What Do Residential Landlords Need to Know about Energy Performance Certificates?
The rules about Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) for rented dwellings were introduced in 2018 and updated in 2020. As it stands today, rental properties that are covered by the regulations are required to have an EPC rating of E or above. This means that it is illegal to let […]
A Guide to the Law on Mercury and Electronic Signatures
At first glance, the question of signatures might not seem like a particularly crucial one. After all, we’ve been putting pen to paper for hundreds of years. But that, really, is the nub of it: the way we live has changed a great deal in recent decades. Shouldn’t the way we sign documents have changed, […]
What Happens When the Borrower Vanishes into Thin Air? A Secured Creditor’s Guide to Bona Vacantia
Picture this: you’re a secured lender, your borrower has vanished from the corporate register, and the property you hold security over has drifted into the Crown’s lap under the doctrine of bona vacantia. It sounds like the start of a legal ghost story—but it’s a surprisingly common real-world scenario. Here’s what secured creditors need to […]
Blockchain and Land Law: The Future of Property Transactions?
Land law has a long and, let’s be honest, sometimes painful history of complex documentation, slow-moving processes, and an overwhelming reliance on paperwork. Whether it’s title deeds, lease agreements, easements, or restrictive covenants, every transaction is an exercise in navigating outdated systems. Blockchain has been touted as the solution to all this—offering instant verification, security, […]
Keeping the Register Straight: The Latest Land Registry Updates Explained
HM Land Registry (HMLR) has recently updated several of its practice guides, refining the way land registration processes are handled. These changes are important for anyone dealing with property transactions, from junior conveyancers to experienced land lawyers, and it’s worth taking the time to understand the key points. Practice Guide 83: Alteration On 10 March […]
Major Property Law Reforms: How They Will Impact Your Work
The UK property industry is set for some of its biggest legal changes in years. Leasehold reform, stricter tenant protections, changes to stamp duty, and new rules on compulsory purchase will all have significant consequences for those working in property. Whether you are a conveyancer, landlord, estate agent, or developer, these reforms will change the […]
An Introduction to the Building Safety Act 2022
The Building Safety Act 2022 came into force on the 1st April 2023. It was largely a response to the 2017 Grenfell Tragedy and the resulting cladding scandal. The legislation is intended to change the way buildings are designed, constructed and managed, and to give homeowners and residents more rights, powers and protections. Though the act […]
Why Do Conveyancing Solicitors Need to Learn About Raising Enquiries?
Raising enquiries is usually the most time-consuming stage of the conveyancing process. Solicitors have to get into these nitty gritty questions in order to ensure a property is both saleable and mortgageable. The considerations here are as diverse as whether or not any historical planning permissions are in place, whether there are any untenable rights […]