The annual conference of the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP) drew more than 240 professionals to London on 15 October, reflecting the high level of engagement across the leasehold sector as reform continues to gather pace.
COMMONHOLD ON THE HORIZON
A strong sense of anticipation ran through the event as delegates looked ahead to the next stage of reform. While the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act (LAFRA) has yet to be fully enacted, the government’s draft Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill is expected shortly.
The potential shift towards commonhold was the subject of a lively debate, with speakers divided between those who view it as inevitable and those who see it as untested. James Fieldsend of Tanfield Chambers and Mari Knowles of Commonhold and Leasehold Experts Ltd used ALEP’s fictional development, Hague House, to demonstrate how an “acquire and convert” process might work in practice — and where it could encounter obstacles.
Although there was broad agreement that ALEP’s expertise will be vital in shaping a workable model, many delegates urged caution over imposing commonhold on existing buildings. Most favoured a phased approach, starting with new developments and backed by practitioner training and public education to ensure confidence in the new system.
AI – EVOLVE OR BE AUTOMATED
Technology was another dominant theme. In his session “Leasehold enfranchisement just got (artificially) intelligent – evolve or be automated”, Mike Somekh of The Freehold Collective described artificial intelligence as “a colleague who never needs a coffee break”, able to analyse documents, draft client care letters and produce valuations with increasing accuracy.
He cited research showing that 61% of lawyers and 38% of valuers have already used AI tools in leasehold enfranchisement. While AI was found to outperform humans in tasks such as due diligence and document summarisation, Somekh cautioned that fabricated citations and data privacy concerns underline the continuing need for human oversight.
“The challenge and the opportunity is to evolve alongside AI rather than be replaced by it,” he said. “Invest time, upskill, collaborate and differentiate.”
BEST PRACTICE AND LEGAL UPDATES
The wider conference programme included sessions on company law for Right to Enfranchise and Right to Manage companies, led by Louise Park of Virtual Company Secretary, and tribunal preparation from Henrietta Hammonds of Beckett & Kay.
Simon Allison KC of Landmark Chambers offered an update on the Building Safety Act, while Mark Loveday and Robyn Cunningham of Tanfield Chambers explored human rights challenges to LAFRA. Piers Harrison, also of Tanfield Chambers, delivered his popular annual case law review.
LOOKING AHEAD
Conference chair and ALEP director Mark Chick said the year ahead would be pivotal for the sector. “The government’s forthcoming draft Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill presents both an opportunity and a challenge. The increased use of commonhold is a certainty. The uncertainty is in how it is to be introduced, and this will determine its success,” he said.
“We see ALEP as having an important role in working with government and practitioners to ensure the transition is workable, proportionate and beneficial. Similarly, AI is no longer optional; it’s here to stay. Our task is to understand it, regulate it, and use it responsibly to improve our practice.”
Chick added that the pace of both political and technological change had given members “more than enough to consider”, even without a draft bill to review. “The context for leasehold reform has never been more challenging, and that makes ALEP’s role all the more important. Our members’ expertise will be crucial in ensuring that reform strengthens rather than destabilises the system,” he said.
ALEP now represents more than 1,200 professionals across 260 organisations and remains, said Chick, “at the forefront of leasehold and commonhold reform.”
