In Moore v National Westminster Bank [2018] the bank was liable for breach of contract for failing to provide a Home Buyer’s Report to the borrowers and the borrowers were awarded damages based on the costs of the required repairs to the property. In the above case, the borrowers requested a Home Buyers Report in [...]
An increasing number of buyers who have recently purchased residential properties are being contacted by firms claiming that SDLT can be reclaimed. This is often supposedly on the basis that the properties that the buyers have purchased qualify for Multiple Dwellings Relief (“MDR”). While claiming MDR will be suitable for some purchases, there are other [...]
A break clause or break option serves the function of allowing one or both of the parties to bring the term of a lease to an end prematurely. Whilst not all landlords will be willing to give a tenant the option of terminating the lease early, a break clause is seen as beneficial by many [...]
Jeremy Pow Most leases of commercial premises oblige the landlord to insure the building against a specified list of insurable risks, usually including fire, explosion, storm and so forth, subject to cover for such risks being available upon reasonable terms in the insurance market. The examples of such risks which can be subject to [...]
If you are not married or in a civil partnership and have chosen to move in with your partner, it is advisable to enter into a Cohabitation Agreement. The number of unmarried couples has doubled since the mid 1990’s but the legal status in unchanged. Many unmarried couples mistakenly believe that if they are [...]
On 1 April 2018, the new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) came into force as part of the Government’s initiative to reduce CO2 emissions. It introduces a new minimum standard for the renting of commercial property. The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) which sets out the energy efficiency rating of a property must contain a rating [...]
Following their earlier consultation exercise, the Government has confirmed the intention to proceed with the world’s first public register which will require overseas companies buying UK property to disclose who the ultimate owners of the companies/properties are. The intention is that draft legislation will be published this summer and the register will go live in [...]
If you are a professional landlord, own a buy to let property or are looking to rent out your home for a period of time you must be aware of Tenancy Deposit Schemes (TDSs) and have your arrangements in place before the assured shorthold tenancy (AST) commences and you accept a deposit. What is a [...]
Our Head of Property, Thom Wilkinson, is a member of the Law Society’s Conveyancing and Land Law Committee, and his article, ‘Breathing Room’, which deals with the extended opening hours of the CHAPS payment system, was included in the June edition of Property in Practice magazine. The magazine is only available to members of the [...]
Michelle Goodrum recently attended a residential conveyancing roundtable at the Law Society to discuss issues such as market conditions, different models of conveyancing, the role of technology in conveyancing and institutions shaping the conveyancing process. The roundtable is featured in the Law Society Gazette:- Click Here for the article.