The Fire Safety Bill was introduced by the Government in March 2020 as a first step towards delivering their commitment towards implementing the Phase One Report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommendations and improving cladding safety. Between July and October 2020, a 3-month governmental consultation exercise...
The Supreme Court handed down their ruling on 21st February 2021, which has wide implications for the status of privately owned land classified as a town or village green. The term ‘village green’ conjures up a beautiful area where locals walk their dogs and its...
The Current Rules On Leasehold Properties Under current rules, house leaseholders can only extend their lease once for 50-years with ground rent. Compare this to flat leaseholders who can extend as often as they wish at a ‘peppercorn’ or zero ground rent for 90 years. The...
It is a common misconception that couples who move in together under cohabitation agreements accrue certain rights similar to marriage, generally referred to as “common law marriage”. The concept of common law marriage has no legal basis or validity in England and Wales, although cohabiting...
Restrictive covenants prevent property owners from doing certain things on their land, sometimes they are present for good reason, however this is not always the case. There are situations where a restrictive covenant has become obsolete over time, those where a covenant restricts reasonable use...
With the end of national lockdown now potentially in sight, there are many who have been working from home who would like to make the move permanent or wish to start running their own business. But what are the legal implications? Do you need to inform...
Earlier this year the UK government announced planning reforms which will permit property owners to convert a wider range of commercial properties without first gaining planning permission from the local authority for a change of use. Previously, only office buildings could be converted however under the...
What is a barn conversion? Barn conversions are a transformation of an agricultural building into a habitable building for residential or commercial purposes. They are not new concepts and following a rapid decrease in farming during the 1950s alternative uses were sought for rural buildings. Converting...
If you are planning a home improvement project that affects an adjoining or shared wall or boundary with your neighbours you may need to consider issuing a party wall agreements. You will also be required to serve a party wall notice. The Party Wall Act...
What is a Conservation Area? Conservation Areas are protected and managed places with special characteristics and include buildings of architectural importance considered worthy of preservation. It is estimated that there is at least one Conservation Area for each local authority in England; with 59% rurally and...
