An interview with Andy Thomson – Senior Director Operational Real Estate – United Trust Bank
What is your background and experience in the property industry? Following graduating from the University of Glasgow, the first 25 years of my career were spent working in Bank of Scotland and then RBS. This was predominantly working within the real estate sector dealing with loans ranging from £1m to £1bn, across all of the…
Read MoreWhat developers need to know about the Building Safety Levy
The Building Safety Levy is set to bring substantial changes to the development landscape in England, marking a critical response to the need for safer building standards following the Grenfell Tower tragedy. While its implementation has been delayed to autumn 2026, developers cannot afford to postpone their preparations. Here, we explore the key aspects of…
Read MoreSelling a commercial property with a sitting tenant
Navigating the sale of a commercial property while a lease is active requires a careful balance between legal obligations, tenant rights, and the expectations of potential buyers. Unlike selling a vacant property, transferring ownership of a tenanted commercial property introduces additional complexities that landlords must address to ensure a legally sound and commercially viable transaction.…
Read MoreNavigating the challenges of serving Section 5 notices under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987
The Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 imposes obligations on landlords when they intend to dispose of their interest in a multi-occupied building where qualifying tenants reside. A critical requirement of the Act is the service of a Section 5 notice, which landlords must issue before selling the freehold or superior leasehold interest to a third…
Read MoreUnderstanding the differences between leasehold and freehold ownership
Recent changes in leasehold legislation are set to impact property ownership in England and Wales. These reforms, aimed at simplifying processes and reducing costs for leaseholders, could have significant implications for both homeowners and property investors. Understanding the differences between leasehold and freehold ownership is key for anyone involved in the property market. This article…
Read MoreThe resurgence of the UK hotel sector as a prime investment opportunity
The UK hotel sector has experienced a remarkable resurgence in recent years, emerging as a highly attractive proposition for commercial property investors. Following years of uncertainty driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and economic fluctuations, 2024 marked a turning point, with transaction volumes soaring to pre-pandemic levels. As the sector enters 2025, it offers insights into…
Read MoreOptimism returns to the UK office lettings market in 2025
As the festive cheer subsides and we settle back into our routines, a flicker of optimism illuminates the UK office lettings market heading into 2025. This optimism, a welcome contrast to the challenges of recent years, reflects a sector that seems poised for renewed growth after weathering a storm of uncertainty. Historical challenges in the…
Read MoreHow to ensure your festive property deals get done
Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat, and you need it to lay golden eggs in the commercial property market! A firm such as ours, Newmanor Law, provides much more than just legal advice and that is especially true at this time of year when you need your 2024 to end with deals completing…
Read MoreLondon office construction: Refurbishments dip below new builds for the first time since 2020
The Winter 2024 edition of the Deloitte’s bi-annual London Office Crane Survey has highlighted a significant shift in London’s office construction market, revealing that, for the first time since early 2020, new build office projects have surpassed refurbishment starts, reflecting changing developer priorities amidst economic and geopolitical challenges. Between April and September 2024, statistics showed…
Read MorePotential reforms to ‘Security of Tenure’
The Law Commission has recently released its first consultation paper exploring potential reforms to the security of tenure provisions for business tenancies under Part II of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 (LTA 1954). This is a significant issue for business landlords and tenants, as security of tenure fundamentally influences their rights to renew leases…
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