Legal wrap: CVAs, invasion of privacy and the Insurance Distribution Directive

Welcome to the final round-up of the year of the pick of content published on EG Legal over the past seven days. This time, we have a survey of the landscape for corporate restructurings after a major year for company voluntary arrangements, and an important reminder on compliance with the Insurance Distribution Directive. Other topics covered include invasion of privacy, VAT treatment of break payments and more. While Legal wrap will return in the new year, we aren’t quite done for 2021 yet – keep an eye on the EG website in the coming days for our Top 10 Cases of the Year podcast, a written annual review and other content. Legal news Architects ‘potentially liable’ for Leeds cinema fire damage The blaze caused more than £6m of damage to the city’s Majestic Cinema £8m battle over Portsmouth towers cladding goes to Court of Appeal Hyde Group is suing Mulalley for the cost of replacing all the cladding at Gosport Towers Legal features Is the age of the CVA over? Katherine Campbell considers what lies ahead for the commercial property rent crisis What you need to know about the Insurance Distribution Directive Elizabeth Thomson shares practical examples of how to approach the insurance distribution regime Totting up HMRC’s position on VAT and break payments HMRC’s u-turn leaves the VAT treatment of break payments uncertain, write Julia Cockroft, Dhara Mulumudi and Fiona Moignard An invasion of privacy? What landowners need to know about video technology Pauline Lam and Michael Stacey offer a guide for landowners following a recent county court decision on video technology and privacy Ignore the lease at your peril Paul Henson considers the implications of a professional negligence claim brought by a developer against its solicitors Legal Note: Property ownership – a matter of trusts Louise Clark analyses a complicated dispute over establishment of a resulting or common intention constructive trust Practice points HMO: the focus of the defence should be to the offence committed – underscored Palmview Estates Ltd v Thurrock Council Business rates: completion notice with a date which precedes service is invalid Hermes Property Unit Trust v Richie Roberts and Trafford Council Negligence: liability for property damage – acts or omissions? Rushbond plc v The JS Design Partnership LLP Easement claim given safe passage through court Browning and another v Jack and another Telecoms Code: para 17 a floor not a ceiling for upgrading and sharing rights On Tower UK Ltd v JH & FW Green Ltd Case summaries Termhouse (Clarendon Court) Management Ltd v Al-Balhaa Landlord and tenant – Service charges – Determination Awan v Awan and another Land registration – Fraud – Evidence – Respondents applying to register transfers Palmview Estates Ltd v Thurrock Council Housing – House in multiple occupation – Reasonable excuse – Appellant owning HMO Williams v Nilsson and another Trusts – Common intention – Evidence On Tower UK Ltd v JH & FW Green Ltd Telecommunications – Electronic Communications Code – Code rights   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