Blog
The End of Leasehold Flats? A Breakdown of the Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Bill
Úna Campbell
22 July 2024
King's Speech: if you build it, growth will come
The new Labour government's decision to feature plans to ‘get Britain building again’ as one of its first announcements upon taking office highlights both the severity of the housing crisis it has inherited and the crucial role property development will play in its strategy to encourage investment and stimulate economic growth. Whether it is house building, onshore wind farms or data centres, early signs suggest that Labour will facilitate a raft of property-based activity that aims to provide a sustainable solution to the housing crisis, secure economic growth and (perhaps less importantly) keep Real Estate lawyers busy in the coming years.
12 July 2024
Cladding and building remediation costs under the new Labour Government
Whilst the housebuilding side of Angela Rayner's new role of Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has garnered headlines in the first week of the new Labour Government, changes to section 117 of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024, which are due to take effect on 24 July 2024, may bring the issue of cladding and building remediation costs to the top of her inbox sooner than she may have expected.
2 July 2024
How to sell your BNG units
The Biodiversity Net Gain requires developers to improve the biodiversity of each habitat category on their development site by 10% above the pre-development biodiversity levels and to maintain this for at least 30 years. The Biodiversity Net Gain requires developers to improve the biodiversity of each habitat category on their development site by 10% above the pre-development biodiversity levels and to maintain this for at least 30 years. If developers cannot achieve the BNG through enhancing, creating, or restoring the habitat on their development site they can purchase off-site biodiversity units from land managers who will enhance, create, and restore the habitat on their land for at least 30 years. For more information on the biodiversity net gain, what biodiversity units and credits are and how they work, and what developers need to achieve see our previous article here.
1 July 2024
General election: The key property pledges
The last general election seems a lifetime ago and after a turbulent few years, a global pandemic, an economic crash, three conservative prime ministers and an ageing lettuce, the 4 July 2024 election is upon us and forecasters predict that change is likely. Whilst topics such as the NHS and the economy have taken centre stage, there have been a number of property pledges and housing targets proposed across the parties. Here we seek to cut through the manifesto jargon and highlight the key themes of housing policies from the Labour Party, Conservative party, Liberal Democrats and the Green party.
10 June 2024
How to maintain privacy & confidentiality when buying, selling or improving a prime residence
For those buying, selling or carrying out improvement works on a prime residence, it can be very important to maintain privacy and confidentiality, particularly if you already have a public profile. Fortunately, there are a range of possible steps that can be taken.
