Landmark Court of Appeal ruling balances contrasting ‘aggregate’ and ‘sets’ approaches to service charges, resulting in boon for landlords and tenants alike
Ref. Francis v Phillips (2014)
Section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 limits a landlord’s recovery of the cost of qualifying works from residential tenants by service charge to £250 per tenant. This case explored the term ‘qualifying works’, contrasting two methods of interpretation with widely different consequences to landlords and tenants alike…
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Tag: news
Bicester Garden City planned for North Oxfordshire
New Garden Cities are being pushed through by the coalition government in locations across the country, resulting in localised large scale investment. We look at the issues surrounding development proposed for Bicester, North Oxfordshire, the political and fiscal motives and a brief history of the garden city movement…
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Chancellor’s Autumn Statement – Stamp Duty
George Osborne’s Autumn Statement has brought about the end of the frequently criticised ‘slab-style’ Stamp Duty system, introducing a new system more akin to income tax. The result will be stamp duty savings for all but the highest value 2% of the market. We look at what the changes really mean and how the previous method was flawed…
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In case you missed it…..
New £150m roundabout devastates resident in Clifton, Nottinghamshire as it renders her new £20,000 driveway useless
At least one resident has been left devastated by the construction of a new £150 million roundabout in Clifton, Nottinghamshire as it prevents her from ever using her £20,000 driveway…
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Super-sewer approved for London
A project to build an extra large sewer which will run for some 16 miles (25km) beneath London and the River Thames, was given the official go ahead this month. It aims to stop the 39 million tonnes of raw sewage which floats into the Thames each year from the incumbent overloaded, Victorian era system…
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Tortious claims of conspiracy, interference with goods, negligence and misfeasance in public office settled in the High Court as unlawfully evicted tenant receives justice at last
Ref. AA v London Borough of Southwark [2014] EWHC 500 (QB)
In this case, a tenant had been the legal occupant of a flat since 2001. He paid the rent predominantly from housing benefit, with the shortfall made up from his own funds and, throughout his tenancy the tenant had been in arrears, amounting to £2,353.26 at the time of eviction. In the action of processing his eviction, Southwark made a number of mistakes which ultimately resulted in unlawful eviction, unlawful destruction of goods and over a year of unwarranted homelessness…
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Neglect tenants at your peril – Landlord fined £30k after leaving tenants with no heat for four weeks
A rogue landlord has been fined more than £30,000 to reflect the serious “physical and mental hardship” endured by five tenants under his duty of care. The message laid down by Hammersmith Magistrates’ Court is clear; ignoring serious, reasonable pleas from your tenants will result in council intervention and a hefty bill…
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Number of manhole explosions rises by more than 250% since 2010
The number of serious manhole explosions across Britain has seen a staggering increase of more than 250% since 2010, with the south east of England being the worst effected.
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Malcolm Howorth AssocRICS MCIOB
www.shaftesburysurveyors.co.uk
Period Properties on Gold Hill, Shaftesbury
Malcolm Howorth AssocRICS MCIOBÂ specialises in Property Surveys, Building Surveys, Structural Surveys, House Purchase Surveys, Homebuyer Reports, Major Defects Reports, Home Surveys, Rebuild and Reinstatement Valuations, Property Acquisition work and other professional work throughout Shaftesbury and the surrounding area.
For friendly advice without obligation, please call Malcolm Howorth on
01747 333 013 or 0800 880 6264
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Back by popular demand…
10 Questions on Chancel Tax
All you need to know on chancel tax and how it could effect you
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