Acting for Developers - The Common Problems for Conveyancers

Introduction

Developers can be large companies or an ordinary house owner with a large back garden which may be big enough for another house or two or be added to a neighbouring development site.

Although the essential conveyancing law remains the same there are many aspects which have a special perspective for a profitable outcome. It is timely to consider an overview of some of the important elements and potential pitfalls to avoid.

What You Will Learn

This live and interactive session will cover the following:

• Consent and restrictive covenants
• Have all necessary easements been granted?
• Building Regulations - including electric vehicle charging points
• The Mortgage Guarantee Scheme and Help to Build Scheme
• How will the new UK residential property developer tax work?
• Proposals for cost of cladding remedial work - who pays?
• What is meant by Planning Permission for ‘development of the property’?
• ‘All reasonable endeavours’ in conditional contracts
• Penalty for solicitor failing to advise as to a risky venture that was worthless unless the entire development was completed - SRA v DS [January 2021]
• The Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act - leasehold reforms proposed and the danger of escalating ground rents
• Housing dispute resolution proposals affecting developers
• The Consumer Code for Homebuilders - important aspects for developers including reservation deposits, completion dates, essential contract clauses, training and marketing, dispute resolution and compensation
• Home Equity Loans including the eligibility for borrowers and an overview of the essential steps
• Land Registry assistance for development sites- problems caused when layout changes take place, acceptability of plans
• CIL or S.106?
• An overview of overage - comparison with option agreements and conditional contracts Retirement Villages Developments Ltd v Punch Partnerships (PTL) Ltd [2022]
• The Building Safety Act 2022 - responsibilities on developers for safety

Recording of live sessions: Soon after the Learn Live session has taken place you will be able to go back and access the recording - should you wish to revisit the material discussed.