Resolving Rural Disputes - Access Rights Part 1

The Law Commission's second consultation paper examines whether the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954's security of tenure regime remains fit for purpose in today's commercial property market. With proposals ranging from streamlined contracting-out procedures to expanded redevelopment grounds that accommodate modern retrofit work, the consultation tests whether Part 2 of the Act has become too burdensome...

Boundary disputes are among the most common cases encountered by agricultural litigation teams. A boundary is a line separating property. It doesn’t always physically exist, yet disagreements over its position can turn neighbours against each other, and the cost of resolving such disputes can quickly exceed the value of the land itself.

The first reported decision on the 2018 reforms to Scotland's prescription rules has produced a surprising result for the construction industry and those dealing with latent defects claims.

The UK Government has announced the second phase of the Renters' Rights Act, introducing a mandatory Private Rented Sector Database that will roll out region-by-region starting in the West Midlands in December 2026. Landlords across England will face registration requirements, annual fees of £65 per property, and potential penalties of up to £40,000 for non-compliance, fundamentally changing how the private rental sector operates.

The decision by the Court of Appeal in Baqir Al-Chaalan & Anor v Abri Group Ltd [2026] EWCA Civ 946 has provided clarity on whether a landlord has validly served a residential tenant with notice of legal proceedings seeking vacant possession. In this blog, Katy Corteel discusses the Court of Appeal’s judgment.

The UK government has unveiled its comprehensive 10-year infrastructure strategy, setting out ambitious plans to transform the nation's critical infrastructure landscape. This strategic framework addresses key challenges in power supply, construction, and public-private partnerships, with particular focus on emerging sectors like data centres and modernising existing PFI contracts.

The Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs, Gillian Martin MSP, has written to the Rural Affairs Committee, providing an update on the phased implementation of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 (“the Act") and setting out indicative timescales for the next stages of the process.

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 has significantly increased local housing authorities’ powers relating to enforcement. There is no longer a discretion but a newfound duty on local housing authorities to actively enforce housing legislation in their area. A local housing authority may also take enforcement action in respect of offences which occur outside of its area, extending their powers beyond their own boundaries. This blog explores the key changes in local housing authorities’ powers under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025.

The Court of Appeal's recent decision in Thomas v. Nicholas provides critical guidance on how the locality principle operates within the tort of private nuisance under English law. This analysis examines the implications for real estate finance transactions, where a borrower's use of financed assets may be disrupted by neighbouring landowners or where the borrower's own activities create liability risks that affect asset value, liquidity, and lender security.

The UK government has released a substantially revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that introduces significant changes for infrastructure development, including expanded definitions of renewable energy, more permissive approaches for essential infrastructure in Green Belts, and new strategic planning requirements. The framework now expressly includes nuclear power, hydrogen, and even heat recovery from data centres within its renewable energy definition, while clarifying that wider environment

Rural landowners face complex legal questions when wild swimmers use their lochs, rivers and reservoirs. With water-related fatalities rising and participation surging, understanding occupier liability duties has become essential for estates, farms and rural businesses managing open water access.

The Technology and Construction Court's decision in Mulalley v Sto Ltd provides crucial guidance on quantifying contribution claims against cladding manufacturers in post-Grenfell litigation. The ruling demonstrates how the Building Safety Act 2022 enables parent companies to be held liable for their associates' defective products, with the court ordering an 87.5% contribution from the manufacturer for misleading marketing and supplying inherently defective cladding systems.

When employers grant restricted securities to employees, understanding section 431 elections can significantly impact tax liabilities for both parties. This article examines how these elections work, the strict 14-day filing deadline, and demonstrates through detailed calculations why choosing to make this election could save substantial amounts in income tax and national insurance contributions.

Scotland's Moveable Transactions Act 2023 has fundamentally transformed security enforcement and insolvency procedures by introducing statutory pledges and assignations. How do these new fixed security regimes expand practical enforcement options beyond traditional administration, and what boundary issues will insolvency practitioners need to navigate as secured creditor rights evolve?

A recent Scottish court case clarifies what property owners must prove to enforce real burdens against their neighbours. The decision examines whether personal feelings about development changes constitute sufficient grounds to block construction, or if objective evidence of material harm to property value or enjoyment is required.

The Competition Appeal Tribunal recently dismissed Zenōbe Energy's challenge to GEMA's proposed cap and floor scheme for long duration electricity storage installations under the Subsidy Control Act 2022. While the case did not resolve whether the scheme constitutes a subsidy, it provides crucial guidance on when subsidy decisions are made and the circumstances under which they fall outside the Tribunal's review powers.

The UK government has announced sweeping new measures to regulate children's social media access, including a midnight-to-6am curfew for 16-17 year olds, mandatory breaks from AI chatbots, and enhanced VPN detection to prevent circumvention. These proposals follow the June 2026 announcement of a total social media ban for under-16s and represent a significant shift toward more interventionist regulation of young people's online activity.

The High Court's decision in White v Uber London Ltd has sent shockwaves through the litigation funding industry by ruling that communications between litigation funders and solicitors regarding funding decisions are not protected by litigation privilege. This judgment challenges the widely-held market assumption that such correspondence enjoys privilege protection, potentially making litigants more cautious about approaching funders and requiring parties to be more deliberate about what they include in ear

With the FIFA World Cup 2026 featuring a record 48 nations, clubs are eyeing emerging talent for summer transfers. However, standout performances alone don't guarantee that foreign players can sign with English or Scottish clubs—they must navigate complex visa requirements and governing body endorsement criteria. Understanding these regulatory pathways, from points-based assessments to discretionary exceptions, is just as crucial as identifying talent on the pitch.

Two Court of Session decisions clarify when tenants can be held liable for extraordinary repairs under full repairing and insuring leases in Scotland. The cases establish that broad repairing obligations alone are insufficient to transfer responsibility for substantial renewals and structural damage from landlords to tenants without express contractual language.