One of the effects of the recent economic climate has been an increase in the number of tenants going into liquidation. Consequently, many landlords have found themselves on the receiving end of a notice of disclaimer from liquidators relating to their property. Responsibility for business rates on an empty property Read more…
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has recently published a statutory consultation on amending the regulatory framework for social housing in England in order to protect social housing assets. The consultation proposals include: Changes to the Governance and Financial Viability Standard to ensure that registered providers effectively manage their businesses Read more…
The Housing (Right to Buy) (Limit on Discount) (England) Order 2014 (SI 2014/1378) (Order) comes into force on 21 July 2014. The Order increases the cap on the discount available to people wishing exercise their right to buy a dwelling-house under Part V of the Housing Act 1985. The caps, Read more…
In this month’s Commercial Property update Max Marrison looks at the future of turnover rent leases. Turnover rents are common in the retail sector and enable landlords and tenants to share the risk and reward of a tenant’s business. A turnover rent arrangement usually involves the tenant paying a base Read more…
In a recent case the Court of Appeal considered whether the tenant that exercised a break clause in a lease should be refunded rent for the period after the break date. In Marks and Spencer plc v BNP Paribas Securities Services Trust Company (Jersey) Ltd and another the tenant had Read more…
Building regulations apply to “building work” and includes: The erection or extension of a building Some installations The internal alteration of a building Work required where there is a material change of use to the whole of the building Inserting installation into a cavity wall Underpinning a building Work required Read more…
In April’s business briefing we explain what a tenancy deposit scheme (TDS) is and what a landlord’s obligations are under a TDS. What is a tenancy deposit scheme? A landlord under an assured shorthold tenancy (AST) must protect a tenant’s deposit by using an authorised tenancy deposit scheme (TDS) operated Read more…
This month’s commercial property update highlights the practical issues that a tenant should consider when exercising a break clause in a commercial lease. What is a break clause? A break clause can be included in a fixed-term lease allowing either the tenant or landlord to terminate the lease early. Exercising Read more…
In this month’s property update we look at the potential penalties and other implications for a business if it breaches environmental legislation. Understanding the regulator’s approach to the enforcement and prosecution of environmental offences should enable businesses to minimise their risk of being prosecuted. It should also help: Reduce the Read more…
This month’s Commercial Property update looks at the key features of the law that governs work on a party wall. It summarises the steps for existing walls, new walls and excavation works. It also explains the consequences of failing to follow the correct procedures. What is a party wall? The Read more…