The Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that a beach in Newhaven could not be registered as a town or village green (TVG). Opponents to development have long been using the TVG route to thwart unwelcome works, as once land is registered as a TVG it is effectively sterilised for redevelopment. In order to register land
Monthly Archives: February 2015
Taxing Variations? Part Two- VAT on Lease Variations
In the second of this two part blog we look at the VAT consequences of lease variations. If either party has opted to tax the property for VAT purposes then VAT will need to be charged on any supplies treated as made by that party, but often the parties do not appreciate that there has
Taxing Variations? Part One- SDLT on Lease Variations
The reach of the tax man is long and in the context of lease variations it may also result in unexpected consequences for unwary landlords and tenants. In the first of this two part blog we outline the various SDLT implications which may arise from common lease variations. A variation to increase the rent in
MCL gathers pace
The Model Commercial Lease steering committee (of which I am part) met yesterday. The MCL is quietly gathering momentum with major real estate firms steadily reviewing and committing to support it regularly. The MCL team have had lots of feedback with many really useful suggestions. Most of those will find their way into an updated version
Who says crime doesn’t pay?
Since 1 September 2012, it has been a criminal offence to squat in residential property. However, how does this interact with the right of a squatter to claim ownership by way of adverse possession where he has been in possession of the property for the requisite 10 years but squatting has subsequently been criminalised? The
The NPPF – How is it doing?
It is nearly 3 years since the government converted hundreds of pages of planning policy into a single 50 page document, the National Planning Policy Framework, with the promotion of sustainable development at its heart. But has the NPPF made a difference? The House of Commons CLG Committee recently published its report on the operation
The Heat is On
The shockwave travelling around the property industry at the moment is that landlords of multi-let buildings who operate communal central heating systems are considered to be suppliers of heating, cooling or hot water and must comply with the Heat Network (Metering and Billing) Regulations 2014. The introduction of the Regulations is staggered so, by 20
The European Commission approves Flood Re, but more criticism rains down
Last week the European Commission approved Flood Re, the reinsurance scheme designed to ensure the availability of flood insurance for homes and small businesses at high risk of flooding. The Government sought approval from the Commission because there is a risk that the scheme could amount to a form of state aid which would confer
Hotels: Business as (un)usual
Hogan Lovells and CBRE Hotels hosted their sixth annual hotel conference on 4 February 2015 to explore how hotels are faring in the third wave of the digital revolution. Entitled “Voting with their feet: how to win guests and influence people” in this general election year, the delegates themselves had a chance to vote on
Bona Vacantia – What Does it Mean?
What is bona vacantia? Bona vacantia is one of those archaic Latin terms which crops up now and again, sometimes in the context of a property owner dying without a will and without heirs. But what exactly does it mean? It is actually Latin for “ownerless goods” and is the name given to ownerless property