The Immigration Act 2014 governs the ‘Right to Rent’ across the private sector in England.  All landlords have a responsibility to verify the immigration status of prospective tenants.  Failure to comply with the Right to Rent regulations can result in severe civil penalties imposed on landlords who are found to have tenants residing in their properties without the legal right to rent ..read more

This blog was first published by PrimeResi on 12 March 2024. In light of recent economic conditions, there have been an increasing number of high-end properties, in London and across the country, being sold by receivers. Properties being sold by receivers can pose an interesting opportunity for buyers as they are often sold at a competitive price and the receivers will want to deal with any sale quickly. But what are the risks of purchasing a property from a receiver and can they be alleviated in any way ..read more

In the Spring Budget, the Chancellor announced that from 1 April 2024, business premises must be re-occupied for at least 13 weeks rather than 6 weeks in order to qualify for a further period of empty rates relief when that period of occupation ends ..read more

If you have been able to safely make your way through the minefield of the possibilities of being de-banked, finding yourself the subject of probing questions by the NCA, or having your assets frozen (and if any of those happens then you should really be speaking to our criminal team) then you might be wondering whether you are able to use your profits to invest in a much less volatile and more traditional asset – a property. In theory, yes you can, but not all conveyancers will be prepared to take receipt of your funds for fear that those funds could be directly or indirectly the proceeds of ..read more

For those buying, selling or carrying out improvement works on a prime residence, it can be very important to maintain privacy and confidentiality, particularly if you already have a public profile. Fortunately, there are a range of possible steps that can be taken ..read more

In this comprehensive guide to negotiating a commercial property lease in the UK, property lawyer Matthew Copeland and commercial property estate agent James Forster, provide invaluable insights into the crucial document known as "heads of terms." With their combined expertise, they shed light on the key considerations that landlords and tenants must address before finalising a lease agreement ..read more

If you are looking to invest in the English property market, there are a number of factors for you to consider.  ..read more

Since the advent of COVID-19 and the explosion of hybrid working, co-working has been praised as an innovative disrupter to the real estate market. However, does co-working really offer a viable alternative to the traditional office or is it simply too good to be true?  We seek to unpack some of the key considerations which you should bear in mind when deciding whether co-working is the right fit for your business or if a traditional office space would be a better solution ..read more

In March 2023, the Department for Levelling Up, House and Communities announced that it had commissioned a Law Commission review of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 (“the LTA 1954”). The general mood music of the industry towards the current the LTA 1954 appears to be that while most consider that the Act strikes a fair balance between landlords and tenants, it needs to be “quicker, clearer and simpler”  to function effectively in an unpredictable economy.  ..read more

The Renters Reform Bill threatens the creation of a new landlord database, exposing those landlords who may have (perhaps inadvertently) incorrectly handled their tax affairs ..read more