CONFERENCE PROMOTING LEASEHOLDEXPERTISE
ALEP
Spreading theWORD *
ALEP’s Spring conference focused on promoting leaseholdissuestoawider audience via
collaboration with other property organisations
AGREATEXAMPLEOFtheway collaborationbetween different organisations canbe used to help flatownerswas announcedby
Anthony Essien,Chief Executive of LEASEat ALEP’s Spring
conference.Anthony took to the stage to announce the launch of a pilot project tipped to help an estimated1,000 callersayear to theLEASE helpline,usingALEPmember volunteers.LEASE dealswithmorethan60,000 leaseholdenquiriesayearviaamix of telephone enquiries, lettersandface-to-facemeetingswith members of the public aswell as helping people online.However LEASEisstill lookingfor new ways tomeet increasing demandandimprove theuserexperience. Launchingthe initiative at the conference,Anthony announced that a rota ofALEPmember volunteerswill providean out-of-hours telephone callback service tooffer an initialpro bono consultation to callers. Both LEASEandALEP areconfident that this will go someway to help LEASEmanage its ever- increasing volumeof
calls.MarkChick,ALEP Director,hasworked closelywithAnthony Essien in planning thepilot schemeandis encouraged by thecooperation betweenthe two parties: “It is great thatwehave anumber ofmember firmsthat are prepared to ... provide initial free advice on an out-of-hours basis to assist
leaseholders.Ithinktheschemeislikely to prove popularwithcallers andIhopethat
INCOLLABORATIONWITH...
TheAssociationofLeasehold EnfranchisementPractitioners (ALEP)held its springconference inLondonon7March. Anaudienceof 180 delegates fromboth memberandnon-memberfirmsheard from thespeakers that one ofALEP’smainaims this year is to promote communicationand collaborationwith other key players in the property
sector.TheMarchevent provedthat ALEPhasalready achieved thisinpart, with representatives at theconference fromthe LeaseholdAdvisoryService (LEASE), the Residential Property TribunalService (RPTS), theRoyal InstitutionofCharteredSurveyors (RICS), theNationalAssociationofEstate Agents (NAEA),theAssociationofResidential ManagingAgents(ARMA)andtheFederation of PrivateResidents’Associations (FPRA).
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it will go fromstrength to
strength.Itisgreat to seecollaboration betweenourmembersand LEASE.” Anthonywas delightedwiththe positive
reaction fromthe audience and the approaches he received fromALEPmembers following the announcement. “The response confirmed to methe commitment ofALEPmembers to help ordinary people solve their problems. It is a really positivemomentfor LEASE’scustomers andALEP’smembers,” he said. Anyonewhowants tofindout moreabout
the pilot schemeshould contactAnna Bailey viaemail on
anna@alep.org.uk PatrickBullick,MDofestateagentsStanley
Chelsea and Chairmanof the London region of theNAEAalso proved to be a popular and engaging speaker.HequestionedhowALEP and theNAEAmightwork more closely together to provide a better service to their respective clients. AlivelyQ&Asessionrevealedagenuine willingnessformembersofbothassociations to collaborate, particularly on someformof trainingwhichwouldhelpagentsatall levels understandwhatenfranchisement is about andmakethemaware of theimportanceof advising clientstogotoaninformedexpert(i.e. anALEPmember)onleaseholdissues.“Iam keen to forgeacloserlinkwithALEPinorder to help educateestateagents. If estateagentscan obtainabasicunderstandingoftheunderlying factorsofleaseholdproperties, they will be in afar better –and arguablymore competitive - position to give accurate advice to clients looking to buy or sell flats,” said Patrick. Delegatesatthe conference–mainly
enfranchisementspecialists–enjoyed the keynote presentationof the conference,which wasdelivered byAnthonyRadevsky,barrister at Falcon
Chambers.Anthonygaveanupdate on theenfranchisement cases sincethe October conference and ended his presentation with tenideas for reforming current legislation. Onalegal note,SimonCheves,barrister
at TanfieldChambers, presented the implications andobligationsofTUPE(Transfer ofUndertakings (ProtectionofEmployment) for enfranchisement practitioners, explaining in detailwhatmight happen to porters or cleaners, for example,when a newowner takes on afreehold. KerryLondon’sDeanCalaz,apropertyand corporateinsurance broker,tooktotheplatform
LEFTAnthony Essien; RIGHTDamien Greenish, ALEP honorarypresident
in order tooutlinehowALEP’snewcommercial partnercanassistmembersbyaugmentingthe servicetheyoffertheir clients.Hepresented a case studyofanALEPsolicitormemberwho needed blockinsurance arrangedwithinoneday to preventadelay in thecompletionofafreehold
purchasetransaction.Dean’steammanaged to collatetherisk informationrequired, approach themarket, conductanimmediate survey of the propertyandsecure a contractwithanAA ratedinsurer
thesameday.Thisismade allthe moreimpressivebythefact that theblockhada previous historyof subsidence. OtherspeakersincludedAngusAndrew,Vice
Presidentofthe ResidentialPropertyTribunal Servicewho brought delegates up to speed on theforthcoming changes to practice and procedureatthe LeaseholdValuation Tribunal, whichwill comeinto effect on 1 July. TheRoyal CollegeofSurgeonsisthe venue
for the nextALEP conference on 22 October, to be chaired byDamianGreenish, honorary president ofALEP and Chairmanof residential estates at PembertonGreenish.●
ABOUTALEP
ALEPisanot-for-profit associationthat brings togetherbarristers,enfranchisement intermediaries,managingagents, solicitors andsurveyorsworkingintheresidential leasehold
sector.ALEPpromotes best practice by vettingmembers toensure theyhave significant expertisein leasehold enfranchisement. Membership ofALEPacts asabadgeofassurance so thatflatowners andfreeholders canbe confident that they are employingprofessionals with theright level of experience inhandlingpotentially complex transactions.
Forfurther informationaboutALEP, telephone0845225 2277or
visitwww.alep.org.uk FindALEPonTwitter at:
twitter.com/alepofficial
Conference Directory
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Enfranchisement 52
Issue 14, Spring Flat Living
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