Following a request from a user, we have added letters before action for three of the most common estate disputes. Read more...

The Purchase of land guide now includes new precedents and commentary. Read more..

Following user feedback, we have added some additional precedents to the Divorce - Applications made after 6 April 2022 guide. Read more...

Changes to the language and formalities around residential tenancies in Wales came into force in December 2022. Read more...

Legislation has now come into force that changes tenancies in Wales. Read more...

The Scale-up Visa is for talented individuals who have the skills needed to enable the UK economy to grow. Both sponsored and unsponsored applications can be made but the unsponsored route is only available to applicants after they have had sponsored permission for a while. Read more...

The Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022 is in force from 30 June 2022. The Act restricts ground rents on new residential long leases to an annual nominal rent of a peppercorn. Any landlord who contravenes the Act can be fined up to £30,000. The property guides have been updated to reflect these changes.

The Immigration Appeals guide has been updated to include new forms for proceedings in the Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber). The matter plan now also includes precedents for a Brief to counsel, Skeleton argument and Witness statement for use in Immigration matters. We invite you to explore this updated publication. Comments and feedback are always welcomed.

We have published a new article on Using Retainer Instructions which we hope By Lawyers users will find helpful.

Two special conditions have been added to the Library of special conditions found in the C. Contract folder of the Sale of land matter plan. These relate to the buyer reimbursing the seller for the costs of searches or reports and the buyer’s responsibilities where a property is sold subject to a tenancy agreement.

An interesting new guide which assists property litigation practitioners has been published. The practical guide contains matter plans, commentaries and precedents for Acting for the Claimant and Acting for the Defendant. The commentary covers the following topics: Nuisance; Trespass; Boundary issues; Breaches of covenant; Ownership disputes; Going to the tribunal – First-tier and Upper Tribunals; Going to court – Part 7 and Part 8 of the Civil Procedure Rules. New precedents include: Retainer instructions; Letter to local authority reporting statutory nuisance; Letter to defendant before action – Private nuisance; Example content – Particulars of claim – Private nuisance; Example content – Defence – Private nuisance; Letter to process server with instructions to serve interim possession order against unknown occupier; Example content – Particulars of claim – Possession after trespass; Example content – Defence and counterclaim – Trespass; Letters following the boundary disputes protocol; Letters to claimant’s solicitor asserting adverse possession claim and discussing next steps; Scaffolding licence; Deed of release of restrictive covenants. The Freehold Property Disputes guide is a comprehensive and practical resource for practitioners who are advising and representing both claimants and defendants in property disputes.

With criminal practitioners being busier than ever, we have enhanced our Criminal guide with a library of new initial letters to clients. Designed to accompany the Client Care and Terms of Business which are sent after the first meeting with a client, these letters have sufficient space for case-specific details and advice and already include the sentencing guidelines for an offence. The library can be found in the B. Getting the matter underway folder of the Criminal Magistrates Court matter plan and includes letters for the following offences: Drink driving Possession of Class A drugs Possession of Class B drugs Possession of Class C drugs Criminal damage Robbery – Street and less sophisticated commercial Wounding with intent Rape We encourage practitioners to use these letters, and welcome feedback and suggestions, particularly if other offences may be useful.

As practitioners may be aware, the Financial Services Compensation Scheme increased the length of time that temporary high balances were protected in bank accounts from 6 months to 12 at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. This protection has been reduced to 6 months again from 1 February 2021. The Practice Management guide has been amended accordingly.

An exciting and useful new guide to Leasehold property disputes has been published, with extensive commentary discussing commercial and residential properties from the point of view of both landlord and tenant clients. Matter plans which are tailored to acting for landlord or tenant claimants and defendants will assist practitioners to ensure that the right precedent is used at the right time. The commentary covers: Overviews of the court and tribunal systems, funding and alternative dispute resolution; Breaches of lease covenants by tenants; Breaches of lease covenants by landlords; Remediation and forfeiture; Commercial dilapidations and residential hazard reporting; Going to court under Parts 7 and 8 of the Civil Procedure Rules; Going to the First-tier tribunal. A number of precedents are included such as: Initial letters before action; Letters of response covering various situations; Notice before forfeiture under s 146 of the Law of Property Act 1925; Counter-notice claiming the benefit of the Leasehold Property (Repairs) Act 1938; Notice of landlord’s breaches of repairing covenants; Notice to former tenant regarding goods left and commercial premises; Example content for particulars of claim for a variety of circumstances; Quantified demand and schedule of dilapidations; Tenant’s response to dilapidations documents; Notice before tribunal application under s 22 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985; All the standard forms and letters for court and tribunal proceedings. We invite you to explore this new publication and to consider the wealth of assistance the Leasehold Property Disputes publication offers.

The Criminal commentary has been enhanced with information about the new technology and case management platforms being introduced in police stations, prisons and courts. More detail has also been added around the practical aspects of hearings, including video and telephone hearings. New guidance leaflets for clients Enclosure – Checklist for client going to court, Enclosure – Information sheet – Magistrates’ Court process and Enclosure – Information sheet – Crown Court process have been added to assist practitioners in preparing their clients.