Comment
One direction
As the dust settles on another annual conference, Ian White looks back on a turbulent 2016, and ahead to the Property Section’s plans for 2017
Features
Cancelled out
A lease may be protected on the register by substantive registration and/or by a notice on the reversionary title. Tim Smithers summarises Land Registry’s practice on cancellation of leases
Hidden agenda
Concealed development first made headlines in 2011, when Robert Fidler built a mansion and hid it behind a wall of hay bales. Anna Russell outlines the current law around permission for development, including where there is concealment or deception
Checks and balances
Upcoming tax changes may lead more private property investors to incorporate. Susan Winter and Tony Lake look at the pros and cons of each structure, and what conveyancers need to know when acting for a corporate client as a property investor
Going rate
The impact on statutory compensation of new business rates next year means that commercial landlords and tenants need to take care when making decisions on ending or renewing business tenancies. Mark Barley and Charlie Temperley explain
Proof positive
Warren Gordon outlines the problems that arise for conveyancers around positive freehold covenants, and the potential application of new proposals from the Law Commission
Talking points
Philip Askew reports back from this year’s National Property Law Conference
Great minds
Lucy Trevelyan examines the personality traits and ‘soft skills’ best suited to being a property law professional, how to develop these skills, and what clients are looking for from their property solicitor
Counting the cost
Clients purchasing leasehold property may not realise how expensive the process can be, with the range and proliferation of fees payable to managing agents and leaseholders. Sarah Dwight outlines the problem and the role of the conveyancer