Legal services for London and urban estates
Our London and urban estates team advises on over £30 billion in assets across 2,000 acres of prime London real estate. We help urban estates preserve their legacy while embracing modern opportunities.
At Cripps, we have spent decades advising many of London’s Great Estates and other prominent estates, gaining a deep understanding of their unique structures and complexities to help them thrive. These estates, rich in historical significance, carry the dual responsibility of preserving cultural heritage, while operating as dynamic modern businesses. As custodians of prime central London real estate, they face the challenge of balancing long-term investment, stewardship, and community-building with the demands of generating sustainable profits, while also driving regeneration and sustainable development. Our team of experienced lawyers delivers strategic insights and innovative solutions, aligning these priorities to enhance asset value, foster vibrant communities, and secure the continued growth and legacy of these exceptional places.
Our expertise includes leasehold reform, residential and commercial asset management and diversification, regeneration/redevelopment projects, succession planning and transactional support. Our in depth knowledge and understanding of urban estates helps to preserve the unique nature of each of the heritage estate clients we work with, while ensuring issues such as sustainability, stewardship and long term investment remain a priority.
Unrivalled expertise in commercial real estate
Our dedicated commercial real estate team brings together specialists in planning, construction and dispute resolution. We provide tailored, strategic advice to urban estates, expertly guiding clients through the complexities of property ownership across short, medium and long-term horizons.
Whether navigating intricate regulatory landscapes or addressing the practical challenges of estate management, we pride ourselves on offering pragmatic, forward-thinking solutions tailored to each client’s specific objectives.
Our comprehensive services include:
- Sales and acquisitions of property
- Granting, negotiating and terminating leases
- Negotiating complex construction and development contracts
- Drafting and negotiating s 106 planning obligations
- Establishing easements and other property rights
- Structuring property finance solutions
- Managing tenant insolvency and default situations
With a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by urban estates, we ensure your property assets are effectively managed for long-term growth, enhanced value and enduring resilience. Our strategic approach positions your estate not only for optimal management, but also for future opportunities in an ever-evolving market.
How we can help
The integrated approach we provide on all property and residential matters places urban estate landlords ahead of the curve. From acquisition through to long-term investment and disposal, we offer strategic legal advice tailored to the complexities of managing residential property portfolios within mixed-use urban estates.
Our team ensures that you can navigate the intricacies of residential tenancies, leasehold reform, and regulatory changes while aligning your residential assets with the broader goals of your urban estate. With our expert guidance, you can maximise the value of your residential portfolio and ensure its long-term success.
Leasehold enfranchisement
Our multi-award-winning leasehold enfranchisement solicitors can help you protect and enhance the value in your property.
Leasehold enfranchisement allows leaseholders to buy the freehold of their property or extend their lease. This is a complex area of law, particularly for urban estates where the portfolios often include a mix of residential, commercial, and mixed-use properties. The need for expert guidance is paramount. Our specialist enfranchisement lawyers will advise on complex claims, including collective claims, rights of first refusal, and right to manage claims—issues that can be particularly pressing in densely populated urban estates.
For urban estates, managing leasehold enfranchisement effectively requires a deep understanding of the specific challenges posed by large, multi-use developments and the need to balance the interests of residential and commercial tenants. We provide strategic advice to estate managers on how to mitigate the risks of enfranchisement, including the potential impact on mixed-use properties and estates undergoing regeneration or redevelopment.
Our experience includes leading cases such as Hosebay in the Supreme Court, Sportelli in the House of Lords, and Mundy in the Court of Appeal, which have shaped the understanding of enfranchisement law and its application in urban settings.
We simplify the process. Our expert advice is clear, jargon-free, and focused on the practical implications for urban estates. Our team can assist with:
- Buying the freehold of a property in mixed-use estates
- Extending the lease of houses or flats within urban estates
- Lease extensions for individual flats in high-density residential buildings
- Buying the freehold of a block of flats (collective enfranchisement), particularly in urban estates with shared commercial spaces
- Right to manage claims to give leaseholders control over property management in large estates
- Court and tribunal proceedings related to enfranchisement disputes in mixed-use environments
- Rights of first refusal, ensuring tenants have the opportunity to purchase the freehold
- Property management and investment advice for urban estates facing enfranchisement challenges
- Commonhold schemes, offering an alternative to leasehold ownership in urban developments
Landlord and tenant
We provide comprehensive advice to urban estates on all aspects of landlord and tenant law, including leases, agreements for lease, surrenders, and licences. Our extensive experience representing both landlords and tenants gives us a valuable perspective on the needs and motivations of both parties. This enables us to facilitate smoother transactions and deliver pragmatic, solutions-focused advice tailored to the unique challenges of urban estates.
Our property lawyers are skilled in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a wide range of property-related agreements, including development agreements, service level agreements, and subcontracting arrangements. For non-property agreements, our commercial team is on hand to ensure all your contractual needs are met seamlessly.
Our specialist residential and commercial asset management lawyers can support you through each stage of real estate ownership, reducing your risk, while maximising the value of your investments.
Asset management is critical to maintaining and enhancing value in the fast-evolving world of urban estates. For landlords managing large, mixed-use urban estates, the need for an integrated approach to residential and commercial real estate is more important than ever. Our team provides proactive legal advice, ensuring you stay ahead of the curve in navigating the complexities of property ownership.
With in-depth expertise in the challenges faced by landlords, we anticipate the impact of legislative reform and other regulatory changes, advising on how these developments will affect your business operations and investment strategies. We help urban estates manage the implications of evolving regulations. In relation to residential tenancies and leasehold structures, the integration of residential assets within broader mixed-use developments is paramount.
From acquisition to long-term investment and eventual disposal, we offer strategic guidance on the nuances of various homeownership models, including leasehold and freehold arrangements. Our team works closely with you to ensure your residential portfolio aligns with the broader goals of your urban estate, whether that involves regeneration, diversification, or improving tenant satisfaction.
In respect of commercial real estate, we offer tailored advice on a wide range of matters, including:
- Structuring transactions
- Granting and taking leases
- Lease renewals
- Applications for consent
- Serving notices
- Interpreting leases
- Rent recovery
- Service charge disputes
- Break options
- Dilapidations
- Tenant insolvency
- Contested rent reviews
- Major contractual disputes
Our expertise spans the full lifecycle of property ownership, ensuring that your assets are managed efficiently, disputes are resolved effectively, and long-term value is protected. Whether you require assistance with day-to-day property management or complex legal challenges, our team delivers practical, forward-thinking solutions to support your real estate portfolio.
Residential asset management
Our residential asset management expertise covers every aspect of real estate faced day to day by our clients. This includes advice on:
- residential licensing
- the Building Safety Act 2022
- individual plot sales
- tenancy issues and property dispute resolution, including court and tribunal proceedings.
Clients value our commercial, pragmatic approach and our in-depth understanding of urban estates from both a landlord and tenant perspective.
Our property dispute resolution team specialises in a broad range of property management issues, offering expert advice on lease renewals, breaks, forfeiture, and supporting clients with tenant insolvency or voluntary arrangements. We also assist with arrears recovery and resolving various lease disputes, providing practical solutions tailored to each unique situation.
Additionally, we offer strategic guidance on complex matters such as site redevelopment, tenant relocations and vacant possession strategies, ensuring our clients are well equipped to navigate challenging property-related issues. Our expertise extends to rights to light, easements and covenants, as well as statutory and regulatory compliance, trespass and nuisance disputes.
Whether addressing routine property management concerns or tackling intricate legal challenges, we provide practical, effective solutions designed to protect and optimise your estate portfolio.
With one of the largest property litigation teams in the UK, we offer the highest level of expertise in managing property-related disputes, ranging from landlord and tenant issues to easement, covenant and construction disputes that could jeopardise a development project. Our in-depth understanding of estate priorities enables us to maintain a strategic, long-term view while safeguarding the value of your assets and ensuring the continued success of your estate.
Development
Our development team has extensive experience in managing high-value, complex, and strategically important development projects nationally, including the retrofitting and repurposing of portfolio assets within urban estates. With a unique understanding of the intricacies of urban development, we focus on identifying and mitigating risks while ensuring the generation and retention of value. This clear, strategic focus is invaluable in driving effective project delivery, particularly in the context of urban estates where balancing heritage, modernity, and long-term sustainability is crucial for success.
Planning
Our planning team works closely with consultant teams to provide comprehensive legal support across all stages of the planning process. This includes advising on the legal drafting of s106 provisions, addressing title issues, managing variations of existing agreements, handling planning inquiries, and ensuring compliance with CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) regulations. Additionally, we offer expertise in litigation within the planning courts. Our team is highly flexible, tailoring their level of involvement to meet the specific needs and requirements of each estate, ensuring that planning projects are managed effectively and in accordance with legal and regulatory frameworks.
Construction
Our full-service construction team also has a long history of London property portfolio owners in creating, managing, and maintaining their property assets. With expertise across all stages of the construction lifecycle, we provide comprehensive support to ensure successful project delivery. Our construction dispute lawyers also offer targeted advice on isolated issues or broader points of contention, providing strategic guidance to resolve disputes efficiently and effectively. Whether navigating complex contracts, handling delays, or addressing disputes, our team is equipped to manage the legal complexities of construction projects with precision and insight.
We understand the commercial implications of your property requirements within the context of urban estates and take a holistic approach to meet your needs. This may include advising on construction fit-outs, management agreements, software contracts, and employment law, ensuring all aspects of your urban estate operations are covered.
Our seamless service ensures quick responses and exceptional value for money, particularly when your space needs to support ambitious development or regeneration projects. By keeping our finger on the pulse of evolving trends, such as flexible leasing models and the growing demand for space-as-a-service, we can negotiate the best terms. We can help you find the ideal space to support your growth, whether for new headquarters, office relocations, refurbishments, space optimization, or sustainable property solutions within your urban estate.
Our corporate occupiers experts can help you create the best space for your business, at the best price and with a flexible landlord who wants your business to succeed.
We understand that at the heart of each urban estate lies a business which is truly unique: a business rooted in the cultural heritage of the estate while juggling the ever changing demands of any modern business.
Our urban estates expertise extends well beyond the world of real estate. We have teams on hand to help you with all your business needs, including:
- advising on effective board oversight
- navigating tensions between different stakeholder groups
- aligning staff incentivisation with the ethos of the estate
- helping to embed best practice for responsible businesses
- embracing AI within a heritage business
- data audits to identify and mitigate risk
- buying and selling assets on the estate
- advising on complex reorganisations of stakeholder interests
Our corporate, commercial and employment teams are ranked top of their field and work hand in hand with our real estate teams to ensure advice is joined up, adds value and champions the ethos of each estate we act for.
Succession planning is vital for the long-term success of urban estates, ensuring their continued growth, relevance, and alignment with family or institutional objectives. At Cripps, we offer a seamless, multidisciplinary approach to help estate owners navigate the complexities of succession, drawing on the expertise of one of the largest private wealth teams in the UK.
Our tailored solutions address a wide range of estate and wealth structuring needs, from property tax planning and trust restructuring to complex inheritance tax and cross-border succession issues. We act as key strategic advisers to our clients, providing guidance on structuring family businesses, creating tax-efficient solutions for property portfolios, and balancing the preservation of heritage with commercial opportunities.
Our expertise includes advising on:
- Tax planning: Wealth preservation, property tax, income and capital gains tax, compliance, and annual return services.
- Wealth structuring: Family Investment Companies and Partnerships, wills, trusts, and tax-efficient strategies for luxury and international assets.
- Business strategy: Strategic advice on acquisitions, disposals, and governance of residential and commercial portfolios.
Our team includes agriculture and estate sector specialists, family business experts, and a mental capacity team, ensuring comprehensive support for all aspects of succession planning.
By aligning your succession plan with your estate’s long-term vision and values, we empower you to secure its legacy for future generations. Whether focusing on trust governance, philanthropy, or inter-generational planning, our bespoke approach ensures a robust foundation for the next chapter of your estate’s journey.
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Our London and urban estates experience
Advising landlords and tenants on the expiry of long residential leases.
Advising developers, property companies and tenants on rights of first refusal under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987, including lease structuring and avoidance schemes.
Advising institutional landlord on complex development licences of central London property, including consent issues under long leases.
Acting for successful party on a contested right to manage claim of a central London mixed-use development with a value of c. £50 million.
Completing complex licences to alter for both Landlords and Tenants.
Successfully completing a lease extension under the 1993 Act where the existing lease expired whilst dealing with the claim.
Successfully advising a Landlord on high value mixed used building in refusing a Right to Manage Claim.
Dealing with a multitude of lease extension claims and collective claims.
I have advised and conducted proceedings on behalf of clients who have been affected by nuisance and trespass by a neighbouring landowner.
I regularly advise landlord clients on the validity of notices served on them by their commercial clients.
How we made a difference
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Cripps shortlisted for three awards at ERMAS 2023
Compulsory purchase powers
Awards and accreditations
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If you have a question or need advice, please let us know how we can help.
