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As the High Street evolves and pubs continue to close, there are an increasing number of smaller builders looking to convert commercial properties into apartments or Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO). So what advice can a commercial property...
Most commercial leases require tenants to leave premises in a decent state of repair on their departure, failure to comply can have financial consequences for the tenant and this was the case recently on an industrial site where asbestos was discovered...
Many commercial property owners and commercial landlords are currently looking at converting their properties into residential homes as the high street takes a hit and leases do not get renewed. Often a commercial property’s central location, with...
Nothing stops for coronavirus and whilst we are all welcoming the next step in relaxing restrictions and making the most of the sunny days landlords need to remember that June 1st is also the day the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private...
The property market needs to get back to some kind of ‘normal’ but as professional conveyancers we understand this comes with additional pressure for businesses such as Estate Agents to ensure a safe working environment not only for clients, but...
These have been unprecedented times, anticipated recovery post-Brexit uncertainly has now been swept aside and to use nautical terminology many firms are battening down the hatches to ride out the Covid-19 storm. The implications of coronavirus between...
As a business expands or indeed starts up new commercial premises become a necessity, but there is a big difference between commercial and residential leases and as it’s one of the biggest overheads a business often has after wages it’s important...
A new commercial property solicitor has joined the team at Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers - Ben Tatters who has 18 years’ experience is joining the well-established commercial team at the Oldham firm. He has a wealth of knowledge dealing...
For every commercial business that is bought or sold within the OL postcode the Pearson commercial conveyancing team are donating £5 to help Oldham Mayor Cllr Javid Iqbal realise his charity target. After meeting with the Mayor recently the Pearson...
In 2017, the Government consulted on the operation of the leasehold system in the UK. Reforms are now imminent. Developers should be aware that this issue is on Parliament’s action list: new legislation to ban leaseholds is coming “as soon as...
The rules on Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) are about to change. Landlords only have until April 2018 to prepare for a tightening of the rules. Failure to do so could mean they will not be able to rent out their properties. What is an EPC? Whenever...
A new Land Transaction Tax (LTT) will replace Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) in Wales from 1 April 2018. The changes will make the rate of tax on Welsh properties cheaper at the lower end of the market, but more expensive at the higher end. The changes are set...
The Government has set aside £60 million of grants for small businesses in the farming industry to help them improve productivity. The grants scheme enables farmers to bid for cash to help them buy new farm equipment. Farming Minister George...
Our Commercial Property Lawyers act for clients in a wide variety of business acquisitions and it is important that your VAT position has been considered before embarking on your new purchase. Whilst we are not tax advisers or accountants, we are able to...
Most people are back at work after the Christmas break and many have returned with a clutch of new year’s resolutions. Popular choices include healthy eating, getting fitter or spending more time with your family. Or maybe you’ve focused on work...
Those involved in the property industry know its cyclical nature only too well - and those with an interest in making a property investment are right to keep a keen eye on the real estate market. One thing we've noticed...
There was a furore over the summer about developers making unfair charges on leasehold properties. The government is currently consulting on how to stop these practices. With the consultation due to end on 19 September, you only have days to give your views....
Summer's here - and we have some top tips for you to consider if your business is quiet over the holiday period. If your business is quieter over the summer months, use the time to review your business procedures and do some housekeeping....
The property market in the North is, largely, holding its own and enjoying a brighter outlook than most other regions in the UK - despite the impending Brexit and economic uncertainty. This has been reflected in our results this year: Pearson's property...
Those of you who follow us on Twitter or read this blog will know that five of the Pearson team (Ian Wolstenhulme, Rosie Aldcroft, Marie Pauley and Jade Hegarty), set out to raise £1,000 by doing the Snowdon Zip Wire at Zip World in Bethesda on 14...
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced a new partnership with London councils in an attempt to crackdown on rogue landlords and letting agents in London. Together with local boroughs, the Mayor intends to create a new online database on which...
Our commercial team recently dealt with a property transaction for Linda Lewis Kitchens and helped then expand their offering by moving into amazing new premises. There is however some spare capacity at the units at Belgrave Industrial Estate, Honeywell...
... and why it helps to have a supportive employer! This week we profile Sarah Major, a key member of our residential property team who specialises in conveyancing. When the recession hit the UK in 2007 and 2008, I was working for a national house...
Our support for Action Oldham is on a bit of a roll at the moment. As I write, we are just a few pounds away from reaching our £1000 target in our #zipwire challenge. Karen Piontek, Ian Wolstenhulme, Jade Hegarty, Rosie Aldcroft and Marie Pauley are...
Our support for Action Oldham is on a bit of a roll at the moment. As I write, we are just a few pounds away from reaching our £1000 target in our #zipwire challenge. Karen Piontek, Ian Wolstenhulme, Jade Hegarty, Rosie Aldcroft and Marie Pauley are...
Our support for Action Oldham is on a bit of a roll at the moment and about to hit its highest peak as we set off to Snowdon. Thanks to the generosity of clients and friends of the firm we have recently reached our £1000 target in our #zipwire...
Finding the perfect premises for your business, is both exciting and a relief. Your business plans are starting to take shape and whether you are expanding or reducing your overheads, it is good to know that your business will soon be trading from a better...
Be specific about why you are withholding a deposit from a departing tenant. When a tenant departs and leaves their accommodation in a mess, landlords are entitled to retain an appropriate part – or all – of the tenant's deposit to cover the...
In a moment of Twitter madness, I agreed to join Ian Wolstenhulme, Rosie Aldcroft and Jade Hegarty on the zipwire at Zip World on 14 May. And not just any zipwire – it’s only the fastest and second longest! I have to admit my heart sank a little...
... but don't forget the tax relief changes Judging by the popularity of our "buy-to-let" seminar for potential buy-to-let landlords in March, it is clear that landlords around Oldham and North Manchester still have a healthy interest in...
The next business rates revaluation will take effect from 1 April 2017. In the press release issued on 17 February 2017, the Government confirmed that: "The revaluation will make the system more accurate by ensuring business rates bills reflect the...
From 6 April 2017, the government will start to restrict basic rate, income tax relief for landlords' finance costs on residential properties. Latest research by YouGov*, after surveying 925 mortgaged buy-to-let landlords in December and January,...
And why landlords should check their properties’ energy ratings as soon as possible ... Stricter rules about Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) are coming into force in April 2018: landlords should prepare accordingly or risk being banned from...
The Halifax recently released its House Price Index report for February 2017 and I’m pleased to say there’s good news for the housing market! Here are the highlights: 0.1% monthly increase in house prices Prices in the three months to...
The government has launched new schemes aimed at tackling the current housing crisis. Read on for some highlights. Starter homes - good news for first-time buyers Earlier this month, the government announced funding for new housing on brownfield...
On 23 November, Philip Hammond, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, gave his first Autumn Statement . It will also be his last: he announced that next year, the budget will take place in Autumn with only a statement issued in Spring. So what did he have to...
There’s mixed news for the property market in our latest round-up of recent property news Interest rates proving to be good news for property purchasers despite the Brexit effect While the low value of the pound might encourage foreign investors to...
The proposed High Speed rail link (HS2) has hit the headlines again after the government announced its preferred route on 15 November and started consulting on some of its plans. Yesterday's announcement relates to Phase 2b which proceeds from Crewe to...
Landlords have a legal responsibility to keep the premises they let out in a safe condition to use. That responsibility is not unlimited, however, as a recent decision of the Supreme Court shows. The landlord concerned had sold a flat in a block of flats...
Are you thinking of buying a property to house your business? Read our checklist below to find out how to take a savvy approach to searching for and buying the best premises for your business needs. What to look for searching for suitable...
A recent survey of commercial property has indicated a rise in activity in the first half of 2016 in comparison to last year, and whilst the North West did not perform well at the start of the year in Q2 it has outperformed other areas, making it the third...
Pearson’s Property Assistant, Alison Brown, has successfully completed year 2 of her exams in the Council for Licenced Conveyancing Course and hopes to soon be a fully qualified Licenced Conveyancer. Already she has 10 years experience in the...
We can report good news for our conveyancing team this week: they’ve been shortlisted for the " Best Small Conveyancing Firm " of the year in the LFS Conveyancing Awards . The team had to submit a lengthy...
This article comments on what is needed to effect the UK’s exit from the European Union – and how the political events of the last month affect that process. It's been over a month since the EU Referendum’s...
What can you do to prepare for a Brexit? Keep tuned in to what the government is doing to leave the EU – and what effect their decisions might have. Talk to your staff – particularly if they are non-UK residents. Theresa May...
Effect of a Brexit on the housing market Following the vote to leave the EU, there has been a pervasive air of “doom and gloom” in the news and talk about the housing market slowing down. There is no doubt that economic uncertainty caused...
So there it is! The UK have voted to leave the EU. It’s the end of era – or will be once the government negotiates how the Brexit will actually work. We’ve set out below a few key points for businesses and some basic guidance on what to do...
About to complete on a house purchase? Beware bogus emails claiming to be from your solicitor. There has been another incident of a house buyer being tricked out of her purchase money by a fraudster pretending to be her conveyancer. In a case we heard...
As lawyers and conveyancers, we must ensure that all our “ducks are in a row” before we complete property transactions for our clients. We aim to ensure buyers know what they’re buying and the seller gets their purchase money. We also...
After 1 February 2016, landlords entering into residential leases, having new lodgers or allowing anyone to occupy a property they own for residential purposes are required to undertake checks to ensure the tenant and any other adults who will be living...
There are no end of financial reasons for the property market to be unpredictable at the moment, but recent figures from two leading statistical institutes make the situation during the start of 2016 even harder to fathom. The Office for National Statistics...
Following the latest budget, we have set out a few of the key points for property developers. • There will be a cut to mortgage tax relief. The relief which landlords and property developers can claim on mortgage interest will be at the basic rate of...
An increasing number of people are being defrauded on the internet. Those involved in buying and selling houses are as much at risk of falling victim to this so-called “cybercrime” as anyone else. In fact, it appears that property...
How much do you know about the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (the Act)? You might well ask: “what’s that got to do with me?” but if you are a developer intending to start work on an overgrown site, you need to pause for a minute and...
Landlords in the private rented sector should note that regulations have recently been introduced requiring them to provide smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations (SI 2015/1693) 2015 came into force on 1...
New regulations have been introduced that require English landlords to provide certain documents and information to those tenants granted assured shorthold tenancies (AST) after 1 October 2015. Failure to do so could mean that the landlord will not be able...
New measures announced recently by the Government will make it easier to convert underused offices into new homes. Brandon Lewis MP explained that the measures ‘ will mean we can tap into the potential of underused buildings to offer new homes for...
Businesses and individuals are being warned to be extra vigilant of bogus emails from fraudsters posing as solicitors. Karen Piontek, associate lawyer in our commercial property team, offers some practical simple steps to take. According to the Solicitors...
Karen Piontek, associate lawyer in the property team, shares her views following recent news that the number of UK commercial property transactions has reached its highest level since the credit crunch. It is encouraging to hear that the number of...
A Manchester-based steel supplier has secured its long-term future after purchasing a property at Trafford Park, thanks to the help of Pearson Solicitors. Established in 1979, Rowham Steel Products Ltd supplies mild steel, galvanised steel and zinc-coated...
This week, Her Majesty delivered the first Conservative Queen’s Speech in 19 years, with the Prime Minister calling it a ‘One Nation Queen’s Speech from a One Nation Government’. While the programme of new legislation was largely...
With election promises still ringing in our ears, SMEs would be wise to take a closer look at the manifesto commitments laid out by the new Government in recent weeks. Michael Pitt, partner and head of commercial property at Pearson, explains. Under the...
With each party’s pre-election manifesto homing in on the property market, the resulting uncertainty amongst those looking to buy, sell or invest in property, not to mention the lack of confidence caused by a possible change of government, will...
Tangible assets like land are often seen as a safe investment and a prime piece of development land can offer excellent returns whether you develop it yourself or sell it on. However, it’s not always easy to distinguish a genuine land banking scheme...
Chancellor George Osborne’s budget speech, his last before the election in May, offered some more positive news for small businesses as a review of the business rates system was formally announced. Karen Piontek, associate lawyer in Pearson’s...
With the promise of compelling yields, in some cases exceeding 10 per cent, investing in commercial property via a Self Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) is proving popular for small business owners as a tax efficient way to hold or purchase commercial...
A working group formed by deputy prime minister Nick Clegg will meet this month to discuss plans that will bring empty buildings to life across the North. Clegg recently announced that he would be forming the group with organisations such as Legal &...
Some SMEs make the mistake of assuming that their right to remain in their business premises at the end of a lease is protected by the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 (LTA 1954). However, a recent Court of Appeal decision provides clear direction on this...
Karen Piontek takes clients through her top tips • MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET A VALUATION It may surprise you to note that people often agree upon a price without having a surveyor tell them what the property is actually worth which could...
In a recent seminar held jointly between Pearson Solicitors and Chartered Surveyors, Breakey & Nuttall, lawyer Karen Piontek spoke on leases and gave her top tips to the assembled audience of commercial property owners and landlords 1. RENT...
Do you have property you rent out, are you a buy to lent landlord or do you manage a portfolio of commercial, industrial or retail properties? If the answer to any of these is yes then the next Pearson Seminar is a must for you. By joining forces with...
Disputes can arise where the line of a boundary is uncertain, case law around the determination of boundaries is extensive and whether it concerns a small residential property or a large commercial estate parties can become involved in extensive costly...
Responsible landlords should be given tax exemptions and encouraged to improve their property portfolios, whilst at the same time bad landlords should be driven from the marketplace, said a housing watchdog recently. With the number of privately...
From Autumn 2014 private landlords will be required to check the eligibility of their tenants to reside in the UK. Landlords who rent to illegal immigrants may be liable for a civil penalty of up to £3,000. From this autumn this requirement will be...
PEARSON Solicitors are expanding their Commercial Property team and are pleased to welcome Karen Piontek to the firm. Karen has worked in the legal profession since 1998 and joins us from a successful Lancashire practice where she led the residential...
Interesting for developers and investors An interactive map showing over 4,000 pieces of property and land in the North West has been launched by the Government and if it cannot justify its use then it will be sold off. Under the “Right to...
