Legal wrap: MEES, planning reform, and digital signing and witnessing

Welcome to your weekly round-up of the pick of the content published on EG Legal. This week, we have the winning entry in the Property Bar Association’s 2022 student essay competition – looking at the formalities for making dispositions of property in the digital age. In addition, we have a round-up of the duties of a resident management company director, a vital update on the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard and much more, just a click away. Legal news Could these be the reforms that finally break the planning system? Two planning experts dissect the government’s plans and find them wanting Hackney and TfL in £6m dispute over Kingsland Viaduct TfL-owned Rail for London is seeking what it claims is overpaid rent on the site Legal features MEES: the path to greater efficiency Ben Strange offers practical guidance to landlords and investors on how to achieve a B rating Back to Basics: Navigating the post-completion journey Purchasing a property doesn’t end once completion has been effected, explains Katie Beddows Dragging the hulking beast of law into the digital age Glen Samuel’s winning essay in the PBA student essay competition grapples with outdated signing and witnessing requirements The rewarding yet responsible role of a resident management company director Christine Dubignon and Samantha Tomczyk outline the duties of an RMC director Legal note: Illustrating the reality principle Elizabeth Dwomoh scrutinises the Leasehold Reform Act 1967 and a case involving cartoonist Gerald Scarfe Q&A: The qualifying criteria explained Hope Wilson and Toby Watkin QC tackle the question: how can ground (g) of section 30(1) of the 1954 Act for the purposes of a new tenancy be satisfied? Practice points Business tenancy renewal: persistent delay in paying rent trumps equitable set-off Milestar Ltd v Gandesha and another Estoppel by convention: a shield not a sword? The court has yet to decide Rail for London Ltd v London Borough of Hackney Damages claim against solicitors for loss of opportunity: was there a retainer? McDonnell v DASS Legal Solutions (MK) Law Ltd (t/a DLS Law) Case summaries Re Edengate Homes (Butley Hall) Ltd (in liquidation); Lock v Stanley Company – Insolvency – Assignment of claim Park v Hadi and another Civil procedure – Relief from sanctions – Overriding objective Law report Hyman and others v Commissioners of HM Revenue and Customs Taxation – Stamp duty land tax – Tax rate   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