Real Estate
Our London office at Holborn Gate, 330 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7QH, advises domestic and cross-border clients on real estate matters in England and Wales. We focus on transactional work, development and investment, commercial and residential leasing, finance and asset management, and regulatory and planning issues that affect real estate projects.
Scope of services
- Acquisitions and disposals of freehold and leasehold property, including due diligence and purchase documentation.
- Commercial leasing: lease drafting, assignments, renewals, forfeiture and dilapidations management.
- Development and regeneration projects: site assembly, planning conditions, section 106/commercial agreements and developer funding structures.
- Real estate finance and security: mortgage documentation, charges and enforcement strategies.
- Portfolio management, asset disposals and strategic restructurings for institutional and private investors.
Key considerations for transactions
Successful transactions require early identification of title defects, planning risk, environmental and contamination issues, and third‑party rights (easements, restrictive covenants). For cross‑border investors, consider foreign ownership restrictions, stamp taxes and VAT implications, and the interaction between English property law and financing structures.
Practical checklist for a buyer or tenant
- Confirm identity and title: obtain official copies from HM Land Registry and check for charges or restrictions.
- Planning and use: review planning permission, permitted development rights and any outstanding planning conditions.
- Environmental and property condition: commission surveys and environmental searches where contamination risk exists.
- Lease terms and liabilities: clarify rent review mechanisms, service charge obligations, repairing covenants and break options.
- Tax and funding: identify SDLT/SDLT equivalents, VAT treatment and source/structure of acquisition finance.
- Completion and post‑completion: ensure registration of title and security, and discharge of pre‑completion liabilities.
Jurisdiction and sources
Primary legal and practical sources for England and Wales include:
- HM Land Registry
- GOV.UK (planning guidance, property taxes and statutory guidance)
- Planning Portal (applications and local planning information)
- Legislation.gov.uk (statutes and secondary legislation)
- HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) (tax rules affecting property transactions)
Our office in London can coordinate cross‑disciplinary teams to address complex transactions while aligning commercial objectives with legal risk management.
General information only; not legal advice and not a substitute for advice on a particular matter.