
The government’s plan to curb jury trials has sparked ‘jury furore’. Writing in NLJ this week, David Locke, partner at Hill Dickinson, says the rationale is ‘grossly inadequate’
A year after the $1.5bn Bybit heist, crypto fraud is booming—but so is recovery. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Holloway, founder and CEO of M2 Recovery, warns that scams hit at least $14bn in 2025, fuelled by ‘pig butchering’ cons and AI deepfakes
After Woodcock confirmed no general duty to warn, debate turns to the criminal law. Writing in NLJ this week, Charles Davey of The Barrister Group urges revival of misprision or a modern equivalent
Family courts are tightening control of expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Chris Pamplin says there is ‘no automatic right’ to call experts; attendance must be ‘necessary in the interests of justice’ under FPR Pt 25
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