It was great to see lots of familiar faces at Property Week’s 2018 Student Accommodation Conference. There was a packed agenda with four different “streams” to choose from – and smart tech talks in the coffee breaks. So what did I learn? Here are my top ten nuggets of information:
The government is currently consulting on proposed changes to the UK Electronic Communications Code (the “Code“), to make it easier for Code operators to access premises to install digital infrastructure enabling full fibre, gigabit-capable connections for the benefit of tenants. The consultation closes on 21 December 2018 and a link to the consultation Read More
What does enfranchisement actually mean and what’s wrong with the current regime? Enfranchisement is the process by which people who own property on a long lease may extend the lease, or buy the freehold. The procedure for doing so is not, however, universally popular. Leaseholders argue that it is complex and expensive, leading to unnecessary Read More
Tasked with reinvigorating commonhold, the Law Commission has published a consultation on its proposals to make commonhold a workable alternative to leasehold, for both existing and new homes.
Dead duck?
As previously blogged, commonhold was introduced in 2002 and was heralded as a new form of property ownership that would address the difficulties faced Read More
The Court of Appeal has sent a firm message to developers who seek to cut corners by knowingly breaching restrictive covenants. A recent decision means that 13 units of social housing, constructed on land on which building was prohibited, may now need to be torn down.
What happened?
Millgate was a developer that owned land Read More
The short answer is nothing. The Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme implements an EU Energy Efficiency Directive and is all set to continue after Brexit on the same basis as before. Draft regulations were published on Thursday 22 November 2018 to make some changes to the current ESOS Regulations once Brexit happens, but this is to Read More
Following the Court of Appeal decision in Network Rail Infrastructure Limited v Williams and Waistell, Parliament is digging deeper to untangle the effect of Japanese knotweed on the built environment. The Science and Technology Commons Select Committee has been tasked with ensuring that Government decisions and policies are underpinned by good scientific foundations and Read More
The Supreme Court has handed down its judgment in the case of S Franses Limited v The Cavendish Hotel (London) Ltd in the most important 1954 Act case for decades. The Court’s decision clarifies the nature of the ‘intention’ which a landlord must have in order to oppose a tenant’s right to renew its tenancy Read More
The demand for electric cars is rising. In 2011, only 1,000 electric vehicles were sold in the UK. In 2018, this number increased to 485,000, with a new electric vehicle being registered with the DVLA every 3.6 seconds, and whilst only 3-4% of all vehicles are now plug in, this figure is expected to be Read More