Featured Articles

In Place of Strife, a leading mediation service provider, has rebranded as IPOS Mediation. The award-winning dispute resolution chambers, with offices in London and Dublin, has  changed its name as part of a new strategy to strengthen the company’s mission and modernise the business.   By rebranding, IPOS Mediation aims to ensure that the company’s services are communicated clearly to a wider audience, and that their industry-leading expertise is recognised across all sectors.   Mark Jackson-Stops, Head o

I, for one, was not holding my breath on the 21 July 2020 in anticipation of the three reports to be issued by the Law Commission on Leasehold Reform. As a valuer in the sector, I would describe myself as cynically indifferent to the whole question and subject of Leasehold Reform. It would also be fair to say that it was this cynicism that led me to make a Freedom of Information Act request to the Law Commission, asking them to declare how much money had been spent on the process to date. I admit I was fe

Katie Orr of JB Leitch's litigation team has written an insightful new article on a recent determination by the FTT, asking where an RTM company failed to respond to a landlord’s request for further information (and documents were subsequently supplied late during the course of proceedings), was determination by the FTT unfair and had the landlord been given adequate opportunity to respond to the documents supplied?   The background In Assethold Ltd v 63 Holmes Road (London) RTM Co Ltd [2020], the landlor

From today Courts will start to deal with residential evictions again, though there are new rules that must be followed. In addition, and since we last reported, most notices to quit or possession notices must now give 6 months' notice and will remain valid for 10 months following service.   What happens to possession proceedings now that the ban has been lifted?   Landlords will need to follow the new CPR Practice Direction 55C.    To continue a frozen claim that was issued before 3 August 2020, includ

Solicitor Amy Kennedy of JB Leitch, provides a review of recent case law in a new article, asking that where a borrower appealed against a court’s refusal to set aside a possession order, was the district judge correct to find that the possession order was a ‘final order’? The background In Sangha v Amicus Finance plc (in administration) [2020], Amicus had taken a first legal charge over a property by way of security for a loan to the appellant. Having failed to repay the loan, possession proceedings were

Unveils findings following three-year accelerator programme working with 19 mission-driven ventures Calls for new approaches to support housing innovation, including patient, impact-led capital, a network of housing accelerators and stronger impact measurement As the private rental evictions ban ends, key recommendations for change are presented to policymakers and influencers Tuesday 22nd September 2020: The Young Foundation has today unveiled the findings from its Reimagining Ren

Terrorism is an evocative word which conjures up ideas, images, feelings and emotional responses in all of us; likely different for each individual; but what does it mean? It likely means something slightly different to each of us and if all asked to offer a definition, its likely that a very wide variety of ideas would emerge.  It is then both startling, but also fairly unsurprising on reflection, that at the time of writing there is still no universally accepted international definition of ‘terrorism’

Bond Wolfe Commercial has completed the sale of a prominent West Bromwich landmark which is targeted for future conversion to residential use. Working with Keningtons Chartered Surveyors as the local joint agents for one of their national clients, the Black Country specialists assisted in the sale of Transport House at 9-17 Victoria Street, just off West Bromwich High Street, to Newrose Properties Ltd. The deal is the latest West Bromwich town centre sale concluded by Bond Wolfe Commercial following recen

Changes in how and where we work are boosting sales at a luxury Ashford apartments development, according to developers Elevate Property Group. And a decision to supercharge the outside space at Victoria Point has also contributed to the surge in reservations with 65% of the 216 apartments now sold. The development is currently being completed and the first buyers are set to move in by mid-October. More than 140 apartments have been reserved, with the three retail units being snapped up by a convenience s

A residential development site on the main road to Solihull with planning permission to build more than 200 homes has been bought for £1.8 million, thanks to Siddall Jones. The Birmingham property agents have arranged the purchase of Lyndon Place on the Coventry Road from the owners, Property Alliance Group Ltd, for a private client. This prime development site adjoins the Westley Brook Green Wedge, part of Sheldon Country Park, a designated Green Belt area and recognised Site of Local Importance for Natu

An experienced property finance specialist has joined Principle Estate Management, the UK’s fastest growing residential management company, as a credit control manager. The appointment of Jodie Johnson takes the finance team numbers up to five at Principle, where the total staffing now stands at 25. Ms Johnson has spent ten years in the sector and has previously worked at Curry & Partners and CPBigwood, where she dealt with property management credit control, particularly leasehold service charges. She is

Following the news in June that FirstPort was to join forces with fellow property and asset manager, Mainstay Group, the businesses have today confirmed that this has now been approved by the Financial Conduct Authority and the transaction has completed.  This will see the two businesses now combining to form a strengthened specialist group delivering residential property management, build-to-rent services, consultancy, asset management and facilities management services across the UK.  For their customer