All Expert comment articles – Page 18
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InsightWhat will the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill mean in practice?
The Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill is the first part of what the government calls “the most significant changes to property law in a generation”. The bill has made its way through the House of Lords and is currently awaiting debate in the House of Commons.
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Insight
Postcard from COP26
The Caledonian Sleeper train service has been saved from the axe a couple of times. If ever its time has come then it is surely during COP26. There was a sense of excitement about boarding an overnight train to Scotland with a bar and restaurant. It wasn’t quite Agatha Christie ...
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Insight
New commercial rent debt arbitration process offers respite for some tenants
On 9 November, a revised Code of Practice was issued by the government reiterating that where commercial tenants cannot afford to pay their rents in full as a result of the pandemic the parties should try to reach a negotiated agreement to waive or postpone arrears where able to do ...
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Insight
Property can help level up the UK
The Autumn Budget clearly signalled the government’s intention to look beyond the pandemic to the agenda of rebuilding, including its manifesto pledge to level up the UK.
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Insight
Partnership is key to net zero goal
As COP26 comes to a close, one thing is clear: extremely challenging net zero targets will only be achieved by bold partnerships, whether that is between national governments or private sector organisations.
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Professional
Energy efficiency is a win-win
Global climate alignment has been under the microscope in Glasgow and one thing is becoming apparent: the commercial property sector faces change.
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Insight
Designs for a sustainable life
As a prequel to COP26, and to coincide with the current architectural biennale, the US-based Design Intelligence group hosted a two-city event in Rome, then Venice discussing sustainability and its implications for architecture and architects.
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Insight
ESG: views from the coal face
In September, CBRE’s research team surveyed over 200 UK clients to establish the ‘state of play’ on the full range of social and environmental sustainability issues the real estate industry is being asked to tackle, including climate change, biodiversity, pollution, waste, health and wellbeing and responsible business.
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Insight
Why confidence is key in the City
The old saying ‘confidence is key’ has never been more relevant as we continue to see a return of the buzz, vibrancy and entrepreneurial spark that has come to characterise the Square Mile.
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Insight
Former England footballer Luther Blissett on why social housing is vital to the future of UK communities
In response to the growing need for quality, affordable housing, Watford Community Housing and Watford Borough Council are delivering a £15.2m programme of 56 new homes for social rent, helping to address the shortage of affordable housing in Watford and improve social inclusion.
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Insight
Green business rates and climate change adaptation
The business rates announcements made in the Autumn Spending Review did not go far enough for many. Rather than abolishing the system entirely, the chancellor instead opted to make it “fairer, more responsive and more supportive of investment” by introducing a number of additional reliefs.
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Online
The practical implementation of modular construction
Homes England’s recent allocation of funds under the Affordable Housing Programme will be music to the ears of many registered providers (RPs).
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Online
Upcoming deadlines for new Heat Network Regulations are unrealistic
With not one but two deadlines looming for the Heat Network Regulations, time is running out for landlords to make their buildings compliant.
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Online
Optimism in the air at COP26
Six years since COP24 in Paris and only a little longer since Greta Thunberg came to world attention, the great city of Glasgow will become synonymous with the fight against climate change (we don’t mention COP25).
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Online
The Leasehold Reform Bill does little to satisfy the concerns of existing leaseholders
While there may be good intentions behind the government’s Leasehold Reform Bill currently before the House of Commons, as it currently stands the bill will do little to address one of the main issues at the heart of the property industry – spiralling ground rents.
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Insight
Is metaverse the future of work?
As the corporate world collectively comes off mute, slippers are swapped for shoes and commuting is again part of our daily routines, we’re stepping out of 18 months of remote work and into hybrid working.
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Insight
We must make sensible changes
The media have been gorging themselves on COP26 all this week despite the obvious, which is that as ever with conferences of this kind, there will be lots of hot air and promises and very little action will follow.
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Insight
Offices: time to lean in to change
To return or not to return? When to return and how? These are the questions being asked in homes and boardrooms alike.
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Insight
Climate is REITs’ biggest challenge
George Bernard Shaw said “beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance”, and the real estate industry is having to gen up on climate change fast.
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Insight
Better retirement communities will reduce the social care burden
The government’s lack of focus on social care is perplexing. But whatever the policy development process, it is clear our country’s approach to social care will never be the same again.
