ABSTRACT
The Leasehold Reform Act (LRA) of 1967 provides a right to enfranchisement leasehold extension to certain tenants occupying houses under long leases at a low rent. In this chapter, the authors look at the legislation in four types: security of tenure, individual enfranchisement of houses, collective enfranchisement of flats, individual lease extension of flats and the right of first refusal. Essentially enfranchisement gives long leaseholders the right to extend their lease or acquire their landlord's freehold interest. It is worth noting that if the tenancy contains a break clause it will not be a long tenancy as the definition does not include 'any tenancy which is, or may become, terminable before the end of the term by notice given to the tenant. In order to qualify under the LRA 1967 the tenancy had to be a long tenancy at a low rent and the tenant had to have been in occupation for the last three years.
