The government wants to hit ambitious housing targets while moving away from the leasehold system, but high-density developments could face major bottlenecks. Tim Foreman outlines why the transition to commonhold must be managed carefully with a pragmatic transition period—rather than a cliff edge—to maintain developer, lender, and buyer confidence.

The Department for Education’s (DfE) updated nonstatutory guidance on school land transactions has major procedural and legal implications for local authorities. From stricter consent discipline and rigid "nil-value" principles to the heightened scrutiny surrounding playing field disposals, councils must adjust to longer transaction lead times. Amanda Timcke breaks down why early legal alignment is vital to navigating these sharpened risk points without stalling key developme

Despite constant criticism from rating agents, trade bodies, and politicians, the business rates system remains a remarkably efficient revenue-generating tool for local government. Chris Grose, Director in the Hartnell Taylor Cook Business Rates Team and Junior Vice President of the IRRV, evaluates the main arguments raised by dissenters. Examining tax multipliers, historic rental valuation lags, and empty property rates burdening landlords, he outlines why radical overhauls

When a commercial tenant faces financial distress and falls into arrears, landlords must act decisively while navigating complex insolvency legislation. Property litigator Caroline Wort outlines the essential legal mechanisms available to public and private sector landlords. This post covers methods for recovering rent—including CRAR, rent deposits, and guarantor notices—as well as strategies for lease termination like forfeiture, tenant disclaimers, and voluntary surrender.

The "Freemen-on-the-Land" (FoTL) movement presents a growing challenge for local authorities, complicating straightforward asset management and debt recovery with pseudo-law arguments rooted in the "sovereign citizen" movement. High Court Enforcement Officer David Asker outlines the core beliefs of these groups—such as claims of immunity from statute law and demands for "wet-ink" signatures. Discover practical legal frameworks, the operational advantages of securing a writ of

The Renters Rights Act 2025 marks a massive regulatory shift for the private rented sector, but are local authorities equipped to enforce it? Property litigation solicitor Dee Karatay explores the unintended consequences of the legislation. From smaller landlords exiting the market to an expansion of local enforcement powers without ring-fenced central funding, this piece highlights why matching legislative ambition with actual public sector resources is critical to avoiding

Achieving the Level 1 mandatory competency for diversity, inclusion, and teamworking is a core requirement for all RICS APC candidates across all assessment pathways. Susan Hanley shares expert advice on how to structure your 1,500-word mandatory summary, connect your knowledge directly to your CPD records, and align your responses with Rule 4 of the RICS Rules of Conduct. Discover practical tips to prepare for direct assessor questioning on team dynamics and inclusive commun

Mark Chick, a leading UK authority in leasehold reform, explains commonhold—a little-used property ownership form that might gain prominence with the government's Commonhold White Paper. He outlines the pros and cons of this alternative to traditional leasehold, detailing its potential impact on flat owners in England and Wales.

The Non-Domestic Rating Act 2023 introduces a significant 'Duty to Notify' for ratepayers. This article explores the new compliance obligations, marking a "seismic shift" in the administrative framework of business rates and a first step towards self-assessment.

This article examines the government's proposals to strengthen local authorities' Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) powers, with the aim of delivering more affordable housing.