“I have valued the leasehold by reference to the John D Wood and Co/Gerald Eve (1996) graph of relativities. I have referred to this graph on many occasions before the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal and have consistently used the graph in valuing leasehold houses for sale in my role as an estate agent. My firm also maintains a table of relativities which was born out of our experience in the market place prior to the Act covering all houses. It is similar to the John D Wood and Co/Gerald Eve (1996) graph. In my role as an estate agent, if I am called upon to value a house with an enfranchiseable lease, my first step is to value the property freehold. The next step is to calculate the likely cost of enfranchisement. I would firstly make a deduction for any improvements and secondly use the John D Wood and Co/Gerald Eve (1996) graph applying the appropriate relativity to the unimproved freehold value to arrive at an unimproved leasehold value. If the lease has an onerous ground rent and/or onerous rent reviews I would make a further deduction as the graph assumes a nominal rent. 5 With these adjusted freehold and leasehold figures, I would calculate the likely cost of enfranchisement. My advice to the client would be to expect to achieve a figure which approximates to the improved value of the property less the cost of enfranchisement. This is my unerring approach in every such case. The relativity for the lease of 36 Shawfield Street with 32.65 years unexpired, with a low rent, (according to the John D Wood & Co/Gerald Eve (1996) graph) is 58.65%, giving a leasehold value for 36 Shawfield Street of£1,107,019 (if working from a freehold value of£1,887,500 ) or£1,129,000 (if working from a freehold value of£1,925,000 ).”
“On the hearing of an appeal under Part III or of an application under Part V, the appellant or applicant may rely only on the grounds stated in his notice of appeal, 11 statement of case or application unless the Tribunal permits additional grounds to be put forward.”
“The average net yield from prime Central London residential property, which allows for ongoing property and management costs, currently stands at 2.8%. This is well below the cost of finance and highlights that investors are seeking capital growth to boost their returns. However, as we have already commented, investors are still entering the market looking to diversify their assets away from equities. If they are cash buyers, or have very low levels of gearing, then the weakness of the rental market will not be of much concern. By the end of the year, we expect net yields to stand at 2.75%.”
“I consider it is relevant to mention again the general reduction in interest rates and the yields for residential investments particularly over the last 12 months since the loss of confidence in the equity markets. This movement is not reflected if historical settlement evidence is relied on. In contrast purchasers as occupiers/investors in June 2002 who (sic) in buying enfranchiseable leases are likely to have been advised that 6% would apply to the deferment of the reversion on an enfranchisement claim. However, in my view they would quite likely have regarded the potential opportunity to secure the freehold at an historically high yield under the Act as justification for paying more for the lease as they would calculate that they would be able to pay less to the landlord.”