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Break Clauses: A change to the landscape?

Jeremy Steele reviews the decision in Avocet and its implications for landlords and tenants ‘The reason for there having been so much litigation is simple: landlords who have received break notices are left with the uncomfortable prospect of vacant units in a market in which new tenants are difficult to find.’ The law reports over …
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Expert Determination: Jurisdictional issues

James Farrell, Michael Mendelblat and Emily Lew explore a spate of recent case law relating to expert determination ‘Parties should try to agree whether the expert’s decision on a point of law will be treated as final and binding or whether the disappointed party should have the right to refer the issue to the court.’ …
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Construction Focus: Resignations and adjudications

John Starr reviews the role of an adjudicator following recent case law ‘Carillion sought to bring an end to an adjudication commenced against them by applying to court for various declarations.’ The 1996 Construction Act gives the parties to a construction contract the right to refer their disputes to adjudication at any time. However, it …
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Planning And Environment Focus: The Portas Review

Simon Ricketts and Meeta Kaur provide a planning perspective on the Portas Review, and find some inherent contradictions ‘The gripe seems to be that “the Secretary of State should more frequently exercise his existing powers”, and if the statistics Portas quotes on the growth of out-of-town retail development in recent years are to be taken …
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Co-Habitation: Buyer beware

Graeme Fraser and Adam Colenso explain the nature and timing of advice that residential property lawyers should provide to cohabitant buyers in light of Jones v Kernott and the SRA Code of Conduct 2011. ‘Jones v Kernott [2011] illustrates the serious problems that can arise when cohabitant purchasers do not enter into an adequate declaration …
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Houseboats: A question of ownership

Lucy Barber reviews a recent case where the court was required to consider whether the owners of houseboats held as tenants or as licensees? ‘What happens to your home if the licence is lawfully terminated? These questions have recently been considered in the Court of Appeal decision of Christopher Mew and Janet Trust v Tristmire …
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Business Property Renovation Allowance: Room for improvement

Huw Witty and Julian Lewis assess how BPRA has been used to date and how it could usefully be extended ‘At a time when high streets are suffering and government is keen to do what it can to revitalise town centres, it is encouraging that the duration of the BPRA scheme has been increased.’A Business …
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Beer Ties: Why does the saga go on and on?

Jane Rogers looks at the latest litigation involving beer ties ‘In the early 1990s a period of recession that badly affected the leisure trade, together with fundamental changes in the style and operation of the traditional public house, created a very challenging environment for the pub tenant.’In November 2006 I wrote an article for this …
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PV Panels: Rooftop wrangles

Helena Davies examines the implications of installing photovoltaic solar panels on leasehold properties ‘It seems unlikely that PV panels are going to constitute a breach of covenant on the basis of their appearance alone, save in exceptional circumstances.’The relatively recent trend in installing photovoltaic solar panels (PV panels) on the roofs of buildings is born …
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Landlord And Tenant Act 1987: Consequences of non-compliance

Robert Barham reviews a case illustrating the dangers and pitfalls of the 1987 Act ‘An incoming landlord whose predecessor complied fully with Part 1 of the 1987 Act can still fall foul of s3A by failing to state in its formal notification to the tenant that the disposal was one pursuant to the 1987 Act. …
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