Chambers Global 2024

Dispute arises where one of those causes is the result of the employer's action or omission and the other is the result of the contractor's.

During the National Conversation, tenants identified repairs and maintenance as their top priority, with the quality of their homes coming a close second.

The UK Government has unveiled the next phase of the Renters' Rights Act 2025, introducing a mandatory private rented sector database launching December 2026 and transferring rent increase dispute resolution from tribunals to the Valuation Office Agency. These reforms will fundamentally reshape compliance obligations for landlords across England, requiring registration of all rental properties with annual fees and updated enforcement mechanisms.

Section 21 has been abolished for new possession action from 1 May 2026, but landlords who need to sell with vacant possession still have a route. Ground 1A of the amended Housing Act 1988 allows a landlord to recover possession where a genuine sale is intended, but it comes with a four-month notice period, restrictions on reletting and remarketing, and potentially significant penalties for misuse.

The UK Government's Commercial Payments Bill is rapidly advancing toward becoming law, with the proposed ban on cash retentions in construction contracts now scheduled for third reading in October 2026.

The prospect of a third runway at Heathrow Airport has resurfaced, bringing uncertainty to communities across West London and the Thames Valley about homes, property values and future planning. This guide examines how the compensation framework operates for affected homeowners, identifies critical gaps in protection during the years between policy approval and construction, and explains why reform is needed to address the human and financial costs of prolonged infrastructure uncertainty.

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 Renters' Rights Act 2025 introduces sweeping changes to the UK rental market, including a mandatory national property registration system and a new process for handling rent disputes. Landlords face strict deadlines and significant penalties for non-compliance, while the government promises faster resolution of tenant challenges to rent increases.

The UK Government has confirmed the operational framework for its new national rental property registration service, requiring landlords to register eligible private rented sector properties across England from December 2026. With registration costs of £65 per property annually and strict compliance deadlines varying by region, institutional investors and portfolio operators face significant data management and governance challenges. The rollout introduces ongoing reporting obligations that extend far

The High Court decision in Cork v Smith exposes how AI hallucinations in legal practice can trigger professional negligence claims when solicitors fail to verify AI-generated research.

A High Court judgment clarifies the scope of the implied covenant of fitness for human habitation under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, confirming that older case law remains authoritative and that a single defect can render an entire dwelling unfit. The decision provides crucial guidance on when landlords must remedy damp, mould, and structural defects, and significantly limits the availability of 'tenant lifestyle' defences.

A mentoring scheme opens applications for its sixth intake, targeting underrepresented groups at the Bar including women, minority ethnic backgrounds, and those from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds.

The Court held former BHS directors jointly and severally liable for £110 million in equitable compensation due to breaches of duty, causing continued trading and increased company deficiency. This clarifies Sequana-related compensation.

Dispute Resolution analysis: The Court of Appeal has rejected 40 years of "received wisdom" among company law practitioners and has held that a limitation period of either twelve or six years...

The Upper Tribunal's recent decision in UK v Secretary of State for the Home Department examines two cases where legal practitioners submitted AI-generated hallucinated authorities in immigration proceedings. The judgment establishes critical standards for professional supervision, verification procedures, and confidentiality obligations when using artificial intelligence tools in legal practice.

Hello and welcome to the June edition of the Gatehouse Chambers property newsletter. The team seem to have had a particularly good showing in the Upper Tribunal and High Court recently, as well as dealing...

Dispute Resolution analysis: The Court of Appeal has drawn a distinction between late applications to adduce factual evidence and late applications to rely upon expert evidence.

The Court of Appeal's decision in Turner v Coupland clarifies the scope of solicitor-client assessments under the Solicitors Act 1974, determining that disputes over after-the-event insurance commissions cannot be resolved through these proceedings. While solicitors successfully argued that ATE premium commission questions fall outside assessment jurisdiction, the court emphasized their fiduciary duty to disclose such information when asked...

In this podcast, Charles Bagot KC of Gatehouse Chambers and Janine Clark, Partner at Clyde & Co in Brisbane, explore the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in personal injury claims.