Landlord & Tenant

Have you ever thought about managing your own block of flats, extending your lease or buying your freehold?

You may have thought about it or it may not have even crossed your mind however there are a great many advantages to doing any of these.

Our team has over 20 years experience in the specialist area of Landlords and Tenants and can provide quick, easy comprehensive advice and service.

Are you happy with the management of your blocks of flats?

You may have thought it wasn’t possible to change how your block is managed but you can take over the management from your Landlord/Management Company. Ask yourself the following questions: -

• Do you feel that you are paying excessive maintenance charges?
• Do you have a say in the running of your block of flats?
• Are you constantly chasing the managing agents in relation to maintenance and repairs that are still outstanding?
• Do you feel that the managing agents are out of touch with your block of flats as they are located so far away?

If you and the other flat owners in your block feel any of these apply, then please contact us. We can help you and the other flat owners in your block take over management from your Landlord or Management Company.

All you need to have to be able to take over management is: -

• A self contained block of flats
• At least 2 flats held by tenants who have owned their flat for at least 2 years
• At least two thirds of the flat owners in your block must have owned for 2 years
• At least half of the flat owners in your block must wish to participate

Lease Extension

Do you need to extend the term of the lease of your flat?

• Are you worried about the falling house and flat values and looking to stabilise and increase the value of your flat?
• Are you looking to sell your flat in the near future?
• Do you pay a high ground rent and would like to pay less?

The only criteria needed for you to be able to extend your lease is that you have owned your flat for at least 2 years.

Hatchers are able to provide a full service for extending your lease from initial contact with your Landlord to completing registration of your new extended lease at the Land Registry

 Would you like to own a share of the land your flat stands on? (Collective Enfranchisement)
                                                                                                             
Owning a share of you freehold your flat stands on has many benefits, ask yourself: -

• Do you want to be able to extend your lease for little cost and not pay any more ground rent?
• Do you want to be able to have control of any  variations and alterations to the flats and any letting of flats in your block?
• Are you fed up of your Landlord and their administration charges for notices and consents?
• Would you like to increase the value of your flat and/or turn it into a long term investment?

Buying the freehold of your block of flats is easier than you think and the advantages above are not too far out of reach. The criteria that you need to have to be able to buy your freehold is: -

• At least half of the flat owners in your block want to buy the freehold
• All the flat owners wanting to buy the freehold have owned their flat for at least 2 years
• The leases of the flats must be a long term lease (i.e. more than 21 years term)

For more information please contact Jacinta Walmsley on 01743 237617 or email j.walmsley@hatchers.co.uk

Hatchers were finalists in the ‘Regional Solicitors of the Year’ at the News on the Block Awards in 2010

Andrew Cross was Highly Commended as Individual Solicitor of the Year at News on the Block Awards 2010