Month: September 2026
Recovery from Former Tenants and Guarantors: Section 17 Notices
Under the Landlord and Tenant (Covenants) Act 1995, landlords are potentially able to pursue former tenants or guarantors for fixed charges due under a lease - provided that they follow the strict rules set out in Section 17 Notices. Below, we explain how Section 17 Notices work and how landlord....
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The pros and cons of Commercial Rent Arrears Recovery (CRAR)
When a commercial tenant falls behind on rent, landlords often want a remedy that is fast, direct and avoids lengthy court proceedings. Commercial Rent Arrears Recovery (CRAR) offers exactly that. It is a statutory procedure that allows landlords to recover rent arrears by instructing enforcement a....
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Forfeiture proceedings and waiver of the right to forfeit
When a commercial tenant falls behind on rent, landlords can feel pressure to act quickly to protect their investment. One of the most powerful remedies available is forfeiture - the right to bring the lease to an end because the tenant has breached its terms. However, landlords must take care n....
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Unnecessary mastectomies: when medical treatment causes harm
Recent reports that 20 women underwent unnecessary mastectomies while being treated for breast cancer at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT) have raised serious concerns about patient safety and clinical decision-making. The women are among hundreds of patients found to hav....
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Martha’s Rule: why listening to patients and families can be vital
When a patient or their family says that something is wrong, listening to their concerns can be vital. That principle sits at the heart of Martha’s Rule, the NHS patient safety initiative introduced following the death of 13-year-old Martha Mills. The NHS has now announced that Martha’s R....
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Empty Rates Relief: What the Court of Appeal’s July 2026 ruling means for commercial landlords
Commercial landlords have long relied on empty property rates relief to soften the financial impact of void periods. For years, some landlords have also used ‘rates mitigation schemes'- particularly the well‑known box‑shifting model - to trigger repeated cycles of empty rates relief. Howev....
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The latest on the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024
The delay in providing clarity to flat owners on whether to extend their leases or not continues. Reforms to the Leasehold and Freehold laws are currently with the Court of Appeal, and we await the outcome of these proceedings. What happens next could have a substantial effect on individuals ....
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Commercial rent arrears: The Pre-action Protocol for Debt Claims
It can be stressful, frustrating and costly when a commercial tenant builds up rent arrears. If you are a commercial landlord experiencing this issue, before you take your tenant to court, there are a number of actions you need to take first. Commercial landlords must follow what is known as ....
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Why coercive control rarely affects divorce settlements
In the British family courts, coercive and controlling behaviour is rarely taken into account in divorce settlements, which can cause financial difficulties for victims of domestic abuse. How are finances divided on divorce? If a separating couple cannot agree on how to divide their money....
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Do you need an EPC to sell or let empty commercial property?
If you own empty commercial premises and are considering a sale or a new letting, the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) should be addressed as early as possible. Leaving it too late can delay transactions and limit your options once interest is secured. An EPC is a legal requirement for mo....
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Could the physical condition of your commercial property be limiting your ability to let or sell?
If you have a commercial property sitting empty and are considering a sale or letting, the first questions landlords ask are often commercial ones. What price should it be marketed at? Should you wait for market conditions to improve? Both are reasonable questions, but there is another one th....
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Why letting agreements should reflect your long-term plans
When a commercial property has been empty for a long time, landlords often turn their focus to how they can get income back through the door. Agreeing heads of terms quickly can feel like progress, but it is also the stage at which landlords can lock themselves into arrangements that won’t fit....
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Could the permitted use of your commercial property disrupt your future plans?
When landlords let a commercial property, their focus often falls on how much rent they will charge and how long they want to lease it for. Of course, these are key factors to think about, but they are not the only ones that deserve attention. In initial meetings with landlord clients, one of....
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