Blog archive

You may have read our recent blog (click here if you missed it) regarding the new regulations for private landlords granting Assured Shorthold Tenancies (‘ASTs’), which provide that a landlord’s (section 21) notice to quit is invalid unless the landlord has given the tenant 3 documents prior to the grant of the tenancy...

The recent Supreme Court decision of Arnold v Britton highlights the dangers of harsh drafting in service charge clauses.  The Supreme Court upheld a decision that enforced a fixed service charge with annual compounded increases of 10%...

“…disputes between neighbours tend always to compel…. some unreasonable and extravagant behaviour which profits no one but the lawyers.” Lord Justice Ward, Court of Appeal...

On 3 June 2015 the first reading of the Chancel Repairs Bill 2015 took place in the House of Lords. Lord Avebury’s Private Members’ Bill to abolish chancel repair liability in England takes substantially the same form as the Bill debated earlier this year...

When contemplating a new development, due diligence is invaluable. From enquiries of utility providers, to the potential for the unexpected, a prudent developer will try to deal with as many ‘nasties’ as possible at the outset...

Riverside sites have obvious attractions for developers – properties with river views are highly desirable and command significant premiums. However there are special considerations to be taken into account when developing land which adjoins a river (known legally as “riparian land”)...

Beware if drafting a sale contract with a conditional completion date: the Courts adopt a strict interpretation of conditional contracts...

The recent case of Bennett v Winterburn [2015], considered whether a landowner can display a sign prohibiting use of its land in order to prevent an adjoining landowner from acquiring a prescriptive easement...

Regarded by many as the second city, rebranded as the northern powerhouse and with Devo Manc becoming a reality optimism is high in the Manchester real estate market...

“Boilerplate clause” is a term applied to standard clauses found in commercial and consumer contracts to provide for commonly encountered events. They do not relate to the substantive parts of the contract but are necessary to make it work and regulate the performance of the contract...

The decision in Caddick and another v Whitsand Bay Holiday Park Ltd (2015) gives useful guidance on the factors to consider when determining whether a holiday park home (or other structure) is a building or a chattel...

A recent case, R (Joicey) v Northumberland County Council, is a reminder of the information that should be made available to the public in applications involving wind turbines and the meaning of ‘financial involvement’...