A recent planning case in the Court of Appeal produced what the judge described as a ‘surprising outcome’. Alan Beesley had been granted planning permission by Welwyn Hatfield Council to build a barn on green belt land, for agricultural use…
A recent case serves as a reminder of how strongly local councils are likely to react if they are faced with a blatant attempt to circumvent planning laws. It involved a Banstead man who built a home without planning permission,…
When someone must cross a piece of someone else's land to access their own, the land crossed is known as a 'ransom strip', because the price which must be paid for the right to cross the land is often…
A landowner who allows another person or persons to make use of their land may lose the right to prevent the use if it persists over a long period. Where such use continues for more than 20 years, an 'easement'…
SDLT - Lest We Forget Tenants who undertook leases after 1 December 2003, which was when Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) came into effect, are reminded that it may be necessary for them to submit a new SDLT return and…
How to Manage Your Mortgage in a Recession During an economic downturn, a mortgage can stretch a borrower to the limit. If you are having problems paying your mortgage then you should take action as a matter of priority. Do…
Buying a House and Consumer Protection With the advent of Home Information Packs (HIPs), the appointment of an Ombudsman for Estate Agents (OEA), the laying down in statute of the duties of estate agents and the recent passing of…
In recent years, increased mobility and growing rates of home ownership have meant that ever-larger numbers of people nowadays inherit properties from relatives who lived many miles away. Similarly, many buy-to-let properties have been purchased in areas with a…
Following a recent ruling of the Court of Appeal, country landowners will have something to cheer about. The judgment means that hundreds of applications made by councils representing off-roaders and other users, for right of way over rural tracks,…
Right to Buy – Common Sense Prevails in Definition of Premises The right of a tenant to buy his or her property (under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993) is now well known. The right, however, does…
