Insights
Office-to-residential conversions and changing planning rules
05 Oct 2026Many town and city centres now have more office space than they need, while demand for housing remains high. Converting offices into homes has become a familiar response, and the planning system has been shaped to encourage it. The national planning policy behind these conversions changed again in August 2026, however. Anyone involved in a conversion, whether as a property owner, a business tenant or a buyer, should understand where they now stand.
This article covers the position in England. Wales has its own planning rules, and the permitted development right described below does not apply there.
Social media misconduct - what employers and employees each need to get right? Part 2
05 Oct 2026In part 1 of this article, Social media misconduct - what employers and employees each need to get right? Part 1, we cover the legal position on social media misconduct and the changes arriving this autumn and next January. In this part, we look at what a social media policy needs to do, how to investigate before reacting, and what employees and anyone on the receiving end should know, including where the criminal law applies.
Pensions and inheritance tax - what changes on 6 April 2027?
05 Oct 2026For the past decade, pension savings have occupied an unusual and rather favourable corner of the tax system. Because most modern schemes pay death benefits at the discretion of their trustees, unused pension funds have generally sat outside the deceased's estate for inheritance tax purposes. That has made pensions an efficient way to pass wealth down a generation, and it has shaped a good deal of retirement planning advice.
From 6 April 2027, that changes. Most unused pension funds and pension death benefits will be counted as part of the estate when inheritance tax is calculated.
Social media misconduct - what employers and employees each need to get right? Part 1
05 Oct 2026Almost every workplace dispute now has a digital trail running through it. A comment in a group chat, a repost at eleven at night, a review left by a former colleague. What used to be gossip is now evidence, and it is evidence that can be screenshotted, forwarded and produced at a tribunal three years later.
Two things are worth saying at the outset. There is no separate body of law for social media. And the ground is shifting this autumn in ways that raise the stakes for both sides.
Service charge disputes in mixed-use developments - who pays for what?
05 Oct 2026A building with shops or offices on the ground floor and flats above can be a great place to live and work. When it comes to the service charge, though, the mix of occupiers is often where the tension shows. Flat owners may resent paying towards shopfront repairs or extended-hours security. Businesses may object to contributing to a residential lift they never use. The law treats residential and commercial occupiers very differently, and a Court of Appeal decision in 2026 has shown that the line between the two is not always where people assume. This article explains the position in England and Wales.
Buying a residential property at auction - preparation before you bid
30 Sept 2026Auctions can offer speed and opportunity, but the winning bid may commit you to much more than the purchase price.
Buying residential property at auction can be an effective way to secure a home or investment, often within a much shorter timeframe than a conventional purchase. However, the legal commitment can arise immediately, leaving little opportunity to investigate problems or renegotiate afterwards. This article explains how auction purchases work, the main risks and the steps you can take to bid with confidence.
