OpinionINTERVIEW


ridicuLousAnomALiEs incurrEnTLEGisLATion ThATnEEdTobE TAckLEd


LesLeYDAVis talks to Alex Greenslade to find out more about ALEP and the way it works on behalf of members and the public


The AssociATion ofLeasehold EnfranchisementPractitioners orALEPwas the brainchild of Honorary Secretary Alex Greenslade,whowaslargely responsible for foundingthe organisation in 2007. Alex, a projectmanager andMDof Croydon-based Leasehold Solutions, sawan opportunity to bringtogethersolicitors, surveyors, enfranchisementintermediariesandmanaging agents to promote best practice andprovide networkingopportunities for thoseworking in the leasehold enfranchisement sector. Fed upwith hisclients comingto himhaving beengiven pooradvicebypeople“dabbling”in this complexareaofleaseholdlaw,Alexsawa gapinthemarketwhich he believesALEP is fillingeffectively.The organisation nowhas 115memberswhohavebeenvigorously vetted to ensure they have the skills in place that thepublic needwhen appointingsomeone to advise themon theirlease extension, freehold purchase ormanagement issues. Forleaseholders,the benefit of using


an ALEPmember to advise themis that eachmember has been checkedout by a knowledgeableprofessionaland comesbacked by ALEP’s code of practice.Ifmembers are foundtobeoperating in breachofthe code or aresimplydoing abad job,theyare taken off theALEPlistofrecommended advisers. “The aim,” Alex explains,“is to give the public confidencethattheyare dealing with professionalswho knowwhat they’redoing”. Forleaseholdpractitioners,ALEPnot


only provides asourceofleads duetothe membership list on thewebsite butthe organisation also provides aforumfor communication, networking andevents. “Everyonegetstoknoweachother and that promotesknowledge andinformation exchange as well as aspiritofcooperation amongthe different professions. Solicitors can


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be comfortableinthe knowledgethatthey are recommending a competent fellow ALEP member if clients are looking for a surveyor andviceversa,” says Alex. In order to becomeALEPmembers,firms


areaskedtosubmitdetails of theirexperience to-date inmatters such as leasehold acquisitions andRight toManage.Theyalso have to provide copies of their professional indemnity insurance(PII) andprovide both client andprofessionalreferences frompeople whoare notrelated to themeither personally or professionally.Telephone interviews are then carried outbyALEPtodetermine the firm’ssuitability formembership.“When practitionersrenew theirmembershipwe make sure that expertiseisstill with the firm, checking that theexpertorexperts in leaseholdmatters hasn’t left and ask to see theircurrent PIIcertificate,”Alexexplains. Membersare then able to usethe ALEP brandingontheir websiteand letterheads andare listed on thewebsite so thepubliccan identify apractitionerintheir area.However, Alex believes thatmembership is atwo-way process: “You have to putinsomeeffort to attend events anduse theALEPlogotomakeit work for you,” he says. AccordingtoAlex, ALEP also representsa


step in the right direction towards effective self-regulation. “Members areexpectedto abidebythe rulesand provideanefficient,


arecarried outbyALEP to determine suitability formembership


Telephoneinterviews ThErEArEsomE


Projectmanager Alex Greenslade sawa gap in the marketthat he believesALEPnow fills


professional service. The public can trust a firmthat is displaying the ALEP branding and if that companyorindividual doesn’tperform well,theyhavesomewhere to go to lodgea complaintand know that it will be dealtwith. Webelieveweare allpartofagroup that raises itsowngameby beingpartofit,”he adds. He believes self-regulationispreferable to regulatory legislationbeing enforced on thesectorfor thesimplereasonthatthe industry is in thebest position to knowwhat needstobedone. “Itshows alevel ofmaturity andreasontoput your ownhouse in order before someoneelseattemptstodoitfor you,” he says.“Weareall well awarethatservice charges areclearly abig issue:leaseholders areoften overcharged andthere has been alot of bad publicity for unprofessionalmanaging agents.Theyall gettarredwiththe same


Autumn2011 Flat Living


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