ALEP celebrates 15 years at the forefront of leasehold enfranchisement

The Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP) is celebrating its 15th anniversary this month; a landmark which its members say is testament to the Association’s continuing relevance and value to professionals working in the leasehold enfranchisement sector.

Since it was established in May 2007 by siblings Alex Greenslade and Anna Bailey, ALEP has been at the forefront of leasehold enfranchisement. Founded with the aim to bring together enfranchisement practitioners, with a view to spreading best practice in the sector, the Association has gone on to become the go-to source for expert opinion on leasehold enfranchisement.

With a growing membership of more than 260 organisations, which equates to over 1,200 professionals, ALEP and its members have supported and provided expert input to numerous government consultations over the years and have taken a leading role in the continuing debate around leasehold reform.

Mark Chick is an ALEP Director and senior partner at one of ALEP’s founding member firms, Bishop & Sewell.

Mark said:

“Leasehold enfranchisement continues to be a highly relevant and important topic which has implications for millions of people across the UK. The Government has committed to a programme of reform to make the system fairer for leaseholders and ALEP and its members have played a pivotal role in providing expert input to numerous consultations, which are shaping the enfranchisement sector for the future.

“ALEP is apolitical and operates with a specific remit to support professionals working in the enfranchisement sector. This focus on our members’ needs has been crucial to the Association’s survival and success over the past 15 years. From providing useful guidance and practical notes for legal and valuation professionals through our lectures and conferences, to keeping our members updated on the implications of Covid-19 protocols, ALEP continues to deliver highly relevant support that our members truly value.

“ALEP membership is recognised as a badge of assurance, providing leaseholders and freeholders with confidence that they are employing professionals with the requisite level of expertise to handle what can be very complex transactions.”

A number of initiatives are planned throughout 2022 to celebrate this important milestone in the Association’s history. Alongside a new 15-year anniversary logo, a social media campaign will share videos and interviews with some of the Association’s key founders, members and partners. On Thursday 6 October ALEP will host a gala event for members

Damian Greenish, ALEP’s Honorary President, said:

“I have been part of ALEP since its inception and over the last 15 years I have witnessed it grow from a small group of enfranchisement practitioners to the mighty association it is today.

“The Association has achieved many notable milestones which cement its position and status within the leasehold enfranchisement sector. The rate at which membership has increased, the timely and technical subject matter addressed at conferences, and the involvement of ALEP members in government consultations that help shape the future of leasehold legislation, are all testament to ALEP’s influence.

“Despite serving a small, specialist portion of professionals working in the property market, the Association really packs a punch!”