Legal wrap: Business rates, lessons from the bar and the Covid arbitration bill

Welcome to your weekly round-up of the pick of the content published on EG Legal over the past seven days. As promised last time, this week we have further analysis of the Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill and the arbitration process for pandemic-related rent disputes that it will introduce – including a must-listen podcast. Not only that, but we have the latest damning assessment of the government’s handling of business rates, and some valuable lessons from a law firm partner-turned-barrister, learned during his first two years at the bar and shared for the benefit of solicitors everywhere. Plus plenty more below. Legal news Commercial rent arrears recovery: what do the new proposals look like? Helena Davies of Brabners discusses the Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill and the new Code of Practice for landlords and tenants Developer wins appeal over planned retirement village by Devon beauty spot Council claimed planning permission had lapsed as no lawful development had taken place Legal features Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill – billions in the balance Andrew Todd and Chris Ives consider whether the proposed arbitration process will mean that insurers are asked to pay a bigger share of rent arrears Lessons for transactional solicitors learned at the bar Michael Ranson shares what his first two years as a barrister have taught him Business rates: where are we now? After showing signs of promise, the government must try harder, says John Webber A call for reform in the Landlord and Tenant Act Paul Tonkin shares the results of a recent survey of the Property Litigation Association’s membership The post-Covid recovery of the construction industry Suzanne Wood and Adam Stanley assess the outlook for construction industry cash flow as the sector takes centre Legal note: Digging into mines and minerals Louise Clark analyses a ruling on rights to mine Welsh mudstone Practice points Rent repayment orders: poor mental health and the defence of reasonable excuse AA v Rodriguez and others TOLATA: the test for occupation rent and exclusion Bailey v Dixon Right to manage: withdrawal of claim notices Eastern Pyramid Group Corporation SA v Spire House RTM Co Ltd Property ownership: resulting or common intention constructive trust Ravendark Holdings Ltd v Rotenberg and others Succession: vesting of an assured tenancy on intestacy Clarion Housing Association Ltd v Carter Working from home – a material change of use? Sage v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government CPO compensation: the perils of expert evidence Salford Central in Timec 1209 LLP v Salford City Council Case summaries Wynne v Yates and another Landlord and tenant – Service charges – Interim payments Bailey v Dixon Trusts – Joint ownership – Occupation rent Ravendark Houghton Holdings Ltd v Rotenberg and others Property – beneficial ownership – Constructive trust R (on the application of Cava Bien Ltd) v Milton Keynes Council Judicial review – Defence – Standard of proof Clarion Housing Association Ltd v Carter Landlord and tenant – Assured periodic tenancy – Succession Law report Wynne-Finch and others v Natural Resources for Wales Land – Mines and minerals – Trespass   For more legal articles and to search our extensive archive, visit EG Legal    To send feedback, e-mail jess.harrold@eg.co.uk or tweet @EGPropertyNews