Property Law

INSIGHT

Don’t fall down over dilapidations

28-Oct-2014 By Anthony Alder

Anthony Alder, director at AG&G chartered surveyors, lifts the lid on what you need to know to help you avoid claims by landlords

RICS claims rental valuation is 'not a failure in landlord and tenant relationship'

28-Oct-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has called into question fundamental aspects of the Government’s pub statutory code proposals.

Hospitality Trailblazer scheme to establish new apprentice standards

27-Oct-2014 By James Wallin

A Government scheme to develop standards in apprenticeships, managed by People 1st, has been extended.

Fleurets warns of 'lack of transparency' in rental market

23-Oct-2014 By Ruth Williams, M&C Report

New lettings can often lack transparency and are not representative of the “true market” Fleurets, the leisure property specialist has warned lessees.

INSIGHT

A guide to rent reviews

23-Oct-2014 By David Morgan

Tenants are becoming more successful in securing their own rent cuts, according to Morgan & Clarke chartered surveyors director David Morgan. Here he gives his tips on smart negotiating during a review

Fleurets: How the pub industry has changed in the last 50 years

22-Oct-2014 By Barry Gillham

Fleurets chairman Barry Gillham is celebrating 50 years with the company. He reflects on how the pub industry has changed during the decades

Pubs to face £350 business rates hike unless multiplier is frozen, warns BBPA

14-Oct-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has warned that each pub could face a £350 hike in its business rates bill if the Government does not announce a freeze in the tax multiplier in December's Autumn Statement.

Insight

A guide to capital allowances

09-Oct-2014 By Mark Tighe

Earlier this year, capital allowances specialists Catax Solutions warned that publicans need to take advantage of new legislation or risk losing millions in tax relief. MD Mark Tighe explains how licensees can ensure the money is not lost forever

Brighton pub campaigners call for support to block conversion

07-Oct-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Campaigners battling to save a Brighton pub are appealing for support to block the owner’s planning application to convert the building into residential use.

Llanelli publican says food and staff key to success

03-Oct-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

An experienced general manager, who started running his own pub two years ago, said coming up with the right food offer and employing the right staff are the key elements to his success.

Planning inspector rules Hackney’s Chesham Arms must remain a pub

02-Oct-2014 By James Wallin

Campaigners are celebrating victory in their fight to stop a vacant Hackney pub being turned into flats.

Late-night levies 'will reduce property values'

02-Oct-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The introduction of late-night levies is leading to a “modest” decline in property values and favours nightclubs at the expense of pubs, agents have warned.

Insight

A guide to nil premium leases

01-Oct-2014 By Matt Bettesworth

Matt Bettesworth, managing director of Bettesworths, explains the pros and cons of taking on a nil-premium lease

South West pub market 'continues to show signs of positive growth'

29-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The South West pub market is continuing to show “positive signs of recovery”, with 34% of buyers new to the sector, latest research from Christie & Co has revealed.

Demand for fair business rates

26-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Last week, more than 100 companies, including leading firms in the pub trade, signed an open letter calling for an overhaul of the business rates system. They labelled the tax as a “critical problem” that is “no longer fit for the 21st century”. Ahead...

Interior design tips for pubs

18-Sep-2014 By Laura Seddon

From digital wallpaper to kerb appeal, architectural interior designer Laura Seddon, from Millson Associates, shares her top design tips for publicans looking to carry out a makeover of their premises

One in seven parents mistakenly thinks underage drinking is on the rise

17-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

New research has shown that parents continue to wildly overestimate how many young people have tried alcohol, despite falling rates of underage drinking.

Restrictive covenants 'no longer' an issue, say industry figures

17-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The Government’s consultation on restrictive covenants on pub sales is ‘outdated and irrelevant’, leading industry figures have claimed.

Leading industry figures sign open letter demanding business rates overhaul

16-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

More than 100 companies, including leading firms in the pub trade, have signed an open letter calling for an overhaul of the business rates system.

Freehouses to overtake tenanted and leased pubs 'by end of 2015'

11-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The number of privately-owned freehouses will overtake the number of tenanted and leased pubs “by the end of 2015”, a leading property agent has predicted.

Third time lucky for Star’s refurb plans

10-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Star Pubs & Bars is celebrating planning victory after receiving permission for a refurbishment of one of its sites following two failed attempts.

Tenant accuses Punch of keeping him in the dark on takeover

10-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

A tenant has hit out at Punch Taverns for selling the freehold of his pub to developers without informing him or giving him the opportunity to buy it.

Insight

A guide to business rates

09-Sep-2014 By Ian Sloan

Recent statistics reveal that more than 90% of councils have not informed firms they are able to back-date a claim under the Small Business Rates Relief scheme.

More pubs going free of tie to attract tenants

03-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

An increasing number of landlords are being forced to sell pubs free of tie in order to secure a tenant, according to a property agent.

The value of tenants' alterations

02-Sep-2014 By Jonathan Essex

Improving your pub is vital to sustain and grow business. But how does it affect your property’s rent and valuation? Jonathan Essex, associate director at Colliers International, shares his advice for tenants

Councils still failing to correctly inform businesses about rates refunds

01-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

More than 90% of councils have have not informed firms that they are still able to back-date a claim under the Small Business Rates Relief scheme, according to a new study.

Pubs most common type of community asset

01-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Pubs are by far the most common type of community assets registered by councils, making up more than a third of the total listed, according to new research.

Shepherd Neame business rates appeals save tenants £400k

19-Aug-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Shepherd Neame has successfully appealed the business rates of almost a third of its tenanted pubs, providing total savings of over £400,000.

Law firm says applications can succeed in saturation zones

18-Aug-2014 By James Wallin

A law firm is celebrating success in a rare case of a licence being granted in a ‘saturation zone’ despite objections by the police.

MPs say new pub closure figures show planning loopholes must be closed

13-Aug-2014 By James Wallin

MPs across the political divide have called for the Government to close a loophole that allows pubs to demolished or converted without planning permission.

Industry responds to 'catastrophic' planning reform proposals

07-Aug-2014 By James Wallin

The Government’s proposals to reform the planning system have been described as “potentially catastrophic for Britain’s pub sector”.

Red Lion in Sidbury to remain as a pub

07-Aug-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

A Devonshire community group that failed to raise the funds to buy its local have praised the fact the venue will remain as a pub.

Flexibility is the key to courting buyers, property agents claim

04-Aug-2014 By Helen Gilbert

Landlords’ increasing flexibility with their asking rents and terms could help boost the attractiveness of pubs to potential buyers, according to property experts.

Viable pubs need greater protection

04-Aug-2014 By Robert Sayles

Amidst stories of pubs being converted into supermarkets, housing, betting shops and God knows what else; it’s nice on occasion to hear of a pub that seemingly manages to escape such an ignominious fate, says Robert Sayles.

Wandsworth pub campaigners win unprecedented protection for their local

29-Jul-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Pub campaigners are celebrating after a London council agreed to issue a rare Article 4 Direction to protect a community local and implement a pub-protection policy across the borough.

Pub rents fall as a proportion of turnover

28-Jul-2014 By Rob Willock

Average dry rents on new pub leases from the four largest tenanted pub companies are up sharply this year, but have fallen as a proportion of projected turnover, as the market stages a steady recovery.

Study shows parents unaware of underage drinking decline

28-Jul-2014 By John Harrington

More than nine in ten parents are not aware of the downturn in alcohol consumption by 11-15 year olds over the last decade, according to the Portman Group.

BBPA fears cost of new energy audits

23-Jul-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has expressed its concerns over new Government regulations that will force large managed pub companies to pay thousands of pounds to conduct energy audits.

London councils 'curb pub openings'

17-Jul-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

London councils are clamping down on granting planning permission for new drinking outlets, to prevent a “saturation of pubs” and the creation of “binge drinking hubs”, property agents have warned.

JDW boss Tim Martin: 'Jamie Oliver is causing rents to rise'

16-Jul-2014 By John Harrington

JD Wetherspoon (JDW) chairman Tim Martin has said the willingness of Jamie’s Italian, the restaurant group founded by high-profile chef Jamie Oliver, to accept high rent costs is causing rents for other operators to rise.

Parliamentary motion calls for Government to amend pub development laws

15-Jul-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Charlotte Leslie MP, vice-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, has tabled a motion in the House of Commons calling for the Government to amend development laws so any demolition or change of use involving the loss of a pub would require planning...

Pubco Star calls for action over business rates appeals

10-Jul-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Star Pubs & Bars has hit out at the business rates appeal process, claiming that appeal cases for some of its pubs have taken four years to settle.

Greene King pub arrives at London Euston railway station

09-Jul-2014 By John Harrington

Greene King is to invest a seven-figure sum launching its first station pub at London’s Euston station.

MPs wade into pub planning furore after council halts revamp

08-Jul-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Community pubs minister Brandon Lewis and deputy speaker Nigel Evans have waded into a planning furore, after attempts to revive a Ribble Valley pub have been halted by the local council, for the second time.

'Oldest hostelry in Wales' to be transformed into gastropub

07-Jul-2014 By James Wallin

A pub believed to be the oldest in Wales has been taken on by a former restaurant manager.

Public inquiry into developer's plans for Hackney pub adjourned

30-Jun-2014 By James Wallin

Campaigners and council officers squared up to the owner of a vacant Hackney pub at a public inquiry this week.

Multiple operators may miss out on business rate relief

25-Jun-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

European legislative restrictions could mean multiple operators missing out on receiving the business rate relief they were promised if they have already been given other aid.

Community pub campaigners call for ACV protection to last 10 months

23-Jun-2014 By James Wallin

The Plunkett Foundation has called for changes to Asset of Community Value (ACV) listings, including extending the protected period from six to 10 months.

Licensee fears pub sold to developer despite legal protection

18-Jun-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

A Devon licensee, who has been evicted from his ACV-listed pub after 18 years at the helm, said he fears his home has been sold to a developer — without the local community being given a chance to buy it.

BrewDog continues bar expansion with opening of fourth Scottish bar

12-Jun-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

BrewDog, the Scottish brewer and pub operator, is to open its fourth bar in Scotland this Saturday (14 June).