Legal
Soil & Trouble: Subterranean Development & The Law
Icebergs; Mega-basements; Batcaves; There's no shortage of shouty opinions on London's basement bonanza.
Call To Farms: Buying and developing agricultural land for residential use
We all know it's been a shrewd investment in recent years, but just how easy - or sensible - is it to buy up and develop farmland?
Tax practice overhaul for Mishcon
Mishcon de Reya is rejigging its tax offering, launching a consolidated practice to cover all aspects, from real estate and corporate tax to private tax and wealth planning, in one go.
Required Reading: UK Capital Gains tax for non-residents?
There has been recent speculation that non-residents might have to start paying UK capital gains tax (CGT) on their UK property...
Moor For Your Money: How to buy a houseboat
Offering ever-changing scenery and masses of lateral space, houseboats are looking like an increasingly attractive option for buyers priced out of bricks and mortar.
Legal Ease: “Game-changing” conveyancing portal boots up for launch
The Law Society's "game-changing" paper-free conveyancing portal is gearing up for launch, with testing due to begin in early 2014.
Pickles weighs in on rogue landlords
Eric Pickles has come down hard on "rogue landlords", publishing the first draft of the Tenants' Charter and launching a package of proposals designed to give more rights to private tenants.
ATED avoiders must disclose schemes – or be fined up to £1m
In an effort to thwart tax avoidance, HMRC is demanding that all schemes designed to get around the Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (ATED) be disclosed to them - or face a fine of up to £1 million.
LPE1 form to speed up leasehold transactions “by 5-10 days”
It's lift-off day for the new Leasehold Property Enquiries Form, or LPE1 to its friends.
Green light for Village Green development
It's now a bit easier to build on village greens, thanks to new landowner rights that came in yesterday (1st October 2013).
The Law Review: Village greens and unfair prices; constructive criticism and Planet Property
Mishcon de Reya’s round-up of the latest legal happenings in the property world.
Letting Away With It: The murky world of “secret commissions”
After a property maintenance firm claimed to "blow the whistle" this week, former lawyer Jonathan Monjack calls for an end to "secret commissions" throughout the rental sector...