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Reminder of temporary changes to late Capital Gains Tax filing penalties and SDLT holiday
CGT · On 6 April 2020, the deadlines for reporting and paying Capital Gains Tax for the disposal of UK residential property changed. · HMRC announced that between 6 April…
Read MoreHelp to Buy deadlines extended
· The government announced extra measures on 31 July 2020, in order to protect existing customers using the Help to Buy government scheme. · The deadlines for homebuyers will be…
Read MoreJenrick announces reform to England planning system
· On 21st July 2020 the Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick announced the creation of a new fast track approval process which will allow homeowners to add up to two additional…
Read MoreGovernment proposes reform of the Use Class Order
· The government has announced changes to Town Centre Use Classes, which will provide more flexibility for changes in uses without the need for planning permission as high streets and…
Read MoreLaw Commission recommendations to transform future of home ownership
• On the 21st July 2020, the Law Commission of England and Wales published recommendations for transforming home ownership in England and Wales. • These reforms could help the owners…
Read MoreChancellor Rishi Sunak confirms immediate stamp duty land tax cut
· Rishi Sunak has announced that people purchasing properties of up to £500,000 will not pay Stamp Duty Land Tax changes in order to encourage homeowners to move and to…
Read MoreRishi Sunak’s ‘mini budget’
· The chancellors announcement on the 8 July provided a series of incentives and schemes to further help struggling companies and to support the UK’s economic recovery from COVID-19. ·…
Read MoreRishi Sunak expected to announce stamp duty holiday
· Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to announce a six month stamp duty holiday on Wednesday. · Sunak’s rumoured proposal will exempt many homebuyers from paying Stamp Duty Land Tax…
Read MoreCOVID-19 (Coronavirus)
The health, wellbeing and safety of our colleagues, their families and our clients will always be our top priority. We continue to focus on measures to keep our staff safe…
Read MorePublicity and consultation requirements to be eased to help planning system operate during COVID-19
On 13 May the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (“MHCLG”) announced a series of measures to support house building during the COVID-19 pandemic, including flexible working hours to…
Read MoreThe Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill
· The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill is said to be the ‘biggest change to the UK’s insolvency and restructuring framework for almost twenty years. · In line with this,…
Read MoreTENANT FEES ACT 2019 TRANSITION PERIOD HAS NOW ENDED
· The Tenant Fees Act bans letting agents from charging letting fees and caps tenancy deposits paid by tenants in the private rented sector in England. · This ban on…
Read MoreElectrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020
· New electrical safety regulations came into force on the 1 June 2020 that will require landlords to have their properties’ electrical installations inspected and tested by qualified and competent…
Read MoreFirst details of how businesses will share cost of furloughed workers announced.
• Rishi Sunak has announced updated details of the furlough scheme, including how employers will share the cost of the wages of furloughed workers with the government. • From July,…
Read MoreCorporate Insolvency and Governance Bill introduced to help businesses during pandemic
• The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) announced the introduction of the new Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill on Wednesday 20 May. Under the Bill: • Temporary…
Read MoreUK furlough scheme extended by four months
Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that the UK Job Retention Scheme will be extended to October, an extra four months. Employers will therefore continue to receive 80% of their monthly wages,…
Read MoreSelf-Employment Income Support Scheme details released
· HMRC have now updated their guidance on the SEISS scheme. · Under the scheme, if you are eligible, a taxable grant of 80% of your average monthly trading profits…
Read MoreHelp To Buy Scheme Extension
The Government has recently confirmed it will extend its Help to Buy equity loan scheme from 2021 to 2023. The extension however will be limited to first-time buyers buying new-build properties. We act for a number…
Read MoreHousing Secretary announces government plan to re-start housing market
· The Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has announced that from 13th May anyone in England can move home, providing they follow new guidance. · More than 450,000 people have had…
Read MoreCOVID-19 – IMPACT FOR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY
Alok Sharma has announced that the government is setting out measures in order to protect High Street shops and companies who are suffering, due to coronavirus, and are under strain…
Read MoreRESIDENTIAL POSSESSION PROCEEDINGS AND THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE CORONAVIRUS 2020
The Coronavirus Act 2020 came into force on 25th March 2020. It was implemented by a Practice Direction and included provisions intended to protect both landlords and tenants during the…
Read MoreCOVID-19 – IMPACT FOR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY
Lease Forfeiture Moratorium • With business tenancies a landlord cannot forfeit a lease, by proceedings or otherwise, for non-payment of rent between 25th March 2020 and 30th June 2020. The…
Read MoreGovernment announces Bounce-back Loans Scheme
• On 27th April, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the new Bounce Back Loans scheme that will provide loans of up to £50,000 to small businesses. • The fast-track finance scheme…
Read MoreChange in deadlines for filing and paying CGT on the disposal of UK property
· From 6 April 2020, HMRC changed the deadlines for filing and paying Capital Gains Tax (CGT) for a disposal of an interest in a UK property. · The changes…
Read MoreCorporation Tax now applies to non-resident companies owning UK real estate
• From 6th April 2020, non-resident companies that own UK real estate will no longer pay income tax on their UK rental income but will instead be subject to Corporation…
Read MoreDue to Covid-19, can parties mediate by telephone?
· During the Covid-19 pandemic, it should be considered how businesses can collect aged debts or de-risk by settling disputes. · Mediation could be used to address your urgent needs,…
Read MoreThe effect of Covid-19 legislation on permitted development
· All businesses, except a small number of essential services like supermarkets and pharmacies, have been forced to close by the government because of Covid-19. · The government has temporarily…
Read MoreCOVID-19: Can my employer force me to take holiday if I can’t go anywhere?
During these uncertain times, many employees/workers will want to cancel their annual leave as they are unable to go anywhere. This may contradict the commercial needs of an organisation who…
Read MoreRestructuring your company
In this economically difficult climate, directors and shareholders may well need to undertake some kind of restructuring procedure in order to remain viable. Consider a restructuring under section 110 of…
Read MoreImplications of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK Construction Industry
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on the global economy and the construction industry is no exception. Governments around the globe have restricted movement and the UK Government has urged the…
Read MoreCOVID-19 (Coronavirus)
We are living in unprecedented times with a crisis affecting us in a way we have never before known. Our firm’s absolute priority is of course the health and wellbeing…
Read MoreEnergy efficiency is changing
From 1st April 2018 any new tenancies created in England and Wales were obliged to meet the Government’s Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES). It meant that properties which required an…
Read MoreBusiness continuity plans to be implemented in the event of closures or disruptions as result of COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
We would like to reassure clients that we have business continuity plans in place which we will implement if the guidance from the Government enforces any shutdowns or business closures…
Read MoreLiquidated Damages following Termination – Triple Point Technology Inc v PTT Public Co LTD [2019]
The Facts Triple Point Technology Inc (TPT) contracted with PTT Public Co Ltd (PTT) to provide a software system. The project was to be completed in two phases and each…
Read MoreMIPIM 2020
Alicia Pattihis, Gemma Sullivan and Sophie Maryan will be attending MIPIM, the leading real estate market conference. Please get in touch if you are interested in meeting.
Read MoreCooking up a Storm: Chaos across the globe!
Thomas Cook (founded in 1841) and being one of the oldest and well-known holiday brands has “ceased trading with immediate effect.” This note will examine the legal effect on both…
Read MoreThe value of partnering with the right legal team
Borrowers underestimate how many people need to work together for a loan to go from application to draw down. The borrower frequently has just one point of contact; the broker.…
Read MoreBudget 2018: Entrepreneurs’ Relief
In the October 2018 Budget the Chancellor announced two new changes to the definition of a personal company for Entrepreneurs’ Relief (ER). For disposals on or after 29 October 2018,…
Read MoreBudget 2018: Stamp Duty Land Tax and Housing
In the October 2018 Budget, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that stamp duty relief will be extended for first-time buyers purchasing shared equity houses of up to £500,000. This…
Read MoreRegulations in force to deal with client money protection scheme for property agents
The Client Money Protection Schemes for Property Agents (Approval and Designation of Schemes) Regulations 2018 (SI 751/2018) (CMPSPA Regulations 2018) came into force on 21 June 2018. This sought to…
Read MoreBank of England needs freedom to set tougher rules, says Mark Carney
Mark Carney, the governor of the Bank of England, told MPs that as the Bank of England must regulate the “most complex financial system in the world”, the UK must…
Read MoreSmall and medium-sized enterprises: European Parliament adopts Resolution on the definition of SMEs
The European Parliament (EP) plenary session adopted an own-initiative Resolution on the definition of SME’s. The definition of SME’s is referred to in around 100 EU legal acts. The definition…
Read MoreEquitable compensation not confined to recovery for reparation of loss (Court of Appeal)
The Court of Appeal (David Richards and Newey LJJ) has held that the phrase ‘equitable compensation’ should include payments made to restore to the claimant the value of assets or…
Read MoreEuropean Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 receives Royal Assent
The European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (EUWA) received Royal Assent on 26 June 2018. The legislative framework for the UK’s scheduled withdrawal from the EU on 29 March 2019 will…
Read MoreBankruptcy order annulled following appeal against dismissal of application and refusal to adjourn hearing on uncontested medical grounds.
The bankrupt first applied to annul his bankruptcy order during protracted bankruptcy proceedings in the county court. He then requested an adjournment of the hearing of his application on medical…
Read MoreCommercial tenant’s declaratory relief claim against landlord non-justiciable (TCC)
In Office Depot International (UK) Ltd v UBC Asset Management (UK) Ltd and others [2018] EWHC 1494 (TCC), the Technology and Construction Court (TCC) struck out a commercial tenant’s (T’s)…
Read MoreCourt rules that secure lender unreasonably withholds consent to disposal of property
In Crowther and another v Arbuthnot Latham & Co Ltd [2018] EWHC 504, the High Court determined that a secured lender had unreasonably withheld its consent to a disposal of…
Read MoreHigh court allows main contractor to claim for his loss, holding sub-contractor responsible for flooding
GB Building Solution Ltd v SFS Fire Services Ltd on 25 May 2017 saw the High Court allow the main contractor to claim for his loss, holding the sub-contractor responsible…
Read MoreCourt of appeal identifies that buildings are “indefinitely variable in character and function”
Grosvenor (Mayfair) Estate v Merix International Ventures Ltd and another [2017] EWCA Civ 190, saw the Court of Appeal’s consideration over whether or not an unoccupied property that had been…
Read MoreCollapse of foundation for large pressure test facility kills four workers
The collapse of the steel structure of the foundation for a large Pressure test Facility at Claxton Engineering Services killed four workers. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive…
Read MoreUK to become powerful, independent player in international trade
A report setting out the steps that would help the UK became a powerful, independent player in international trade was published by the Institute for Government on 17 May 2017.…
Read MoreItaly to the EU court of justice because of breach of EU motorway law
The EU Commission has decided to take Italy to the EU Court of Justice on the grounds of the breaching of EU law due to its awarding an extension of…
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