Property, Leasehold and Housing

The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has reported that in the first quarter of 2016, the number of repossessions fell to 2,200 (comprising 1,500 home-owner and 700 buy-to-let properties). In 2009, the number stood at 13,200 and has been steadily...

With Royal Assent on 12 May 2016, the Housing and Planning Act 2016 hit the statute books, bringing with it a host of reforms directed towards meeting the Government’s pledge to build more homes that people can afford, give more people the chance to...

The High Court has considered whether a landlord was acting in breach of a covenant for quiet enjoyment when acting on a right in a lease to undertake rebuilding work. The court held that, although the lease did indeed give the landlord the right to...

The Upper Tribunal provides guidance on cost applications for unreasonable behaviour and says that such awards should be rare. In 3 joined cases  WILLOW COURT MANAGEMENT COMPANY (1985) LIMITED v MRS RATNA ALEXANDER, MS SHELLEY SINCLAIR v 231 SUSSEX...

A new online form is now available for claiming back the 3% supplemental Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) payable when a new home is bought when an original residence is retained. The supplement is not payable where the new property replaces a main home where...

Possession claims fee and other Court fees due to rise next month -  Fee for issuing possession proceedings will be increasing from £280 to £355 and through PCOL from £250 to £325. Also for majority of general applications the...

Landlords in England now have to carry out Right to Rent checks on potential tenants to make sure they are entitled to stay in the UK. The new regulations came into force on 1 February. They will affect you if you are a private landlord, have a lodger, are...

New legislation which came into force on 1 October 2015 introduced a number of changes which affect whether or not a Landlord can serve a Section 21 Notice on an assured shorthold tenancy in England. These new rules will only apply to new assured shorthold...

On 6 April 2015 the new pre-action protocol for Possession Claims was introduced.  It is split into three parts entitled: 1.       Aims and scope of the protocol. 2.       Rent arrears. ...