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Birkett Long is delighted to announce that solicitor Jennifer Tully has joined its Commercial Property team as a Senior Associate. Jennifer specialises in land acquisition and disposals for housebuilders, landowners, and land promoters, with a particular focus on strategic land work (such as conditional contracts, options, promotion agreements, collaboration agreements and complex overage arrangements). Jennifer sets herself apart with her dedicated approach to work. She goes above and beyond to del

“The Association for Rental Living (ARL), the representative body for rental living sector in the UK including build to rent (BTR), welcomes the report stage and third reading of the Renters (Reform) Bill.  “Whilst the ARL supports the intentions of the Bill in making the rental sector fairer for all and welcomes many of the tabled amendments, it is notable that from a tenant’s rights perspective, the professionally managed BTR sector largely already accommodates the Bill’s proposals, including fairness,

Property management company ELM Group has saved residents at one of its Surrey properties a projected 77 per cent a year, protecting its private swimming pool against rising running costs. The swimming pool, much-loved by residents at the Esher-based retirement estate, has seen running costs rise significantly during the cost-of-living crisis and associated high energy prices. In a partnership with a local swim school GoggleSquad, the company’s private gated estate is opening its doors to facilitate the o

McCarthy Stone, the UK’s leading developer and manager of retirement communities, has launched its new retirement village in the centre of Wimborne, Dorset. The new community will bring 100 new specialist retirement properties to the market town. The new community, with a total GDV of £45m, features 68 apartments, 22 bungalows and 10 chalets, all specifically designed for the over 65s. The properties will be offered for outright sale and shared ownership.  The show complex opens on 3 May for the bungalows

Two prominent London quantity surveying and project management consultancies have announced a merger to strengthen their offer to clients. Long-established QS firm Piercehill Consulting LLP has joined forces with the larger cost management and project management firm, Stature London. Going forwards the combined practice will be called Stature Piercehill. A new board of directors has been established that includes Andy Pilcher and David Heil, previously of Piercehill, along with Adam Lynch and Qingning Chu

Dear next government, Housing is at the centre of the election battleground. This is unsurprising given the economic uncertainty and that history shows that housing tends to lead the wider economy both into and out of downturns. We have recently seen small rises in house prices and mortgage approval rates to prove there are some green shoots but without some major changes it doesn’t look like we can build our way out of this recession. We have a fundamental issue of a lack of homes for rent and for sale i

In a recent development, tens of thousands of businesses are facing the risk of missing out on crucial Research and Development (R&D) tax relief due to new pre-registration requirements. Accounting and Business advisors Whitley Stimpson say the changes, implemented by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), aim to prevent abuse of the system and frivolous claims, but many businesses are unaware of the impact. Businesses must now pre-register their intention to make a claim within six months of their financial year e

Significant potential changes to the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill were reported over the weekend, which will effectively ‘water down’ the Bill. The Bill proposed to reduce the ground rents to ‘a peppercorn’ (ie zero) which led to resistance from the Treasury due to the impact on pension and insurance funds. Consequently, we understand, it will be announced this week that ground rents will now be capped at £250 and phased out over at least 20 years. The change is due to be incorporated via an amendme

Tenants in privately rented properties have several rights to cover themselves from unfair evictions, rent increases and more. This guide covers the key tenant rights for those living in England and Wales that everyone should be aware of. Currently, a landlord must give tenants two months’ written notice once their fixed-term tenancy has come to an end. The landlord must be able to prove grounds for eviction in court if they want you to move out before your tenancy ends and also give notice using the pres

In a decisive move to transform the landscape of invoice management in the property industry, Block Debt emerges as a beacon of positive change.  Set on the dual cause of improving cash flow for suppliers and celebrating ethical payment practices, Block Debt brings some positivity to credit control in the leasehold sector. Founded by Matthew Callaghan, a seasoned credit controller, Block Debt stands firm on the foundation of fairness and efficiency. While catering to the long-standing concerns of both ind

The latest research by HomeOwners Alliance shows that more than more than half (54%) of homeowners with adult children have or expect to help their children financially to buy a home. But homeowning parents worry about the prospects of their adult children who do not currently own their home being able to buy. Amongst home owning parents with adult children who do not own their home: ●     59% worry about their children’s chances of owning in the future ●     Half (50%) wish they could provide more financ

Residential property debt collection specialist, Realty Law Limited, has been strengthened by the appointment of a new head of residential litigation. Monica Duggal is a property litigation lawyer with more than 16 years’ experience in the property management sector. A former in-house solicitor for one of the UK’s largest managing agents, Monica has held positions with several other managing agents, and a leading developer and asset management firm. More recently she was head of litigation at a priv