Welcome

Langley Byers Bennett are a professional practice of Chartered Surveyors specialising in Lease Extensions, Leasehold Enfranchisement and Building Surveying.

Services we offer:

Leasehold Enfranchisement and Lease Extensions

We have a specialist residential lease extension and enfranchisement valuation department dedicated to the provision of professional advice on Leasehold Reform in connection with the valuation of premiums and negotiation of the purchase of the freehold of blocks of flats, enfranchisement of houses and lease extensions.

We provide expert property advice to our clients and assist with a wide variety of residential property matters including residential leases, landlord and tenant disputes and negotiations, the valuation and negotiation of lease extensions, the purchase of freeholds and collective enfranchisement. This specialist advice allows for the calculation of relativity and marriage value. Our graph and study on relativity is available by following the link. LBB Published Relativity Graph

We are able to act throughout the UK, but have particular expertise in Greater London and have acted against most of the major estates, such as Bedford, Cadogan, Cambridge, Church Commissioners, The Crown, Eton, Eyre, Grosvenor, Howard de Walden, John Lyon, Myron Wilson, Portman and Sloane Stanley Estates. We regularly provide expert advice in proceedings at the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal (LVT).

We also act regularly in suburban South London, particularly to Croydon and Sutton, but also in the corridor between these areas and the South Coast, in places such as Brighton, East Grinstead, Uckfield, Lewes and Hastings. In these sub-urban areas we have often acted for tenants against Freshwater.

Justin Bennett, the head of department, has a number of leading cases relating to lease extensions and enfranchisement, particularly relating to the Leasehold Reform Housing and Urban Development Act 1993, but not limited as such and he has represented clients at the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal (LVT) under both Section 9(1) [old valuation basis] and sections 9(1A) and 9(1C) [special valuation basis – which includes marriage value] of the Leasehold Reform Act 1967 relating to houses or shops with flats above.

Willingale v Globalgrange Ltd [2000] 2EGLR 55 was one of the first cases under the leasehold enfranchisement legislation where the landlord was forced to accept the premium offered subject to the terms proposed.

Glen International v Triplerose Ltd (CA) [2007] 2 EGLR 81 related to proper service of a Section 42 Notice for a lease extension and was found in the tenant’s favour as the last known address under Section 47 and Section 48 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987.

In both cases his clients were assisted by Anthony Radevsky of Falcon Chambers, the author of Hague on Leasehold Enfranchisement.

Valuation

We regularly provide expert, professional advice and valuations in respect of most types of residential and commercial including the valuation of property for acquisition, purchase, loan security or mortgage purposes; taxation, capital gains and company balance sheet valuations for all types of residential property and commercial property. We are on a number of valuation panels and can advise in respect of both residential property and commercial property of all types. We undertake these valuations for both investors on an investment basis or for owner-occupiers principally in Central London, but also in Greater London and the Home Counties.

Building Surveying

Combining professional expertise with sound commercial advice and an imaginative flair for design and problem solving, our Building Surveyors are able to provide invaluable advice and assistance with a wide variety of Building Surveying matters including Residential Surveys, Repair and Maintenance Advice, Defect Diagnosis, External Redecoration and Repair Contracts, Specifications, Planned Maintenance Budget Reports, Building Reinstatement Valuations (Fire Insurance Valuations) and Landlord and Tenant or Service Charge Dispute Advice – including expert representation at the LVT. We deal regularly with Commercial Surveys, Dilapidation Advice and Negotiation, Project Management, Party Wall Advice and expert assistance with Property Disputes.

Commercial Landlord and Tenant (particularly in the leisure and hotel market)

We have considerable experience in most aspects of commercial property including commercial property management. We act as consultants and provide expert advice for both landlord and tenants in many commercial property related matters such as the negotiation of lease renewals, rent reviews, lease negotiations, valuations and landlord and tenant disputes. We provide expert submissions for arbitration or expert determination and can act as experts in court if required. We have particular expertise in property related matters for hotel and leisure properties.

We have acted on a number of leading cases such as Denis & Robinson Ltd v Kiossos Establishment (1987) 54 P&CR 282 concerning a 120,000 sqft, 1906 industrial unit, formerly a railway carriage works in Lancing on the South Coast. The rent review was the subject of one of the leading cases on the issue of willing landlord and willing tenant and is equally important to lease renewals under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.

Property Litigation Advice

Unfortunately disputes between Landlords, Tenants, Managing Agents or Neighbours are commonplace and can easily escalate leading to potentially expensive disputes. We can offer professional advice which may avoid disputes being avoided altogether, or limited in a way that can often lead to a speedier and more economic resolution. We can assist with Party Wall Notices, Landlord and Tenant Disputes – including expert representation at the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal (LVT) or in Court, Service Charge Disputes. We regularly provide Expert Evidence and Advice in many types of property related dispute.