MY SISTER IS HAPPY.
As the owner of a flat – a unit within a block of six similar properties – she’s been able to make changes to her own accommodation, so it now looks just the way she wants it to look.
She and her neighbours have a lot less agency when it comes to the communal areas of the building, including the roof and shared garden spaces.
That’s because those are currently owned by a third-party landlord. And the leaseholders have to jump through hoops to get the landlord to make changes.
But now, the law itself is shifting.
“Leasehold flats ban beginning of the end for ‘feudal’ system”, shrieked Property Industry Eye on Monday 3 March. The headline echoed what housing minister Matthew Pennycook said when announcing the changes that the government had promised in its manifesto.
Oxford Dictionary’s word of 2025?
Commonhold – the term for a system that gives more power to the people who actually own the individual flats within a block – looks set to become a buzzword in 2025, at least among those in the property game. This year at least, that will likely include people who have already bought or plan to buy a flat or similar property.
Photo: Spick Brick Pics
Sales on the move in property market
The change could also be good news for the property market in general. After all, flats are often more affordable than houses. For example, there’s a nice looking two-bedroom flat on the market near me for £140,000. Looking on Rightmove, you’d need to find another £100,000+ to buy a two-bedroom house in the same area. Flats becoming desirable to more people could turbocharge the housing market.
Seniors up for a move down
It’s also good news for older people in particular who want to downsize from their current house into a property in a shared block. Some of those freeholders will have been reluctant to move, put off by what Matthew Pennycook describes as a ‘feudal’ leasehold system.
My sister is not the only one who’s pleased with the news. Cath Williams, co-founder of the National Leasehold Campaign, also sounds delighted.
The Property Industry Eye article quotes her as saying:
“This is a really positive move that promises to reshape the landscape of flat ownership in the UK for the better.”
Photo: Spick Brick Pics
Of course, if you’re flogging flats to a new group of people who suddenly have the luxury of choice, you’ll want to present them in the best possible light.
Focus on flats
With that in mind, here’s a few things to consider when photographing such spaces:
Try a tripod. There’s often less available light in flats because some rooms don’t have windows, corridors are often long and ceilings tend to be lower than in houses. The lower the light, the more important a tripod becomes to keep the camera steady during the longer exposure that’s needed.
Zoom in on details. Flats tend to have fewer rooms than houses. So, take time to capture any interesting details so you have a range of shots to show interested parties. Windows in older buildings in particular can be really striking. And, if there’s a good view out of those windows, it’s also worth including those when shooting flats.
Get down on it. Crouching to shoot (or lowering your tripod) alters the perspective, making the space appear bigger in the final image. This is really useful, especially when you want to maximise the space in a smaller unit.
Stand back. Move away from the building. You want to get the whole block in, if possible. You may also be able to include interesting features around the flats themselves. It’s common in photojournalism to include moving people and cars in these types of shots, as I have here. Experiment. You might enjoy standing out from your competitors with a different selection of shots.
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Of course, if all that sounds like a bit too much faff for you while you’re busy getting more flats onto the market, I can do it on your behalf.
Please drop me a line if you have any questions. I’d be happy to chat to you about capturing properties in the best possible light.
Let’s create content with even more kerb appeal.
– Lucas
All photos: Spick Brick Pics