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Powers of Attorney & Living Wills

Powers of Attorney & Living Wills

Power of Attorney & Living Wills

When someone loses the capacity to deal with their own affairs, it can be very distressing for them and those closest to them. If those closest are unable to assist because they have no legal authority to act, it can only add to the strain. In such a case, an application will need to be filed with the Court of Protection so that an appropriate order is obtained. The process involved is lengthy and will come at a considerable expense.

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Lasting Powers of Attorneys

Property & Affairs Lasting Power of Attorney.

Power is given to the attorney(s) so that decisions can be made about one’s property and financial affairs.

To make a Lasting Power of Attorney is a complicated and lengthy process and it must adopt a strict legal format. Once this document has been signed by everyone concerned, it must be sent off to the Office of Public Guardian for registration, otherwise, the attorney has no authority to act.

Enduring Powers of Attorney

Personal Welfare Lasting Power of Attorney.

Power is given to the attorney(s) so that decisions can be made about one’s healthcare and personal welfare. These decisions can only be taken if he or she lacks mental capacity, and may include decisions on whether to accept or refuse ‘life sustaining treatment’.

Enduring Powers of Attorneys were available up to the 1st October 2007, when they were replaced by Lasting Power of Attorneys. Enduring Powers of Attorneys made before this date remain valid but if your loved one has lost mental capacity, then the appointed attorney(s) will need to apply to the Office of the Public Guardian and register the Enduring Power of Attorney.

Living Wills

A Living Will is a legal document which sets out in clear terms what medical treatment you would or would not wish to receive if you ever became incapacitated. This document does not allow you to appoint others to make such decisions on your behalf. It is strongly recommended that you provide your GP with a copy of your Living Will so that it is placed alongside your medical records.

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Legal Updates

Landlords attempt to defeat right to manage claim fails - Brickfield Properties Ltd v Oakwood Court Blocks 9 & 10 RTM Company Ltd [2026] UKUT 133 (LC)

In Brickfield Properties Ltd v Oakwood Court Blocks 9 & 10 RTM Company Ltd [2026] UKUT 133 (LC), the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) has provided welcome clarity on one of the more technical hurdles in multi-block Right to Manage (RTM) claims: whether services can be said to be “independent” for the purposes of section 72(4) of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002.

The right to manage is often perceived to be a low-cost alternative to acquiring the freehold collectively by participating flat owners.

Deferment Rate Challenge

The deferment rate is relevant to residential leaseholders whether they are a house owner seeking their freehold, a flat owner seeking a longer lease of their flat or the freehold to their building acting in concert with other flat owners.

Government consults on banning new leasehold flats, ground rent cap, and transition to commonhold

The Government has now opened a consultation in this regard titled “Moving to commonhold: banning leasehold for new flats”.

The consultation forms part of the next phase of leasehold reform and sits alongside the ongoing implementation of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 (‘The 2024 Act’) and the recently published draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill (‘The Bill’).

This seeks opinions from leaseholders, landlords and managing agents about how the Bill’s proposed ban on new residential leaseholds should be implemented in practice.