Legal wrap: Renters (Reform) Bill, Building Safety Act 2022 and In on the Act

Welcome back to the EG Legal newsletter, catching you up on two weeks of quality content – including written and audio response to the launch of the Renters (Reform) Bill. Whether you prefer to digest our expert article, or listen to the latest episode of our In on the Act podcast series, we have you covered on the main provisions of the bill and what it will mean for tenants’ security of tenure and landlords’ freedom to evict them. In addition, we have by far our most comprehensive analysis yet of the Building Safety Act 2022 – a definitive guide to its various parts, how they work in practice and a timeline for implementation, including a round-up of secondary legislation around the Act. A wealth of other topics range from MEES, to floating offshore wind, to the continuing impact of the Supreme Court decision on the Tate Modern viewing platform. Legal news Supreme Court backs Nuffield Health in charity rates dispute The court has ruled that the health club operator is entitled to an 80% reduction in its rates bill In on the Act: Will the Renters (Reform) Bill strike a fairer balance for landlords and tenants? LISTEN Jess Harrold is joined by Imogen Dodds of Falcon Chambers to discuss the Bill Arbitrator cuts London Docklands Hilton Covid rent debt to £500,000 Decision follows more than a year of arbitration between hotel and freeholder Court backs insurers over Pizza Express in latest round of BII cases Preliminary ruling potentially limits significant part of claim to under £1m Central European real estate giant dispute may spill over to London courts Two businessmen are attempting to sue CPI Property Group and major shareholder Radovan Vitek Legal features Navigating the Building Safety Act Amy Allen and Hannah Ouseley provide a comprehensive yet straightforward summary of the legislation A move towards leasehold reform? Simon Kerrigan and Colin Young offer their thoughts on the Renters (Reform) Bill View from the bar: When paperwork goes wrong Guy Fetherstonhaugh KC and Cecily Crampin feel greater care should be taken by rule-makers in imposing conditions for compliance at which people routinely fail The clock is ticking on MEES compliance Stricter EPC requirements for commercial property are mere years away, requiring action now, writes Richard Vernon Giving the green light to green lease clauses Gemma Siviter stresses how collaboration between landlords and tenants is key to agreeing green lease clauses Focus on floating offshore wind Paul Maile and Karen Mutton consider the role that floating turbines will play in hitting green energy targets The considered view on Tate Modern Natasha Rees looks at the fallout from the decision on the Tate Modern viewing platform Legal note: Surrendering a joint tenancy Elizabeth Dwomoh tackles a recent judgment provided a useful summary on surrendering a joint tenancy by operation of law Legal note: Bombshell ruling for University of Exeter Stuart Pemble considers the difficulties caused by an unexploded Second World War bomb Practice points Service charges: experience alone is not enough Assethold Ltd v The Lessees of Flats 1-14 Corben Mews Beneficial ownership: jurisdictional issues Heslop v Heslop and another Enfranchisement: substitution of reversioner Airspace Developments Ltd and another v Bennets Courtyard Freehold Ltd Appeal succeeds where court backdates issue of claim form Walton v Pickerings Solicitors and another Enfranchisement: can FTT undertake the material enhancement valuation exercise? Chapman and another v Alaska Management Co Ltd Breach of covenant: costs of pointless proceedings Avon Ground Rents Ltd v Ward Meaning of ‘live/work’ in a 999-year lease AHGR Ltd v Kane-Laverack and another Enfranchisement: development value and piercing the corporate veil Aneesh Ltd v Hinchliffe and others RTM: consequences of a failure to serve a notice inviting participation Baron Estate Management Ltd v Wick Hall (Hove) RTM Co Ltd Application to vary injunction requires a change of circumstances or new facts Hart District Council v Freeman and another Case coverage Case summary: Walton v Pickerings Solicitors and another Practice and procedure – Claim form – Service – Extension of time Case summary: Avon Ground Rents Ltd v Canary Gateway (Block A) RTM Co Ltd Leasehold enfranchisement – Right to manage – Qualifying tenants Case summary: Hart District Council v Freeman and another Town and country planning – Injunction – Variation – Material change of circumstances Case summary: McCarthy v Jones and another Breach of contract – Estoppel – Damages Case summary: Devine v Secretary of State for Levelling up, Housing and Communities Town and country planning – Enforcement notice – Appeal Case summary: Shell UK and others v Persons Unknown Practice and procedure – Injunction – Persons unknown Law report: Rakusen v Jepsen and others Landlord and tenant – Rent repayment order – Superior landlord Law report: R (on the application of Day) v Shropshire Council Town and country planning – Public open space – Material consideration 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