We aim in this section to highlight and comment upon topics that might be relevant to you and your property/business, which may or may not need thought, attention and subsequent action.

June 2010

'Garden Grabbing' to be curbed
Government introduces measures to prevent building of homes in back gardens
Read this article - 'Garden Grabbing' to be curbed

May 2010

Home Information Packs Scrapped with Immediate Effect
(Energy Performance Certificates are still required)
Read this article - Home Information Packs Scrapped with Immediate Effect

Spring 2010

Budget 2010 - Stamp Duty Changes
Stamp duty holiday for first time buyers on properties up to £250,000 with immediate effect
'Mansion Tax' for homes over £1m from April 2011
Read this article - Budget 2010 - Stamp Duty Changes

Business Rates - Revaluation 2010
Business Rates are often a grey area when it comes to property management. This article seeks to explain and clarify how business rates are calculated and the implications of the revaluation in 2010.
Read this article - Business Rates

Deposit of Statement and Statutory Declarations
Section 31(6) of the Highways Act 1980
Read this article - Deposit of Statement and Statutory Declarations

January 2009

Nitrate vulnerable zones
New rules in force as of 1st January 2009
Deadline for Appeals against designation of land as an NVZ is 31 January 2009
Read this article - Nitrate vulnerable zones

European parliament votes to tighten pesticide controls
On Tuesday 13th January The European Parliament voted to tighten rules on pesticide use. Before becoming law, the legislation will be put to a vote at the Council of Ministers composed of the 27 ministers of the EU Member States.
Read this article - European parliament votes to tighten pesticide controls

October 2008

DEFRA Farming & Food Brief Sept 2008
A review of the 2008 harvest, food and commodity markets.
Read this article (PDF) - DEFRA Farming & Food Brief Sept 2008

Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations Update
New legislation to tackle water pollution is due to be brought into force in January 2009 affecting around 70% of land in the UK. Public controversy surrounds the programme as it places yet more restrictions and financial burden on livestock and dairy farmers. Read this article (PDF) - Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations Update
Defra for further guidance

September 2008

Stamp Duty Land Tax - Threshold Raised For One Year
Read this article - Stamp Duty Land Tax - Threshold Raised For One Year

July 2008

Residential Lets - Landlords required to provide EPC from 1st October 2008
Read this article - Residential Lets - Landlords required to provide EPC from 1st October 2008

Energy Performance Certificates and Agricultural Buildings
Read this article - Energy Performance Certificates and Agricultural Buildings

June 2008

Energy Performance Certificates
Read this article - Energy Performance Certificates

Comparing the Current Market Downturn to that of the 1970s – What can we learn?
Read this article - Comparing the Current Market Downturn to that of the 1970s

May 2008

The Agricultural Credit Crunch
Recent dramatic increases in farmland market values and continuing low levels of bad debt means lending on agricultural land remains unaffected by the credit crunch, unlike its residential counterpart. There are a number of reasons for this; primarily that the banks traditionally view agriculture and loans to farming and land-based businesses as prime, secure lending. Agriculture also has a low level of bad debt and the banks expect this to continue. The banks also expect agricultural profitability to remain good, due to increasing commodity prices and despite input costs rising. Farmers should not be complacent though...
Read this article - The Agricultural Credit Crunch

Spring 2008

Entrepreneurs' Relief – What it means for Farmers
Read this article (PDF) - Entrepreneurs' Relief – What it means for Farmers
Farmers Weekly, 30th May 2008

Agricultural Waste Regulations (AWR) Update
Read this article (PDF) - Agricultural Waste Regulations
South East Farmer, May 2008

Action Programme for Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (England & Wales) Regulations Update
Read this article (PDF) - Action Programme
Burges Salmon Agricultural Law Quarterly, Spring 2008

March 2007

A Sting in the Tail
From May 15th, 2007 every agricultural holding will have to have completed a 'Registration of Agricultural Waste Exemptions'.
Read this article - A Sting in the Tail

June 2006

Home Information Packs
As part and parcel of the Housing Act 2004 it will become a requirement, from 1st June 2007, to produce a Home Information Pack for any residential property being brought to the market.
Read this article - Home Information Packs

April 2006

SPS Update - 10th April 2006

Rental Prices 2006/2007
With many farmers as yet to receive Single Farm Payment monies, and quantitive statements relating to such, many have chosen to continue on as before.
Read this article - Rental Prices 2006/2007

March 2006

Tuberculosis
This is becoming an increasing problem in the area with many herds of cattle and commercial animals, including alpaca, now subject to movement restrictions.
Read this article - Tuberculosis

Single Farm Payment
Amazingly farmers have started to receive Single Farm Payment Entitlement Statements.
Read this article - Single Farm Payment

The Property Market
Despite ongoing problems regarding Single Farm Payment, on early indications the landed property market is set to be relatively active this season.
Read this article - The Property Market

Local Development Frameworks
Local plans are due to be replaced with Local Development Frameworks in 2007.
Read this article - Local Development Frameworks

Entry Level Schemes
Due to delays in Rural Land Registry mapping, only a small proportion of farmers have submitted applications, and subsequently been granted agreements, for Entry Level Schemes.
Read this article - Entry Level Schemes

February 2006

Is farming finished?
A Government Select Committee concluded on 26th January that the Rural Payments Agency and DEFRA had underestimated the extent of the Single Farm Payment Scheme to the extent of questioning as to whether or not its initial implementation should have been delayed until May 2006.
Read this article - Is farming finished?