On 30th October 2024, the Administrative Court lifted stays that had been placed on three judicial reviews and indicated that these, and four others which had not been stayed, should progress to the permission stage. These judicial reviews challenge, amongst other things, the controversial provisions relating to the abolition of marriage value, the capping of ground rent and the abolition of the reversions right to costs to costs of the enfranchisement process or lease extension process.

The permission hearing took place last week. Permission was granted and the claims will now proceed to a substantive hearing.

Granting of permission is not an indication either way of the likelihood of success of the judicial reviews; it is simply an indication that the claims are arguable. However, the ultimate result of these claims will have far-reaching consequences for both leaseholders and freeholders, so observers will be anxious for a resolution.

That will have to wait for the substantive hearing which is set for July of this year. In the short term, it seems likely that this will only serve to further delay the implementation of the provisions of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024.