The Building Safety Act 2022 (as strengthened by the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024) has transformed the legal landscape for anyone owning, managing, or living in a residential block. It is complex, technical, and easy to get wrong — and mistakes can be extremely costly.
At Julie West Solicitors, we specialise in guiding both freeholders and leaseholders through this high risk legislation with clarity, precision, and confidence.
The Law Has Changed and Your Responsibilities Have Too
The Act introduced strict rules on:
Who qualifies for protection
A lease only qualifies if very specific criteria were met on 14 February 2022. That date is frozen in time: if the lease was not qualifying then, it never will be.
Which buildings are covered
A building must meet height and use criteria — and if it is leaseholder owned or commonhold, the protections don’t apply.
What counts as a “relevant defect”
Only defects creating fire spread or structural collapse risk, arising between 1992 and 2022, fall within the Act.
What costs can be passed on
Cladding remediation cannot be charged to qualifying leaseholders at all.
Other costs are capped — and only recoverable in tightly defined circumstances.
Key statutory certificates
If a Leaseholder Deed of Certificate or Landlord’s Certificate is wrong, late, or missing, the consequences are serious — especially for freeholders seeking to recover costs.
This legal framework is unforgiving. But we make it manageable.
How Julie West Solicitors Protects You
For Freeholders, RMCs, RTMs & Managing Agents
Ensuring you meet statutory deadlines for Landlord’s Certificates
Assessing whether defects are legally “relevant”
Advising on when remediation costs can — or cannot — be passed on
Preparing compliant leases, variations, extensions and surrender and regrant documentation
Protecting your ability to recover costs where lawfully permitted
For Leaseholders
Determining whether your lease is qualifying — and proving it
Completing your Leaseholder Deed of Certificate correctly
Challenging unlawful service charge demands
Supporting sales, purchases and remortgages in affected buildings
Advising shared ownership leaseholders on extending leases without losing protections
Why Clients Instruct Julie West Solicitors
Deep expertise in a highly specialised area of law
Clear, fast, commercially focused advice
Full understanding of both freeholder and leaseholder pressures
Proven track record with deeds, certifications, variations and HMLR applications
Boutique service with City firm legal precision
In a Legally Complex Regime, Certainty Matters
The Building Safety Act is not optional.
It demands accuracy, evidence and decisive legal compliance.
We make sure you get it right — first time.
Julie West Solicitors is pleased to assist with all aspects of residential and commercial property, wills, trusts, probate and lasting powers of attorney:
To start a conversation with your solicitor phone us on 01372 383273 or complete our online enquiry form.
Conveyancing solicitor Talat Naveed