Legal
On Leasehold Reform: A brief history and next steps
Reforming the leasehold system has been moving rapidly up the government’s agenda, and whilst welcomed by the domestic leasehold owners and tenants, the vast range of proposals are causing some concern…
Urban commons are under siege in the age of austerity – here’s how to protect them
The UK’s surviving urban commons are precious green spaces, says law professor Christopher Rodgers, but the laws that protect them are confusing, complicated and in some cases outdated...
Beyond Capital Appreciation: What are Asian investors looking for in post-boom London?
Lawyer Chris Myers explains why capital appreciation and rental yields are no longer the only considerations for investors looking to buy in the UK capital - 'value-add' is now a fundamental part of the…
London estate agency fined £80k for data security breach
The Information Commissioner’s Office has fined estate agency firm Life at Parliament View Ltd, after thousands of customers' personal details - including bank statements and passport copies - were…
High Court strikes out £1.5bn Candy lawsuit
Judge dismisses 'remarkable' action brought by businessman Michael Brown
A ‘sophisticated gang of fraudsters’ is targeting luxury rental flats in London
Estate agents tell of fraudulent tenants targeting luxury rental homes in London, while Benham & Reeves has flagged a 117% "surge in fake applications" in the wake of the recently-enacted Tenant Fee Act…
‘Dramatic’ CGT change could impact the resi market, warns law firm
Second home owners, landlords and property investors will have much less time to pay their tax bills as of April next year, notes Royds Withy King, and many may well be tempted to offload any surplus…
Airbnbs & Graces: A practical guide to short-term letting for luxury property owners
As short-term accommodation phenomenon AirBnB rolls out its 'Luxe' division, targeting the very top-end of the international property market, lawyer Laura Kearns flags up the key obligations, processes…
‘Thousands’ of UK landlords & developers could seek SDLT rebates in wake of landmark case
The ruling handed down in P N Bewley Ltd and HMRC 'could have major implications for the UK housing market'
Gateley makes senior resi development hire
Moore Batch's Charles Cantoni joins law firm with the biggest specialist resi development team in the UK
Four Berkshire estate agents accused of illegally fixing fees
The alleged price-fixing cartel operated for almost seven years from 2008, says the Competition & Markets Authority
NCA slaps Unexplained Wealth Orders on three prime London properties worth £80m
Investigators are looking into how the acquisitions of three high-value homes were funded, suspecting a link to a politically exposed person believed to be involved in serious crime