When I was a kid, I really wanted to be an actress. I loved watching TV and thought it was all so glamorous. I wanted to be part of that world. I have always been quite chatty and expressive. However, it was clear that having money and contacts helped. I come from a Pakistani immigrant working-class family so I decided that Hollywood was probably a stretch.
My sights shifted. I wanted to become a lawyer, a barrister. I was drawn to the idea of helping people and advocating on their behalf. It was hopefully a career choice that would play to my strengths. There was an element of drama as well. One of my favourite TV programmes during my university and bar school days was This Life [pictured]. It focused on a group of solicitors who lived together in London. The show was gritty and exciting. Their lives were full of passion.
I had never really thought about residential property as being an area I was passionate about. My initial plan was to become a barrister specialising in criminal defence. I sort of fell into residential property.
When I finished bar school, my mother suggested I should get a full-time job. Although I had worked part-time since I was a kid, a full-time role was both scary and exciting. I secured a role as a legal adviser for the Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE). I did not know anything about home ownership. I still lived at home. They really should teach you about what it means to own a leasehold property when you are at school or university. I did property law at university as part of my law degree. However, it did not cover the practicalities of home ownership.
There has been much heated debate about leasehold reform. For a long time, there has been disillusionment with leasehold as a form of ownership. Why do I need to pay a service charge? Why does a freeholder have control over my building? Why is my ground rent so high? Why do I need to pay my freeholder to extend my lease when I already paid to purchase the flat? These are just some of the questions we hear.
I spent 14 years at LEASE. We used to advise everyone on residential leasehold matters. They only advise leaseholders these days. This advice is given mainly over the telephone, or face to face, or through written enquiries. I was a manager for over half my time there. I enjoyed various elements of the role, particularly travelling to various parts of England and Wales to speak to leaseholders, make presentations, or give one-to-one sessions. We advised on various issues, ranging from service charges, lease extensions, freehold purchase, right to manage, to the right of first refusal. It was a brilliant place to learn about this area. You really did live and breathe leasehold.
We also attended many MP surgeries to help constituents with their issues. These issues we still see, including high service charge bills and disputes.
I have spoken at various events about my own story, the importance of authenticity, being proud of your roots, and being aware of the support that is available. I am a mentor with Strive Mentoring. It has been a valuable experience working with young adults on the start of their journey into law. I wish that I had had more support and networks around me when I started out.
Being in law can be busy and stressful which is why focusing on wellbeing is a top priority for me. I do not always get it right, but I will take the wins. I qualified as a yoga teacher in 2017 and am lucky enough to teach colleagues here. It is great for me. I focus on myself and feel grounded. I usually bring some breathing exercises into my classes because it is so good for stress.
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