Insights

The primary legislation governing fire safety for non-domestic premises, vacant buildings and the common parts of residential buildings is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (the RRO). The RRO extends not only to buildings but also to external and open areas such as; estate roads and paths, loading bays and car parks.

The Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 (LTA 1987) provides certain protections to tenants in residential buildings. One of its most notable provisions is the right of first refusal under section 5, which ensures that qualifying tenants are given the opportunity to purchase the property before a landlord disposes of it to a third party. This article provides an overview of section 5 notices, the conditions under which the Act applies, key exemptions, and the complexities that arise when dealing with mixed-use properties.

Climate change is reshaping the property market. Increasingly frequent flooding, storms, heatwaves, and coastal erosion are already affecting properties across the UK. The Environment Agency estimates that one in four properties in England could face flood risk by 2050.

These risks go beyond environmental concerns: they create significant legal, financial, and operational challenges for investors, developers, and occupiers. The Law Society now advises solicitors to treat climate risk as a core element of due diligence in property transactions.

The government has asked the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to produce a costs assessment to help decide whether a full regulatory impact assessment is required before approving the draft Code of Practice on services, public functions and associations.

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has overturned an Employment Tribunal’s decision after new evidence came to light that undermined the credibility findings on which the Tribunal’s conclusions were based.

From 1 December 2025, the maximum period for Acas early conciliation will increase from 6 weeks to 12 weeks to help ease pressure on Acas.