Policy
What is a flat? Smith & Dennis v Jafton in a nutshell
So now we know when a house is not a "house" (more on last year's Hosebay ruling here), what then constitutes a "flat" in the eyes of the law? Following this week's landmark decision in the complex case …
Redressing the Balance: New rules for letting agents are “step in the right direction”
Tenants will soon receive a right to challenge "rogue" lettings agents, with the government today demanding that all agents sign up to an approved redress scheme
One million property transactions forecast for this year – Ernst & Young
George Osborne's plan to get the housing market moving seems to actually be working
Owner-occupiers to be exempt from CIL as new consultation opens
The Government has launched a new consultation into the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), confirming that it is "committed to the levy and to ensuring that it is workable and effective" whilst accepting…
Defra announces Ash Dieback crackdown
DEFRA has launched a £1.5m scheme to crack down on Ash Dieback (Chalara).
Shaking the boughs of the property tree
As Lonres releases its Spring Residential Review, William Carrington urges the government to be careful of playing fast and loose with the property industry...
RBKC to hold basement Q&A
Just a quick update on the ongoing basement saga in RBKC; Kensington & Chelsea Council will be holding a Q&A session on the second draft of its Basement Policy on 8th April
Extension extension plans will still go ahead, despite Lords defeat
The House of Lords' rejection of coalition plans to allow double-size planning-free extensions to properties for three years will not, according to the Government, change anything
NPPF goes live after 12 months in the pipeline
A year after it was published, and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) properly comes into force today. The guiding force of the document is a "presumption in favour of sustainable development
Boles’s plans to lift planning restrictions are a “war on the countryside” – Telegraph
The Budget's hints of relaxed planning regulations, the temporary office-to-resi permitted development right and the impending NPFF are just the beginning of a developers' free-for-all and a war on the…
Buyers and Cellars: Deep thoughts on RBKC mega-basement plans
As the Royal Borough announces new planning guidelines, we asked four of the area's top buying agents for their take on "iceberg houses"..
Required Reading: The Budget 2013 for HNWs
What does today's Budget mean for HNWs? Mishcon de Reya break it down to give the skinny on tax implications for the wealthy