The LSG consulted widely on the new proposals, including with The Law Society and drafted a wide-ranging policy document designed to reduce the potential for abuse of leasehold, speed up the leasehold conveyancing process, increase certainty for consumers and remove some of the unreasonable costs that can come with it. It has now sent the proposals to new Housing Minister, Alok Sharma MP. The Legal Sector Group (LSG) is comprised of the Conveyancing Association (CA), the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx), Bold Legal Group (BLG) and the Society of Licensed Conveyancers (SLC).

Eight key areas

The leasehold reform proposals have been split into eight key areas with specific policy initiatives for each. Those key areas are: reasonable fees for administrative activities; reasonable timescales for administrative activities; enforcement with a mandatory requirement for all freehold management or leasehold administrators to be part of a redress scheme; unfair lease terms; overhaul of tenure; building insurance; management regulation and the marketing of leasehold properties.

'Point the way ahead'

Beth Rudolf, director of delivery at the Conveyancing Association, said that she believed the leasehold reform proposals ‘point the way ahead for a 21^st Century leasehold process’.  She added: ‘The CA has long-campaigned for leasehold reform and we are now urging the powers that be to put in place a programme of change in order to provide both sellers and buyers of leasehold property with certainty, peace of mind, reasonable costs and a much greater degree of clarity in terms of what they are signing up to, and the responsibilities that are shared amongst those involved in their leasehold property.’

'Much needed' proposals

Similarly, Rob Hailstone, CEO and founder of the BLG, said: ‘These proposals are much needed and if introduced will help the home buying and selling public and conveyancers in a number of ways. It is encouraging to see the CA, CILEx, BLG and the SLC working together with a common aim.’

Legal profession co-operation

Simon Law, chairman of the Society of Licensed Conveyancers (SLC), commented: ‘It is gratifying that the legal profession including solicitors, licensed conveyancers and chartered legal executives have come together to arrive at a common set of proposals for both the Law Commission and the Government to consider. There is no individual or party better placed than those legal professionals who serve their clients day in and day out in buying and selling leasehold properties to architect the much needed reforms set out in these proposals.’