Legal Services - Landlord and Tenant and Property Litigation

We act for both landlords and tenants in this highly technical area of the law and provide a full service over the full range of disputes which arise in the context of the landlord and tenant relationship with a particular specialism in all aspects of leasehold enfranchisement (i.e. purchase of freehold and extension of long leases). Our team is headed up by Jim McKeever.

Jim has extensive experience in leasehold enfranchisement. He recently acted for the successful tenants in the Court of Appeal's decision in 41-60 Albert Palace Mansions (Freehold) Ltd v Craftrule Ltd [2010], which is likely to give tenants of adjoining blocks of flats greater flexibility and opportunities in collectively purchasing the freeholds of their blocks under the Leasehold Reform Act 1993. Jim also acted for Boss Holdings Limited (Appellants) v Grosvenor West End Properties and others (Respondents) [2008] in its successful appeal to the House of Lords in the landmark decision concerning the definition of a house under the Leasehold Reform Act 1967.

The Property Litigation team acts for a variety of different clients, including property investors, surveyors, corporations and private individuals.  We also have established links with leading firms of surveyors.

Examples of the advice we offer in this area are:

• Lease extensions, freehold purchases, collective enfranchisement of the freehold and tenants' rights of first refusal
• Rent and service charge disputes
• Claims for possession and forfeiture
• Enforcement of covenants in leases
• Claims under the Rent Act 1977 and Housing Act 1988
• Business lease renewals
• Dilapidations and disrepair claims
• Contested applications to assign/underlet/carry out alterations
• Original tenant and guarantor liability
• Property related insolvency issues
• Notices and break clauses
• Property related professional negligence
• Adverse possession
• Restrictive covenants
• Trespasser and nuisance claims