Extending lease

ped1000

Hi

Many thanks to MSE for the great guide on extending leases.

I'm in a block of 4 flats with the freehold held by a management company whose shares are owned by each of the flat owners. All 4 flat owners are in agreement to extend the leases on our properties - all currently at 83 years remaining.

I'm getting conflicting advice about the number of different solicitor companies that need to be involved. One is saying there needs to be two seperate companies invoved to avoid conflict of interest - one representing the freeholder (ie. the management company, ie. all 4 flat owners) then another representing the leaseholders (ie. the 4 individual flat owners). Other sites I've seen suggest all the work can be done by the one solicitor.

Any advice gratefully received please.

G_M

One solicitor should be fine.

They will often suggest you get a 2nd to avoid a conflict between freeholders and leaseholders.

Since the individuals involved are the same on each side it is a nonsense.

So you (all) simply tell them, in writing, that you understand and accept the risk.

That absolves the solicitor of their professional obligation. Most solicitors would accept this, but if not, find another solicitor.