Issue: October 2024

Placement order – balancing the options

October 2024 | Family

The LA was refused an application for a placement order in respect of a four-year-old child. The decision was made at a final hearing where the court considered three realistic options: rehabilitation to the mother; long-term foster care; and adoption. In the guardian’s view, it was a finely balanced case, but while the court refused …

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HMLR – PG 35

October 2024 | Conveyancing

HMLR has updated PG 35: corporate insolvency. Section 7.7 has been updated to confirm when HMLR will consider an application for cancellation of a restriction on a freehold title in favour of a dissolved management company: ‘7.7 Restrictions in favour of dissolved companies 7.7.4 Cancellation of the restriction Where the restriction is no longer required …

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Declaration of trust – varying

October 2024 | Land

The HC has heard a case brought by a trustee in bankruptcy relating to varying an express declaration of trust. The facts involve a couple, a divorce and a bankruptcy, but at its heart is the purchase of a property by a couple. When they purchased it in 2001, they declared on the transfer that …

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Lenders – SVR

October 2024 | Conveyancing

The HC has heard a case which should prompt conveyancing practitioners to read the judgment and review their standard mortgage reports. The case involved the taking over of now-defunct Northern Rock’s mortgage loan book following the collapse of the former during the 2008 financial crash. The judge summarised the position thus: ‘1. In the early …

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RTM – process

October 2024 | Land

The SC has heard a case which will be of interest to many property practitioners as it involves right to manage (RTM) companies. The press summary is as follows: ‘Background to the Appeal This appeal concerns the operation of the regime in the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 (the “CLRA”) under which qualifying tenants …

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Tenancies – damp and mould

October 2024 | Landlord and tenant – residential

The government has updated its guidance Understanding and addressing the health risks of damp and mould in the home. This is of importance to practitioners advising landlord clients, and the guidance makes it clear that landlords should respond to reports of damp and mould and should take a proactive approach to reduce the risk of …

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Sentencing – mitigation

October 2024 | Crime

D appealed a sentence imposed for several Class A drug offences. She was sentenced to 54 months’ imprisonment, just a month after giving birth. For three of those offences, she was sentenced to 38 months for each (to run concurrently). She appealed on the basis that: Her role in the offences had been mischaracterised and …

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HMLR – fees increase

October 2024 | Procedure

HMLR has announced an increase of some of its fees. This will affect practitioners beyond just conveyancing. Firms must take account of the additional fees to ensure that they are not left short on disbursements when they come to close their files. HMLR has announced as follows in a recent blog: ‘From Monday 9 December, …

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Disability discrimination – compromise agreement

October 2024 | Employment

The EAT has heard an interesting case regarding the interplay between a compromise agreement and a disability discrimination claim. The case summary states: ‘Summary Disability discrimination The Employment Tribunal (“ET”) struck out the claimant’s claims for disability discrimination (direct, indirect and disability related discrimination) on the basis that they were precluded by a compromise agreement …

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