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NLJ this week: Repair leasehold, don’t replace it

20 June 2025
Issue: 8121 / Categories: Legal News , Property , Profession , Leasehold , Housing , Landlord&tenant
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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

Freeths—Ruth Clare

Freeths—Ruth Clare

National real estate team bolstered by partner hire in Manchester

Farrer & Co—Claire Gordon

Farrer & Co—Claire Gordon

Partner appointed head of family team

mfg Solicitors—Neil Harrison

mfg Solicitors—Neil Harrison

Firm strengthens agriculture and rural affairs team with partner return

NEWS
Conveyancing lawyers have enjoyed a rapid win after campaigning against UK Finance’s decision to charge for access to the Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has launched a recruitment drive for talented early career and more senior barristers and solicitors
Regulators differed in the clarity and consistency of their post-Mazur advice and guidance, according to an interim report by the Legal Services Board (LSB)
The Solicitors Act 1974 may still underpin legal regulation, but its age is increasingly showing. Writing in NLJ this week, Victoria Morrison-Hughes of the Association of Costs Lawyers argues that the Act is ‘out of step with modern consumer law’ and actively deters fairness
A Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) ruling has reopened debate on the availability of ‘user damages’ in competition claims. Writing in NLJ this week, Edward Nyman of Hausfeld explains how the CAT allowed Dr Liza Lovdahl Gormsen’s alternative damages case against Meta to proceed, rejecting arguments that such damages are barred in competition law
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