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The 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 MoreWhat are preliminaries in a construction contract?
What is meant by preliminaries in a construction contract? In a construction contract, preliminaries – often referred to as “prelims,” – set out the costs and arrangements necessary for a project’s execution that do not usually form part of the finished structure. These items are fundamental to the overall operation of a construction site, ensuring…
Read MoreWhat is a collateral warranty?
What is the purpose of a collateral warranty? Collateral warranties are often required on a construction project to create a direct contractual relationship between parties who would otherwise lack the right to enforce contract terms. Only a party to a contract may enforce its terms, and construction projects often involve numerous stakeholders such as funders,…
Read MoreLessons for contractors: Navigating design responsibility in JCT 2016 Design and Build Contracts
A recent legal dispute between contractor ADI Building & Refurbishment Ltd (ADI) and client Workman Properties Ltd (WPL) sheds light on the interpretation of design responsibility under Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) 2016 Design and Build contracts. The case, which centred around a dairy facility expansion, highlights critical contractual considerations under design and build contracts. Background…
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 MoreNavigating Latent/Inherent Defects: Key Considerations for Landlords Granting Leases in New Build Commercial Properties
As demand for commercial office space evolves, landlords must navigate carefully when granting leases for newly constructed properties. In this article we outline the key considerations for landlords focusing on defects, an issue that can significantly impact both the landlord’s and tenant’s interest in the premises, the value and its use. A latent defect, also…
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…
Read MoreCladding crisis continues to cast a long shadow over construction industry
The UK real estate sector has continued to feel the consequences of the tragic Grenfell Tower fire in 2017. What began in the aftermath of this event has turned into a long and complex saga. More buildings are still being identified with dangerous cladding. The challenges of fixing the issue – for both developers and…
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