In this episode of Beyond Four Walls, Jodie is joined by Mark North, Business Development Partner at Brethertons LLP.

Mark has spent over 30 years working across the property sector, starting out in estate agency and lettings before moving into the legal world. That experience gives him a rare, joined-up perspective — one that sees property transactions not just as sales, but as long-term commitments that shape people’s lives.

Together, Jodie and Mark explore why leasehold is still so poorly understood, and why many homeowners only learn what it really means once problems arise. They discuss the role estate agents can play at the point of viewing and sale, how earlier and more honest conversations could reduce conflict later on, and where responsibility truly sits within the industry.

The conversation also looks at Mark’s work at Brethertons, the types of issues he regularly sees, and how his background outside the legal profession helps him bridge the gap between lawyers, managing agents, and homeowners.

This episode is a thoughtful, practical discussion for anyone working in property — and for anyone buying a leasehold home who wants to better understand what they’re stepping into.

In this episode, we cover:

• Mark’s journey from estate agency to law
• Why leasehold confusion starts far earlier than the legal stage
• What buyers should know before making an offer
• How estate agents and lawyers could work more collaboratively
• Common misconceptions that lead to disputes later on
• What meaningful transparency in property could actually look like

You can contact Mark here - [email protected]

Thank you so much for listening to Beyond Four Walls. If you’ve been inspired by today’s conversation and you’d like to share your own story, I’d love to hear from you. You can reach me directly at [email protected] if you’d like to be a guest on the podcast.

I’d also like to say a special thank you to my podcast producer, Shirley Ludford, at Swindon 105.5 – Swindon’s award-winning community radio station. It’s run by an incredible team of volunteers who are passionate about giving a voice to the local community. You can find out more about the station at www.swindon1055.co.uk

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