Storm damage to commercial properties – who is responsible?
If your rented commercial property has been damaged in a flood or storm, find out what your landlord must do when it comes to repairs.
The Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill
The Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill is to provide relief from certain rent debts for business tenancies affected by the pandemic.
High-rise residential building safety requirements
High-rise residential building managers will be responsible for safety case requirements for residential buildings under the Building Safety Bill.
SDLT holiday ends soon!
SDLT holiday ends soon and returns to previous thresholds of £125K for residential properties, £150K for non-residential land and properties.
Rent forfeitures and Commercial Rent Arrears Recovery
Eviction protection extended for businesses most in need On the 16th June 2021, the Government announced its intention to further extend the Moratorium in relation to commercial evictions in light of the COVID-19 Pandemic. This will now run until March 2022. As far as Commercial Rent Arrears Recovery (CRAR) is concerned, only rent that is more than 554 days in arrears can be collected, this meaning that the rent arrears from March 2020 quarters onwards cannot be recovered as of yet. The Government is preparing a full release on the…
To rent or buy a commercial property – which is the best option?
Deciding to rent or buy premises if you are considering an office move or expansion can be difficult. There are several factors you should consider and making the right decision can be challenging. In this article, we look at the pros and cons of each to give you an idea of what you may wish to think about or discuss with your adviser. Potential investment opportunity Firstly, like with any property purchase, buying a commercial property could be seen as an investment. The property may increase in value, and when…
Future-proofing rent suspension clauses
The fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic has meant that landlords and tenants must consider future-proofing rent suspension clauses. Following the initial lockdown in March 2020 and subsequent disruption for many businesses, commercial landlords and tenants now must face a reality that a balance has to be struck when negotiating new leases to allow future-proofing to account for events like those imposed by the pandemic. Ideally, each side would want to achieve maximum protection for themselves, but a balance probably lies somewhere in the middle. A recent case involved a commercial…
Blog: COVID-19 – Advice for commercial landlords and tenants
In this article we provide advice for commercial landlords and tenants impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic which has affected almost every industry in the UK, with many businesses experiencing a severe strain on their cashflow as a result. While commercial tenants may be struggling to pay rent in full and on a regular basis, their landlord could also be under pressure if they rely on these payments to maintain their own cashflow. Both parties to a commercial lease contract should understand how their liabilities and obligations have been affected by…
The construction industry to adapt to be more energy efficient
Tony Chauhan, Property Partner at Bowling & Co Solicitors comments on the Government's response to the consultation on Future Homes Standard (FHS), and consults on Future Buildings Standard. He explains that "the changes are going to have a positive impact upon the environment and will require the construction industry to adapt to be more energy efficient in the way they build. This will mean more cost and careful planning for construction methods." Background: In October 2019, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) published a consultation on the…
Court rules in favour of business interruption insurance claims
As coronavirus continues its freeze on normal life, with strict lockdown measures back in place, many businesses will have breathed a sigh of relief following a Supreme Court ruling (on Friday 15th January) confirming when business interruption insurance claims should be paid out during a pandemic. Lockdown and tier restrictions since March 2020 have seen many businesses temporarily closing down or making significant operational reductions for weeks or months at a time, resulting in huge damage to their operations and loss of income. Court rules in favour of business…