SDLT break extended The temporary increase of the nil rate SDLT band to £500,000 will continue until the end of June 2021. From 1 July to 30 September 2021 the nil rate band will sit at £250,000. Above £500,000, the standard SDLT rates and thresholds remain in force. The holiday will not just benefit individual buyers, but companies can benefit from these changes as well, where they are not subject to the flat 15% rate.…

For those involved with development projects and public sector procurement you will be interested to read our update, including a Quick Guide, on Post-Brexit procurement. The first of a two-part series examines the immediate legal and practical challenges arising from Brexit from 1 January 2021, and the impact on UK suppliers of the EU-UK Trade & Cooperation Agreement and the WTO Government Procurement Agreement. Please view the UK public-procurement post-Brexit Quick Guide. Part II,…

This timeline sets out the key legal and market developments expected in the commercial real estate sector during 2021. View the full timeline. ***  If you wish to receive periodic updates on this or other topics related to UK real estate, subscribe to our Real Estate Insights mailing list. For any other legal questions related to UK real estate, please get in touch with your usual Mayer Brown contact or one of the…

The Government has confirmed that it will be renewing the measures it introduced to protect tenants in the commercial property sector unable to pay their rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, commercial tenants benefit from a prohibition on landlords forfeiting commercial leases for non-payment of rent. This measure was due to end on 31 December 2020, however the Government has announced that the restriction on forfeiture will be extended until 31 March 2021. Continue…

The Government has confirmed that it will be extending the temporary ban on commercial landlords issuing statutory demands and winding up petitions against commercial tenants who have not paid their rent during the COVID-19 pandemic. A statutory demand can be issued where a corporate debtor owes £750 to a creditor. If the debt is not paid within 21 days of the issue of the statutory demand, the landlord creditor can then issue a winding up…

Overview The Government is introducing sweeping changes to the planning system in England, with a view to cutting down on bureaucracy and letting the market decide what we use our buildings for, as well as facilitating much needed housing development. The changes are both medium term and immediate. In this Alert, we focus on the immediate changes the Government has introduced to the Use Classes Order and Permitted Development Rights which are aimed at re-vitalising…

The Government has confirmed that it will be renewing the measures it introduced protecting tenants in the commercial property sector unable to pay their rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, commercial tenants benefit from a prohibition on landlords forfeiting commercial leases for non-payment of rent and restrictions on landlords using commercial rent arrears recovery (CRAR) unless 189 days of unpaid rent is owed. These measures were due to end on 30 September 2020, however…