Landlord, Tenant and Property

  • Compensation for Loss of Light

    Following a recent case in which a dispute regarding a property owner’s right to light was unexpectedly dealt with by the granting of an injunction against a developer, a more recent case has offered guidance on how much compensation might be payable...
  • Construction Industry VAT Changes Ahead

    Businesses in the construction industry are reminded that on 1 October 2020 the new VAT domestic reverse charge will come into force. This is being introduced as an anti-fraud measure and will see a major change in accounting for VAT on some construction...
  • Landlords - Dealing With Pre-Pack Tenants

    Businesses in financial difficulties are increasingly seeking ways of ridding themselves of extra costs and, in many cases, premises let in more promising economic times are viewed as a substantial and avoidable liability, especially for businesses which...
  • Mixed Premises - Legal Status

    Living ‘above the shop’ is quite common in the small business sector and where the premises are rented, the lease will cover both the business and residential parts of the property. However, the statutory basis for repossession is quite different...
  • Options and Pre-emption Rights

    Prospective purchasers and vendors of land frequently wish to ‘lock in’ the other party to the deal and the means by which this is done will normally involve the prospective vendor either giving the prospective purchaser an option to purchase the...
  • Removing or Modifying Covenants Over Land

      Covenants over property are a potential nightmare for developers but fortunately there are circumstances in which a covenant can be removed. If the beneficiaries of the covenant for which removal is sought cannot be persuaded by...
  • Small Business Data Protection Law Compliance Checklist

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  • Stamp Duty Land Tax: Beginner's Guide

    Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is a self-assessed tax. The onus is on the taxpayer to make the necessary land transaction return, calculate the tax and pay it across. This is a fundamental change. The old Stamp Duty regime taxed documents, so it was...
  • Tenancy Deposit Protection Schemes - Rules

    If you are a landlord it is vital that you are aware of the requirement that all deposits taken by landlords and letting agents for Assured Shorthold Tenancies (AST) in England and Wales must be protected by a tenancy deposit protection scheme. There are...
  • Termination of Leases - Tips for Landlords

    When tenants seek to vacate premises, reduce the size of their premises or renegotiate their leases, problems can be created for landlords. Here are some tips for landlords to help deal with tenants when a break clause in a lease is looming: Be ready....
  • Termination of Leases - Tips for Tenants

    Disputes over break clauses in commercial leases are a continuing source of work for the courts. For tenants seeking to break their leases, here are some pointers: Make sure any notice to break the lease is issued by the right person. This may strike...
  • The Duty to Manage Asbestos - HSE Guidance

    According to statistics provided by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), asbestos is the single greatest cause of work-related deaths in the UK. Every year 1,000 people who have been involved in carrying out building maintenance and repair work die as a...
  • Understanding Options

    People who want to buy a property but do not currently have the means to do so, or who simply want to be guaranteed the opportunity to buy it during a specified period or at some future date, will often undertake an option agreement with the owner. Under...
  • When is an Environmental Impact Assessment Necessary?

    The The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999 apply to any development likely to have significant effects on the environment by virtue of its size, nature or location. If a Local Authority fails...
  • Who Pays the Rates?

    When a company that is the tenant of a property goes into liquidation, it is normal for the liquidator to disclaim the lease on the premises. Business rates must be paid by the 'person entitled to possession of the property' ( Local Government Finance Act...

Latest News

Court Ruling Underlines the Importance of Biodiversity in Planning Decisions
Under-Insured Commercial Property Occupier Wins Seven-Figure Damages
Business Use of Residential Property - Upper Tribunal Strikes the Balance
Football Club's Crowd Control Challenge to Development Kicked Into Touch
Applications for Fresh Commercial Tenancies - Court of Appeal Guidance
Quarry Owner Hit Hard in the Pocket for Causing Noise and Dust Nuisance
Retail Tenant Forced to Relocate Receives Compensation for Permanent Loss of Profit
Landlord of Converted Office Block Pays Price for Breaching Fire Safety Rules
Education Charity Overcomes Restrictive Covenant in College's Title Deeds
Outdoor Advertising, Light Pollution and a Legal Battle Over a Bus Shelter
Commercial Landlords Hit Hard in Gym Clubs' COVID-19 Restructuring
Renewal of Commercial Leases - It Can All Come Down to Judicial Discretion
Landmark Golf Course's Status as Asset of Community Value Upheld
Hard-Up Landlord's Rent Repayment Order Slashed
Property Information Forms - Inaccurate Answers Cost Developer
Assessing Development Potential is Not Just Crystal Ball Gazing
Business Interruption Insurance Disputes - Is Arbitration Obligatory?
Compulsory Purchase - What Happens if a Landowner's Identity is Unknown?
Plan to Redevelop Debenhams Department Store Receives High Court Boost
Waste Transfer Station Occupier Succeeds in Slashing Business Rates Bills
Commercial Property Owner Charged for Non-Existent Drainage Services
Council Planning Committee Fends Off 'Closed Minds' Allegation
Supreme Court Lays Down the Law on Commercial Property Service Charges
Community Football Pitch Must Make Way for Strategic Stadium Development
5G Mobile Phone Masts Can't Be Located Just Anywhere - High Court Ruling
Heritage Assets - High Court Quashes Apartment Block Planning Permission
Trespass - Judge Identifies Perpetrators of Vast Waste Dumping Operation
Property Guardianship Agreement Proves Fraught with Legal Difficulty
Cinema Operators Not Entitled to Rent Relief During COVID-19 Lockdowns
Tenant Succeeds in Modifying Use Restriction in Commercial Lease
Former Tenant of Historic Hotel Ordered to Pay Six-Figure Dilapidation Costs
Determined Developer Overcomes Agricultural Use Restriction
High Street Al Fresco Boost Via Licensing Regime Extension
Upper Tribunal Business Rates Ruling Marks High Street's Sad Decline
Flooding Nuisance - Frustrated Developer Wins Right to Compensation
Times Change and Antique Restrictive Covenants Become Obsolete
Agricultural Tenancy Dispute Raises Tricky Company Law Conundrum
Stamp Duty, Multiple Dwellings Relief and Apportionment
Upward Extension of Residential Blocks - Guideline High Court Ruling
Motor Racing Circuit Development Passes High Court Noise Test
'Hope Value' Boosts Compulsory Purchase Compensation Award
What is a 'Controversial' Planning Application? High Court Gives Guidance
Forced to Shut Your Commercial Premises During Lockdowns? Read This
Rugby Club's Expansion Plans Not Inhibited by 1922 Restrictive Covenant
Empty Cinema Blaze Triggers Landmark Court of Appeal Ruling
Companies and the Concealment of Land Ownership - High Court Ruling
Affordable Housing Shortage Proves Decisive in High Court Planning Case
The Legal Status of Property Guardians - Court of Appeal Clarifies the Law
Housing Project Survives Historic Airfield Owner's High Court Challenge
Renewal of Commercial Leases - Intention is More than Mere Contemplation
COVID-19 - Retailer Unlawfully Refused Government Financial Support