By Evveline Loh A landmark case has just been handed down on 1st March 2023 by the Supreme Court in the case of Rakusen (Respondent) v Jepsen and others (Appellants). This has been a long awaited decision as it has now been ruled that for rent-to-rent arrangements, tenants are not allowed to seek redress […]
Tag Archives: Conveyancing
How to end a commercial property lease early
No matter how long it takes, it’s inevitable that at some point either a tenant or landlord will wish to end a commercial property lease. This can come either at the end of the lease period, or indeed, earlier than this point. If you would like legal advice when it comes to ending a commercial […]
Does a takeaway shop’s proximity entitle a holiday property owner to private nuisance damages?
As summer comes to an end, the number of people who go on holiday to take a break from the hustle and bustle of their daily working lives grinds to a halt for another year. Thanks to the internet, it’s now much easier to find out extensive details about a place before we book it, […]
Company administrators cleared of breach of duty despite deficiency during sale of properties
By Yitong Guo Today’s article comes from one of our solicitors, Yitong Guo, who specialises in property law. The article is about a dismissal application in the Chancery Division of the High Court concerning allegations of breach of duty by company administrators in relation to two companies (“the Companies”) whose business involved the […]
Plans to shake up private rented sector announced
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has announced a spate of planned reforms to private renting in its new White Paper, dubbed ‘a fairer private rented sector’. It claims that this will offer a “fairer deal” for the 13 million renters in the United Kingdom, as well as ‘fundamentally reforming the private rented […]
Lisa’s Law paralegal qualifies as a licensed conveyancer
We are delighted to announce that paralegal, Michael Hsiesh, who has been with Lisa’s Law since May 2018, has completed his qualifications and is now qualified as a licensed conveyancer by the Council for Licensed Conveyancing. Michael’s new title is Licensed Conveyancer Immigration Paralegal. In addition to his conveyancing responsibilities, Michael also handles a […]
Multiple Dwellings Relief denied in recent case! When is it an option for buyers?
Anyone who has been fortunate enough to purchase a second property of their own, or even those who know someone else who has done so, are likely to have heard of Stamp Duty Land Tax. Usually, this tax will have been spoken about in negative terms, as an additional cost that is sometimes left unbudgeted […]
How to move homes under the current Unlocking 3.0?
Moving home has been possible during lockdown, but the moves have happened within rules that have been changing as we gradually take steps towards normality. As we move forward into Step 3 of the roadmap out of lockdown, where more social contact is permitted in certain situations, the government have once again updated the guidance […]
Protection for renters remains, but notice period is cut to 4 months
Over the course of the pandemic, the government has brought in many polices and guidelines in order to protect UK residents. One such measure was a ban on evictions, whereby renters could rest assured that they would not be made homeless during the COVID-19 outbreak. This was a very positive policy which benefitted many people. […]
Buying a Property at Auction – Risks and Rewards from a Legal Perspective
Buying a property can be a daunting process and is likely to be the most expensive purchase a person will make in their lifetime. The most common way to buy a property is through an estate agent, but some people choose to go through auctions instead. In this article we will examine the differences between […]
How can I move home safely during Lockdown 3.0?
The latest lockdown restrictions have had a massive effect on everyone’s life and will have many feeling like cooped up chickens. What may come as a bit of a surprise is the fact that it is still legal to ‘fly the coop’ so to speak, that is, move home. House viewings can still take […]
Working from home renders many commercial buildings empty, but how can they be used otherwise? Consultations on development rights have begun!
Working from home has become a normal part of life due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Some will have taken to it better than others, appreciating the lack of commute or the morning rush. However, for many it is a significant challenge, having much less social interactions, being unable to meet with clients and feeling cooped […]
Restraint of trade – out with the old, in with the new
Written by Salina Lim. In the recent case, Peninsula Securities Ltd v Dunnes Stores (Bangor) Ltd [2020] UKSC 36, the Supreme Court has shed light on the law and questions posed in respect of contractual restraints which restrain the use of the land. On 19 August 2020, in the case of Peninsula […]
Can you discharge or modify the Restrictive covenant, easement / right that is affecting your land?
Written by Jessie Cheow. Creebray Ltd v Deninson and another [2020] UKUT 262 (LC) – Unsuccessful application to modify or discharge covenant. Background The applicant company, the registered proprietor of a vacant plot of land (Oldways) applied to discharge or modify a restrictive covenant pursuant to section 84 of the Law […]
High Court: GAGAs can be enforced!
To enter into a commercial lease, one of the requirements of a landlord giving their consent to assign the lease will normally be that the original tenant agrees to enter into an “authorised guarantee agreement”, or (AGA) with the landlord to guarantee the incoming tenant’s liabilities for the lease. When the incoming tenant fails […]
Eviction Ban Now Over, Igniting Fresh Worry For Renters – But What Options Are Available?
The ban on evictions, which gave renting tenants some much needed breathing room during the lockdown period, has now been lifted meaning proceedings will be going to court for the first time since March. In England, Wales and Scotland, landlords must give six months’ notice of eviction, which has increased from two months before […]
Lockdown divorce rates are sky high…and their affect on the property market is HUGE
Being in lockdown has been hard on all of us, but it has been even worse for couples who were already questioning the lifespan of their marriage. With the current rules keeping everyone cooped up at home, it can intensify an already volatile relationship. Divorce rates since lockdown have seen a significant rise, and […]
Lowest rate of property transactions for over a decade! But how can you benefit?
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) presents monthly estimates of residential and non -residential property transactions in the UK and its constituent countries. With the world so affected by the COVID-19 outbreak at the moment, we can tell by the recent reports that purchases are on a massive downward trend. The Figures presented in […]
Renters Let off Unfeasible Fees!
A ban on letting agents and landlords charging their tenants extortionate fees was extended to all renters from 1st June 2020. On 1st June 2019, many fees were banned for people taking on new tenancy agreements. This is known as the Tenant Fees Act 2019, and has now been extended to all renters in […]
Mortgage Lenders Introduce New Policies for More Flexible Routes for Buyers
The property market has been hit hard by the coronavirus crisis, but now mortgage lenders are beginning to introduce new measures to make things easier for people looking to buy or sell during this tough time. The aim is to reduce the amount of disruption caused to such transactions by COVID-19 in the coming months. […]
Moving house is possible once again – but how will it work with social distancing rules?
England’s property market will reopen from today with estate agents getting the green light from the government to start operating again. Conveyancers and removals firms can also start operations again, and buyers and renters will be able to complete purchases and view properties in person. Surveyors are also allowed to enter homes to complete […]
Building Success from Disaster: Tomorrow belongs to the prepared
When the coronavirus struck and Boris Johnson placed the UK on lock-down on 23 March 2020, the UK’s housing market was left in total turmoil and potential sellers and buyers in the lurch. Current government advice states that house viewings should be avoided. Recent guidelines issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local […]
Coronavirus and the housing market – is it best to hold fire on moving home?
Whether it’s buying your first home, moving to a new location or selling a property that you’ve wanted to get rid of for years, navigating the property market can be a massively stressful and financially significant experience. With the added complications of the coronavirus, this process is now even more challenging; many people have […]
Subletting Chaos – what could go wrong without a landlord’s permission?
Like all areas of business, things do not always go to plan in the world of conveyancing. It is always important to know exactly what you are getting into, and what type of people you are dealing with before even thinking about entering into a contractual agreement. This isn’t always as easy as it […]
