Legal wrap: Renters (Reform) Bill, retail tenant mix and the infrastructure levy

Welcome to your weekly round-up of the pick of the content published on EG Legal. This week, we have an expert view on the Renters (Reform) Bill, just laid before parliament last week, and whether it will achieve its goals – as well as a timely comparison piece that contrasts the UK residential sector with those elsewhere in Europe. But what about all those sweet shops proliferating on Oxford Street (and high streets across the land)? Our author has views on how to improve tenant mix and keep standards high. Other topics include agreements for lease, a consultation on the infrastructure levy and what the Building Safety Act 2022 means for commercial property standard enquiries. Legal features Enforcing net zero targets Louise Irvine presents the final part of our series on the road to net zero Navigating the nuances of European resi investment Hannah Quarterman, Paul Tonkin, Emilio Gómez Delgado, Sabine Adams, Alberto Carrara and Margot Derumaux compare the UK residential sector with those in France, Germany, Italy and Spain The candy store problem Jennifer Ayris says rates reform and stronger regulation are key to improving the tenant mix on high streets Rent reforms: questions still to be answered Mattie Green asks: will the government’s Renters (Reform) Bill achieve its aims? Infrastructure levy: make your feelings known Laura-Beth Hutton and Kate Radford look at what responses might be received by the technical consultation around the new infrastructure levy When to use agreements for lease Giorgia Clements outlines the circumstances in which agreements for lease may be required, and important considerations to watch out for Commercial enquiries and building safety Ali Murrin, Johnny Kelly, Roger McDonald and Roy Perrott assess the impact of the Building Safety Act 2022 on commercial property standard enquiries Legal note: One-off event or continuing nuisance? Louise Clark looks at a Supreme Court decision on what constitutes a continuing nuisance Practice points Secretary of State for Defence was entitled to enfranchise ex-MoD houses R (on the application of Annington Property Ltd and others) v Secretary of State for Defence Business tenancy requires occupation for the purposes of a business R (on the application of Annington Property Ltd and others) v Secretary of State for Defence Landlord’s conduct results in significant damages Tahir v Aghiri and another Defence to claim for possession must not be contradictory and incoherent Healey v Fraine and others Contractual right to acquire land lost in renegotiation University College London Hospitals Charity and another v The Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Camden Can the Upper Tribunal award costs where it acts as arbitrator? A Grantor v A Grantee Case summaries Weaver v Smith Easement – Right of way – Rectification Healey v Fraine and others Registered land – Adverse possession – Defence and counterclaim Commissioners of HM Revenue and Customs v SSE Generation Ltd Taxation – Capital allowances – Qualifying expenditure Law report Ludgate House Ltd v Ricketts (VO) Rating – Non-domestic rates – Hereditament 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