On 25 June the government issued guidance on changes to planning appeals. The aim is to simplify and speed up the planning appeal process. In 2009, the ‘expedited’ part 1 written representations process was introduced. It is a simpler process than other processes for dealing with appeals and allows the Planning Inspectorate to reach quicker, …
Continue reading “Planning appeal – changes”
The HC has heard a case that all those advising on commercial landlord and tenant matters should read. This was a landlord and tenant dispute relating to premises which form part of the Trocadero Centre (the Centre) in London. Very broadly, pursuant to the leases, the landlord was obliged to obtain insurance for the whole …
Continue reading “Commission – not insurance rent”
The RRB is of significance to lawyers in many areas of practice – not just those dealing with L&T work. Practitioners acting for buy-to-let investors or developers buying property subject to residential tenancies or lenders financing such properties will need to understand and be able to report on the RRB. As this is the biggest …
Continue reading “Renters Reform Bill – progress”
The OPG has issued a very useful blog regarding LPAs. This blog covers common questions about finding, searching and viewing them. The blog contains links to all services and so should be read at source, but it includes: ‘I already know there is an LPA in place – how do I view it? If you …
The CA has heard a case which is of significance to the county court workload – the issue being neatly summarised by Birss LJ thus: ‘1. If a credit hire case fails, when and in what circumstances should the non-party credit hire company be made liable for the defendant’s costs? That is the question in …
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Hopefully practitioners were shocked at the recent HC case where lawyers presented fake case citations to a court which had been generated by the use of AI. The words of the judge should ring in everyone’s ears: ‘2. The referrals arise out of the actual or suspected use by lawyers of generative artificial intelligence tools …
Continue reading “AI – stark reminder”
We referred to an LSAG advisory note on ID&V in our May 2025 edition (p30). The same advisory note gives some useful guidance for firms on issues to consider when working remotely: ‘You should consider whether your policies, controls and procedures remain appropriate and whether they need adjustment to reflect the ways and methods by …
Continue reading “LSAG – remote working”
Solicitors who are regulated by the SRA are reminded of a recent SDT decision which reinforces the point that there is often little demarcation between professional and private life. The solicitor was before the SDT in relation to a complaint of ‘touching’ work colleagues during an outing. The SRA summarised the position as follows: ‘It …
Continue reading “Duties – personal and professional”
The Law Society has issued a useful reminder relating to identifying money laundering risk in the property market. Practitioners are reminded that ‘conveyancing is one of the highest risk legal services identified in the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) sectoral risk assessment.’ The case studies look at some of the money laundering warning signs solicitors and …
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The CA has heard an appeal in which it considered what amounts to ‘residential property’ for SDLT purposes. ‘1. The issue on this appeal is whether stamp duty land tax (“SDLT”) is to be charged on Mr and Mrs Mudan’s purchase of 14 Liskeard Gardens, London SE3 at the rates specified in Table A in …