Blogs
Supporting Good Divorce Week 2022
The five days between 28 November and 2 December 2022 mark this year’s Good Divorce Week – an initiative from family law organisation, Resolution, to help divorcing and separating couples resolve their disputes outside of Court. In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the family courts are fac....
The contribution of private schools to the UK’s scientific and economic wealth
In our Private Wealth Guide to Hertfordshire and Essex for 2022/23, we featured some of the UK’s best private schools for excellence in sport and the dramatic arts. One of the characteristics that sets independent schools apart from their state counterparts is the facilities available to the stud....
What is a Section 106 Agreement?
You might come across this term in connection with planning permission for a new building development in your area, a proposed supermarket or a housing project for example. Section 106 Agreements, commonly referred to as ‘developer contributions’, are governed by the Town and Country Planning Ac....
Section 106 and 278 Agreements – what you need to know
If you’re a developer or anybody who has to deal with planning law in their line of work, you’ll likely have heard of Section 106 and 278 Agreements. These two types of legal agreement are made between developers and local planning authorities. Both are key components in any successful devel....
Your ultimate guide to planning enforcement notices
If you have previously made, or are in the process of making, alterations to your property, a planning enforcement notice could ruin everything. You might have to cease building works, spend money on modifying the property or – in the worst-case scenario – demolish all your hard work. In thi....
Should I take a lease that’s ‘outside’ of the Landlord and Tenant Act?
Renting a business premises can be stressful, especially when it comes to negotiating your lease. Both you and your landlord will be trying to secure the most advantageous terms for your respective businesses and, without legal expertise and knowledge behind you, you may find yourself agreeing to t....
I am looking to assign my lease. What do I need to do?
Assigning a lease means transferring the legal interest in the lease to a new tenant. This means that the new tenant will take on all your legal rights and responsibilities set out in the lease. Assigning your lease can be an option if your lease doesn’t contain a break clause and your landlord i....
Do I really need a solicitor to renew a commercial lease?
Under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, most business tenants (with some specific exceptions) have the legal right to renew their commercial lease. This right is only forfeited if you are in breach of the terms set out in your lease, your landlord wants to take the premises back for their own use, ....
Ending your lease with a break clause: a guide
A break clause is a clause within a tenancy agreement that gives either the landlord or the tenant (or both) the right to end the tenancy before the expiry of the contract term. The break clause will, among other things, usually set out who has the right to exercise the break, any conditions that m....
Tax changes for divorcing couples coming in 2023
For separating couples, tax is likely to be the last thing on either party’s mind. Even so, consideration should be given to any potential tax implications at the outset of the relationship breakdown to minimise any financial impact. Different tax rules apply to married couples, who benefit from ....
Trustees – don’t miss your trust registration deadline
In 2017, the Trust Registration Service (TRS) was established to register trusts for both tax and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) purposes. At first, trusts only needed to be registered if they were liable to pay tax – for example, Capital Gains Tax, Stamp Duty Land Tax, Income Tax or any other kind ....
What counts as a ‘contribution’ in divorce proceedings?
When it comes to your divorce, it is natural that you will want your contributions to the marriage to be recognised and reflected in your eventual settlement. In UK divorce law, ‘contributions’ will include both: Financial contributions – for example, salary, rent or mortgage payments, bil....
