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Cinema operators who were forced to close during COVID-19 lockdowns have failed to convince the Court of Appeal that they should be relieved of the obligation to pay rent . In a guideline ruling, the Court found that it was the tenants, not the landlords,...
Almost all commercial leases are subject to covenants restricting the use to which the premises can be put. However, as an Upper Tribunal (UT) ruling made plain, tenants who are prejudiced by such restrictions can take effective steps to have them modified. ...
Tenants of commercial premises are often subject to rigorous repair obligations and are required to hand them back at the end of their leases in a similar condition to that in which they found them. In one High Court case, a hotel operator who failed to...
Much of England's green and pleasant land is protected against all but agricultural forms of development. However, as one case showed, the relentless pressure to build more new homes means that such restrictions may not be written in stone. The case...
A temporary pavement licensing regime that was introduced to enable al fresco dining at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic has been extended by the Government. Initially put in place via the Business and Planning Act 2020 , the measure was intended to...
Britain's high streets have changed immeasurably in recent decades and many once proud buildings are no longer attractive to retailers. An Upper Tribunal (UT) ruling in the context of a business rates dispute reflected that sad history of decline. The...
Your neighbours owe you a duty of care and, if they cause a nuisance that results in you suffering financial loss, you are entitled to compensation in full. The point was made by the case of a landowner whose development hopes were stymied by flooding...
Antique restrictive covenants are found in the title deeds of many period properties and can have a deadening effect on development opportunities. However, as an Upper Tribunal (UT) ruling showed , they are not written in stone. A large suburban house was...
Most people understand that companies have legal identities separate from the individuals who control them. The application of that basic principle can, however, be problematic and certainly posed a difficult conundrum in a case concerning an agricultural...
When buying properties that comprise more than one residence, multiple dwellings relief (MDR) is available against Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT). As a First-tier Tribunal (FTT) ruling showed , however, both the availability and extent of such relief is often...
