Practice areas | Property | Communities

The Property Section covers residential and commercial property law and practice, including landlord and tenant. We also cover other areas as they relate to property practice, from land registration to social housing, and from property taxation to lenders

Pilot plan to make property information available up front

2021-03-24T14:15:00+00:00

The Law Society is set to pilot plans to make key information for home buyers and sellers available at a much earlier stage in the conveyancing process.

Reminder: 2% surcharge on stamp duty for non-resident buyers

2021-03-23T14:02:00+00:00

From 1 April 2021, a stamp duty land tax (SDLT) surcharge comes into force for non-UK resident buyers. Philip Askew, member of our Property Section committee, reminds solicitors to stay alert

All Residential Property

Commercial service charges – when are they reasonable?

2021-03-17T13:59:00+00:00

Kate Andrews looks at the case of Criterion Buildings Ltd v Mckinsey and Company Inc. United Kingdom and another [2021] EWHC 216 (Ch) concerning the apportionment of service charges by the landlord in relation to the Criterion Building at Piccadilly Circus.

Dream machine

2021-03-09T12:03:00+00:00

Nick Kirby and Tom Grogan provide an overview of developments in commercial proptech, including around machine learning, diligence, and the Internet of Things

All Commercial Property

Recent Compliance, Regulation and Practice Management

Remote control

2021-03-09T12:01:00+00:00

Lorraine Richardson considers some of the risks that remote working presents for conveyancing firms, and what they can do to mitigate them

SRA webinar: online customer reviews (25 February 2021)

2021-02-19T17:16:00+00:00

The Solicitors Regulations Authority (SRA) is holding a webinar on online customer reviews.

All Practice Management

Recent Landlord and Tenant

Commercial service charges – when are they reasonable?

2021-03-17T13:59:00+00:00

Service after death: solving a dilemma for property notices

2021-01-07T09:20:00+00:00

Edward Francis looks at the Court of Appeal decision in Gateway Housing Association v Ali (deceased), which has brought welcome common sense to a common conundrum around serving property notices after the death of a landlord or tenant

All Landlord and Tenant

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The Property Section will provide you with support, advice, networking opportunities and enable the sharing of best practice with peers.

The engagement programmes have been created in consultation with the Section Committee and run from November to November each year.

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The engagement programme is updated throughout the year and highlights our key areas of focus and the range of activities that will address these areas including: a conference, regional events, magazines, newletters and podcasts.

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Recent Planning and Environment

Webinar: Planning use classes (OnDemand)

2021-03-02T08:26:00+00:00

This webinar gives an overview of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 and the changes introduced by the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2020

Plan ahead

2020-12-08T00:00:00+00:00

In the final article in his series on the property development process, Gavin Le Chat looks at the planning process

All Planning and Environment

Recent Property Taxation

Fault lines

2021-03-09T11:57:00+00:00

Suzanne O’Hara looks at some of the common errors made in stamp duty land tax, and how these can be addressed

Stamp of approval

2020-12-08T00:00:00+00:00

In light of the current stamp duty land tax holiday, Caitlin Padmore offers some tips on working with clients to make sure they understand the tax and keep you updated if their situation changes

All Property Taxation

Recent Land Registration

Better together

2021-03-09T12:01:00+00:00

Chris Pope outlines the next steps in HM Land Registry’s transformation programme, what improvements you should expect to see and how you can get involved

Sign of things to come

2021-03-09T11:57:00+00:00

Richard Oliphant looks at how e-signing platforms like Adobe Sign and DocuSign will underpin HM Land Registry’s plans to digitalise conveyancing and land registration in England and Wales

All Land Registration

Recent ID, AML, Fraud and Cybersecurity

Remote control

2021-03-09T12:01:00+00:00

Lorraine Richardson considers some of the risks that remote working presents for conveyancing firms, and what they can do to mitigate them

Blockchain guidance for solicitors

2020-10-07T15:39:00+01:00

The Law Society has co-produced a report which sets out key issues for legal practitioners to be aware of when advising on distributed ledger technologies.

All ID, AML and Fraud

Recent International and cross-border

The rules of civility

2021-03-09T12:03:00+00:00

Stefano Lucatello provides a back-to-basics guide to some of the differences that apply in civil law jurisdictions, around purchasing property and making wills

Guide to legal services in the Brexit free trade agreement

2021-01-05T12:02:00+00:00

On 24 December 2020, the UK and the EU reached a new Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The Law Society has published an initial analysis.

All ID, AML and Fraud

Recent Searches

HMRC withdraws VAT concession for property searches by post

2020-08-11T09:48:00+01:00

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has announced that the VAT ‘postal concession’ will be formally withdrawn on 1 December 2020.

Shifting sands
2016-06-02T13:21:00+01:00
You may well ask
2016-02-22T12:52:00+00:00

All Searches

Recent Property Litigation

Leaps and boundaries

2021-03-09T12:03:00+00:00

There is anecdotal evidence that boundary disputes have been on the rise during the pandemic, as we all spend more time at home. Will Oakes looks at why these disputes are so common and how they can be resolved without court involvement

Friends with benefits? Identifying beneficial owners in complex structures
2020-11-10T16:48:00+00:00
How’s it looking? Grounds for refusing planning consent
2020-07-13T13:03:00+01:00
Court of Appeal overlooks the case of Fearn & Others
2020-03-23T09:31:00+00:00

All Property Litigation

Recent International / Cross-border

The rules of civility

2021-03-09T12:03:00+00:00

Stefano Lucatello provides a back-to-basics guide to some of the differences that apply in civil law jurisdictions, around purchasing property and making wills

Guide to legal services in the Brexit free trade agreement
2021-01-05T12:02:00+00:00
How to prepare for the end of the Brexit transition period
2020-08-21T12:50:00+01:00
Brexit: committee member views
2016-09-07T00:00:00+01:00

All International / Cross-border

Recent Specialist Property

The drinks business

2020-09-02T00:00:00+01:00

Niall McCann and Richard Williams look at what property solicitors need to know when acting on transactions involving licensed premises where the tenant or owner is insolvent

Clear water
2020-03-10T00:00:00+00:00
Hit list
2018-09-05T00:00:00+01:00
Granting the ungrantable: fencing easements after Churston Golf Club v Haddock
2018-04-06T13:05:00+01:00

All Specialist Property

Recent Mortgages, Lenders and Government Schemes

PAS FAQ: Sale proceeds for mortgagees in possession

2021-01-20T14:17:00+00:00

When acting for a mortgagee in possession, how should you deal with the proceeds of sale if there are other lenders involved with higher priority charges? Our Practice Advice Service explains.

UK Finance to move the Mortgage Lenders' Handbook to a new webpage
2020-07-13T09:12:00+01:00

All Mortgages, Lenders and Schemes

Recent Construction and Development

Mine of information

2021-03-09T12:02:00+00:00

David Manda and Claire Acklam offer legal and practical advice on how mines and minerals rights may impact on or interfere with the development of land

Fire safety update
2021-03-09T11:58:00+00:00
On the safe side
2020-12-08T00:00:00+00:00
At your service
2020-09-02T00:00:00+01:00

All Construction and Development

The Property Section covers residential and commercial property law and practice, including landlord and tenant. We also cover other areas as they relate to property practice, from land registration to social housing, and from property taxation to lenders

Benefits of Membership*

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