20 December 2019
Although not specifically referred to in the Queen's speech the Renters' Reform Bill can be found amongst the small print in the Government's briefing document. The main elements of the bill include abolishing the use of "no-fault" evictions by removing Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 and reforming the grounds for possession.
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17 December 2019
Almost two years since the Grenfell Tower tragedy there are still around 165 privately owned, high-rise buildings over 18 metres high covered in dangerous aluminium composite material cladding ("ACM Cladding").
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16 December 2019
Knight Frank recently published their analysis of development trends in the UK hotels sector.
The central message is that despite lingering uncertainty caused by Brexit, increasing land values, build costs and competition from other development uses, there are still record levels of institutional investment and a strong development pipeline.
Some key takeaways are as follows:
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3 December 2019
The final EG Tech Live event of 2019 delivered a really interesting keynote speech from Ed Parsons, geospatial technologist at Google.
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2 December 2019
R (on the application of Wright) (Respondent) v Resilient Energy Severndale Ltd and Forest of Dean District Council (Appellants),
In a recent judgement, the Supreme Court has upheld a ruling quashing a planning permission for a wind turbine on the basis that a “community fund donation” does not qualify as a material planning consideration.
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2 December 2019
In its 2019 report, Arts Council England revealed that in the last financial year objects with an agreed value of nearly £60 million have been given to UK museums and galleries in lieu of tax. The total value of objects coming into public ownership is more than double that in the previous year.
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28 November 2019
On Thursday 21 November, Louise Irvine attended the EG conference on the Future of Real Estate. In this blog post, Louise shares some of the key points which came out of the event:
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25 November 2019
Property Week, Savills and Tritax Symmetry (in association with Analytiqa) have published the results of their third annual market census. The market census surveys developers, occupiers and agents and provides valuable insight into the current view within the UK industrial and logistics sector.
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19 November 2019
Using a tired, mixed-use retail office building in London as a case study, we look at some of the issues which might be encountered on an urban redevelopment scheme. In this first part, Miri Stickland quizzes Katherine Ekers on the position in respect of existing tenancies.
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13 November 2019
Landmark decision of the Swiss Federal Supreme Court on the return of cultural property to the country of origin.
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11 November 2019
On Thursday 7 November, Alexandra Townsend-Wheeler attended the BPF Futures and AREF FutureGen panel discussion on “How will the climate crisis affect our real estate portfolios?”. In this blog post, Alexandra shares some of her key takeaways from the event:
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6 November 2019
31st October 2019 was not necessarily as auspicious as expected by many, but it was a day of discussion on build to rent at the UKAA annual conference. The day came shortly after research reported that UK BTR had grown by 20% in the last year, and there was certainly a buzz as professionals across the industry came together in Mayfair. For those unable to attend, here are ten tweets to hint at the discussion points of the day.
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5 November 2019
On 30 October 2019, the Supreme Court (by a majority of only 3 to 2) surprisingly overturned the decisions of both the Trial Judge and Court of Appeal by deciding that it was reasonable for a landlord to refuse consent for a tenant to apply for planning permission to convert the first and second floors of a 6 storey building to residential, which would result in approximately 52% of the building being in residential use.
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31 October 2019
Forsters tax discuss the latest IR35 case law and HMRC guidance
There are interesting insights into what “control” means in the context of IR35 in the recent Upper Tribunal decision relating to Christa Ackroyd Media Limited.
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22 October 2019
If you wait long enough everything comes back into style.
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22 October 2019
Most real estate professionals are presumably familiar with minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) in non-domestic property, now that the relevant legislation has now been in place since 2015. MEES is a consideration on any investment in non-domestic property (together with any related financing) and on any letting of that property.
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22 October 2019
The Inspectors examining the draft London Plan have published their report, and there are significant recommended amendments in relation to housing delivery, Green Belt review, and provision of additional industrial capacity.
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17 October 2019
The Supreme Court ("the Court") released on 16 October their judgment in the case of Routier v HMRC. The Court determined that the EU principle preventing restrictions of the free movement of capital applies to gifts of UK assets to charities in Jersey. Accordingly, persons making such gifts are entitled to inheritance tax ("IHT") relief in the same way as they would be if they made such a gift to a UK-based charity.
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1 October 2019
Charlotte Ross discusses the recent decision in Neocleous v Rees [2019] EWHC 2462 (Ch).
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30 September 2019
The last few years has seen an increasing focus on modular buildings as a potential solution to the UK’s housing crisis. The Housing White Paper, published in early 2017, made reference to diversifying the housing market by promoting more modular and factory built homes – but how does this method of construction differ from the market-norm?
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24 September 2019
On Thursday 19 September 2019, Emily Holdstock and Paul Grayson attended the BE Sheds and Logistics Development Conference at MK Dons Stadium in Milton Keynes. In this blog post, they share some of their key takeaways from the event:
What is the logistics market looking for?
Developers and occupiers in the logistics sector are focused on the following:
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23 September 2019
It was not long ago that almost every high street in the UK was anchored by the then retail giant Debenhams. It will not have escaped most of you that Debenhams have, amongst others, been the subject of some very public financial woes.
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20 September 2019
Thank you to FieraCapital for an engaging conference on 12 September held in the fantastic Knowledge Centre at the British Library.
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12 September 2019
This article discusses the recent case of Shaviram Normandy Ltd-v-Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (30 August 2019) which relates to an application to the Upper Tribunal for change of use of an office building to residential by way of the discharge or modification of a leasehold covenant restricting use to offices.
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9 September 2019
Long Term Sickness Absence (LTSA) (sickness absence lasting more than four weeks) is a significant issue in the UK, with over 100,000 people leaving work following a period of LTSA each year. Sadly, statistics show that, the longer a period of LTSA continues, the lower the chance that the individual will return to work.
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5 September 2019
A recent decision of HHJ Paul Matthews sitting as a judge in the High Court may provide welcome guidance for trustees as to the Court's current attitude to trustee exoneration clauses and deeds of indemnity, an area that has not been reviewed recently in the English courts.
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3 September 2019
The answer is yes if any one or more of the following apply:-
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15 August 2019
The Court of Appeal has overturned the High Court judgment of Mrs Justice Parker in the case of Lomax v Lomax (as commented on by Roberta Harvey and Hannah Mantle on 4 June 2019), confirming that the Court can order Early Neutral Evaluation (ENE) even if the parties do not consent.
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14 August 2019
On 9 August 2019, Forsters travelled to Cambridge to take part in the annual Wrenbridge World Cup, which this year was in aid of Send a Cow, a charity that provides livestock to rural African communities in order to assist with the alleviation of poverty.
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31 July 2019
The eagerly awaited Court of Appeal judgment in Cowan v Foreman [2019] EWCA Civ 1336 was handed down on 30 July 2019, confirming that Mrs Cowan can make a claim out of time, for reasonable provision from her husband’s estate.
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24 July 2019
On 17 July, Forsters’ Green Impact Group embraced the sunny weather and headed up a troupe of keen environmentalists travelling east to the River Lea in Hackney.
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24 July 2019
The balance of power shifts further towards residential tenants as proposals for radical leasehold reform march on.
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22 July 2019
With Boris Johnson confirming that he would be prepared to leave the EU on 31 October 2019 without concluding a formal withdrawal agreement, now seems like a good time to consider what a ‘no-deal’ Brexit would mean for employers in the UK hotel sector and their European workforce.
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15 July 2019
On Thursday 4th July, Forsters CRE Cricket Club ("FCCC") made the journey over to Kew for the department’s annual cricket day. Blessed with glorious weather and a fantastic pitch, client teams The Crown Estate, Canmoor and La Salle completed the lineup and precisely on time at 11:21 the first ball was bowled.
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12 July 2019
On 4 July, representatives from arguably the majority of the UK’s Build to Rent sector assembled at the offices of Ashurst for a roundtable to discuss “Beyond the Hype: The Real Importance of Wellness in the BTR Sector”. Here are some thoughts on a wide ranging discussion (held under Chatham House Rules).
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9 July 2019
Westminster City Council has launched its formal Regulation 19 consultation on its draft City Plan. This follows its informal Regulation 18 consultation at the end of last year which saw questions raised by the hotel industry and other property professionals over the viability and practicality of proposed on-site affordable housing as part of new hotels in Westminster.
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8 July 2019
Weren't at the BTR Annual Bisnow Conference? Here’s what you need to know.
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8 July 2019
Thank you to Movers and Shakers for a great event on the sunny morning of the 5th July. The property industry is united on the need to deliver more housing and fast! A collaborative discussion between public and private sector.
Here are some key takeaways which resonated with us:
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4 June 2019
Lomax v Lomax [2019] EWHC 1267 (Fam), Parker J has ruled that she cannot order the parties to engage in ENE or FDR procedures where one party objects to doing so.
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3 June 2019
A nuptial agreement can be a useful tool for wealthy individuals and families who seek to preserve wealth for future generations.
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22 May 2019
“We shape our buildings and afterwards our buildings shape us”. For those attending the latest UK Apartment Association Roundtable, few surely expected Churchilian quotes, or being asked to participate in a dynamic muscle stretch before the panel discussion.
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22 May 2019
On a beautiful sunny evening on 21st May 2019, the Commercial Real Estate Legal Association (CRELA) hosted its latest event at Battersea Power Station (BPS) tracking its development and let me tell you, the Power is certainly back on at this iconic landmark.
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21 May 2019
When one or both parties to a marriage has a connection with another country in addition to England and Wales there are international considerations and implications to take into account. This could be because of where they live, their domicile or nationality, or where their assets are based.
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15 May 2019
While funding is already available for the removal and replacement of dangerous cladding on buildings owned by councils and housing associations, the owners and occupiers of private buildings were not originally included in the government's relief plans.
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3 May 2019
The decision in Hannover v HMRC – First- tier Tribunal - regarding the application of the anti-avoidance provision of section 75A FA 2003 has created uncertainty in the property industry.
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30 April 2019
Last week the Government announced its intention to repeal section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 and in so doing end 'no fault' evictions.
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29 April 2019
Modern families take many forms. So-called nuclear families (with a husband, wife and two children to whom they are both biologically related) have become gradually less common, with a corresponding increase in the number of people entering into same-sex marriages or civil partnerships, marrying for the second or third time or choosing to remain unmarried.
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12 April 2019
Promises are often made and later broken. Often there is very little anyone can do about this. However, in certain circumstances, and specifically in relation to land or property, it may be possible to bring a claim to enforce a broken promise, known as a "proprietary estoppel" claim.
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8 April 2019
I have been asked on a few occasions in recent years, 'should we put trusts on a blockchain?' My answer is invariably "no", as there is friction between the discretionary, flexible world of trusts and the fixed, certain world of blockchain-based smart contracts. Life assurance on a blockchain? Possibly. But trusts? That's a tricky one.
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8 April 2019
Michael Armstrong, Senior Associate in our Private Client team, has written an article for Charles Stanley’s series on inherited wealth. The article, reproduced below, explores how the increasingly free flows of data and people across the globe will affect the transfer of wealth to the next generation.
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3 April 2019
HMRC have aggressively pursued individuals who they believe are avoiding income tax and national insurance by undertaking work via their personal service company rather than a contract of employment.
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1 April 2019
On Wednesday 27 March, associates and senior associates from across Forsters’ real estate teams hosted the first Future Leaders in Property (“FLIP”) event of 2019.
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19 March 2019
Having a keen interest in the food and drink sector (from both a personal and professional perspective!), on Tuesday 5 March, I attended the LPF seminar on “Foodhalls – The New Growth Market”. The evening, which was hosted by Cushman & Wakefield, opened with a presentation outlining the current market, the components of a successful foodhall and the different models in use.
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13 March 2019
Shortly after Mr Justice Mostyn rejected an application to bring a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 outside the statutory six month time-limit, the Court last week allowed a claim to be brought under the Act some 25 years and nine months after the deadline for doing so.
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12 March 2019
On Thursday 28 February, Kathryn Copeland, associate in our Commercial Real Estate team, attended a BPF seminar on the impact of Company Voluntary Arrangements (“CVAs”) on landlords. The panel discussion reflected on practice to date following the rapid increase in CVAs in 2018, as well as the future of CVAs and the BPF's thoughts on reform.
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11 March 2019
In a Judgment dated 7 March 2019, the Court of Appeal has held that 2 similar schemes designed specifically to avoid the owners of unoccupied properties being liable for business rates are perfectly valid and lawful. Such schemes do not stand to be treated any differently from tax avoidance schemes commonly used to avoid or mitigate any other form of taxation, such as income or corporate or inheritance tax.
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8 March 2019
On Thursday 7 March, the Home Office released its Statement of Changes setting out proposed changes to the UK Immigration Rules. It contains the long-awaited details of changes to the Tier 1 (Investor) Visa (the "Investor Visa") that were announced in December 2018 (shortly after the Home Office backtracked from its announcement that the visa was about to be suspended).
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8 March 2019
Forsters is delighted to celebrate International Women's Day 2019. As a firm, we are committed to seeing each and every one of our people realise their potential in a diverse and inclusive working environment and are delighted to take this opportunity to celebrate the success of women at all levels of the firm.
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5 March 2019
A decade after hot tubbing was first proposed, Bryan Shacklady and Fred Bowman of Forsters' Dispute Resolution team reflect on its use in the English Courts and evaluate the merits of concurrent expert evidence.
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28 February 2019
This week’s judgment in Cowan v Foreman and ors [2019] EWHC 349 provides guidance as to the court's jurisdiction pursuant to section 4 of the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 (“IPFDA”) and condemns the use of stand-still agreements. In this case the court refused to exercise its power to allow a widow to bring a claim against her late husband’s estate under the IPFDA outside the statutory six month time-limit.
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25 February 2019
The process of obtaining a pre-nuptial agreement may not be as difficult as you think. Below we have set out a five step guide to obtaining a nuptial agreement.
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20 February 2019
The High Court has ruled that a lease will not be frustrated on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.
The High Court's nervously anticipated decision in the case of Canary Wharf (BP4) T1 Limited and Others v. European Medicines Agency [2019] EWHC 335 (Ch) has been handed down today.
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18 February 2019
The prospect of discussing nuptial agreements with your partner may seem daunting but if approached in the right way it can form part of an open and honest conversation about your future together. From our experience, when the subject is brought up sensitively, your other half will most likely welcome the opportunity to discuss finances and to provide greater certainty for the future.
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18 February 2019
Goodman Group has announced that it has acquired a 9.5 acre site in Park Royal for around £70 million. This is an interesting acquisition as it represents the highest price per acre ever for an UK industrial land acquisition. However, Goodman’s plans for the site are perhaps even more intriguing.
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15 February 2019
This week the UK Government published a consultation proposing the introduction of a 1% SDLT surcharge on non-residents acquiring residential property in England and Northern Ireland.
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11 February 2019
On 27 October 2018, a number of Forsters’ associates attended a Women in Property seminar held at Coutts. The seminar discussed co-working and considered the question, “Flash in the Pan or Here to Stay?”
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11 February 2019
However many years you have been together, financial conversations can be difficult. Raising the subject of a nuptial agreement with your partner requires you to be sensitive, rational and honest. The good news is it can help you to build trust as a couple and can underpin your relationship. You can begin your future together by being open and honest about difficult subjects.
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7 February 2019
On Thursday 31 January, BNP Paribas hosted its annual “Capitalise: Prospects for Property” seminar. On a crisp London winter morning, hundreds flooded into the National Gallery to hear expert views on the global economy, politics and the current state of UK real estate.
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6 February 2019
As Uncle Ben told Peter Parker in the Spiderman comics, "With great power, comes great responsibility."
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5 February 2019
If One Heddon Street is the Crown Estate's first adventure into co-working flexible office space, then this market is in for a treat in the years to come. From the vibrant ornaments/flowers outside, cute café in the entrance, lush living wall and delicious #daisygreencollection coffee presented in a very fashionable #louisedear style cup, I knew I was in for a treat this morning.
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5 February 2019
On a new lease, a well advised tenant will carefully consider the extent of its repairing liability over the term. The principle of caveat emptor (buyer beware) applies so that a tenant should inspect carefully and depending on the nature of the premises, may commission a survey.
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4 February 2019
Engagements and wedding planning are joyful and heart-warming experiences and too often any talk of a pre-nup is viewed as being at odds with this special time. But mind-sets are changing with more and more couples signing nuptial agreements, valuing the certainty and financial transparency that such an agreement brings and rejecting the notion that nuptial agreements are unromantic.
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4 February 2019
Nuptial agreements, namely pre-nups and post-nups, are commonly associated with the rich and famous and can often be sensationalised by popular news stories.
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31 January 2019
We are now a month into the Disclosure Pilot Scheme (the “Pilot"), which came into force on 1 January 2019. The Pilot will operate (with limited exceptions) for two years in various Business & Property courts around the country and seeks to revolutionise the way parties deal with disclosure in proceedings; standard disclosure is no more!
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31 January 2019
The time limit to file a Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) return and pay the tax due to HMRC is being halved from 30 days to just 14 days.
SDLT is the tax payable by purchasers and tenants when they acquire an interest in land in England and Northern Ireland with a value over a certain threshold.
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30 January 2019
A gloriously crisp January morning saw me donning my very attractive cycling gear and speeding down to Kings Cross to attend a breakfast seminar to unpick the key themes behind the recently published London Knowledge Clusters Research Report.
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8 January 2019
Charities might wish to acquire or sell property for a number of reasons; to occupy, as offices or shops, or for investment purposes in the furtherance of its charitable aims. When entering into a real estate transaction the charity trustees will need to ensure they comply with the terms of the charity’s constitution as well as statutory requirements set out in the Charities Act 2011.
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7 January 2019
A difficult 2018 for the retail sector was capped off by the administration of HMV for the second time in 5 years after disappointing Christmas sales.
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