Current Property Issues Spring 2025

KEY SUBJECTS

• PROPERTY VALUATION: A NEW RED BOOK – CHANGES AND NEW REQUIREMENTS
• THE MEES REGULATIONS – LEASE DRAFTING AND LANDLORD AND TENANT ISSUES WITH THE MINIMUM STANDARD EPC ‘B’ IN SIGHT
• CASE LAW UPDATE
• UK COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE RECOVERY – METRICS AND MOMENTUM
• USER CLAUSES IN LEASES: THE NEED FOR CHANGE AND HOW TO HANDLE IT
• PLANNING: A NEW SYSTEM TO DELIVER GROWTH?

SPEAKERS

Nick French, Real Estate Valuation Theurgy, Property Education

Ben Strange, Director, Mobius Building Consultancy

Sarah Thompson-Copsey, Non-Practising Solicitor, Legal Lecturer and Trainer

Walter Boettcher, Head of Research & Economics, Colliers

Ian Anderson, Senior Director, Lichfields

CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

09.30am CHAIRMAN’S INTRODUCTION

PROPERTY VALUATION: A NEW RED BOOK – CHANGES AND NEW REQUIREMENTS

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ Red Book is no longer red and it is no longer a book. Instead, it is two PDFs that work side by side: The RICS Valuation – Global Standards 2025 (which incorporate the International Valuation Standards 2025) and the UK national supplement 2024.

The Red Book is there to help and support valuers undertaking valuations for clients; it is a quality assurance document. Clients need to know that there is a base level of professionalism and consistency from all chartered valuation surveyors.

This talk will look at:

• The 2025 changes to the Red Book
• The importance of context in Report Writing
• The need for diligence in undertaking valuations so not to stray into the areas of professional expertise outside that of the valuer (e.g. retrofit cost estimations)
• Dealing with uncertainty and risk

Nick French, Real Estate Valuation Theurgy, Property Education

THE MEES REGULATIONS – LEASE DRAFTING AND LANDLORD AND TENANT ISSUES WITH THE MINIMUM STANDARD EPC ‘B’ IN SIGHT

• An update on the recent consultation on EPC Assessment – what is set to change
• The challenge of the ‘do not worsen’ EPC clause in leases – the ‘datum point’ issue
• Landlords having tenants pay for MEES-related works – how, what and why
• Tenant alterations and the increasing minimum standard – what is reasonable consent
• Improving an EPC rating through a dilapidations claim – a challenging opportunity

Ben Strange, Director, Mobius Building Consultancy

CASE LAW UPDATE

A practical review of recent commercial property and landlord and tenant cases, which will include:

• 1954 Act
  • Renewal terms: Kwik-fit v Resham
  • Telecoms leases & the 54 Act: Gravesham v On-Tower
  • Consultation: what next?
• Lease or licence? AP Wireless v On-Tower
• Tenant insolvency – compromise lessons for landlords: UK Commercial Property v Cineworld
• How not to forfeit and deliberate tenant breaches: Leicester Square v Empire Cinema; Tanfield v Montessori; Bijlani v Medical Express
• Exercising options – getting it right: IAA Vehicle Services Ltd v HBC Ltd
• Adverse possession – Court of Appeal on boundaries: Clapham v Narga 

Sarah Thompson-Copsey, Non-Practising Solicitor, Legal Lecturer and Trainer

UK COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE RECOVERY – METRICS AND MOMENTUM

This presentation will focus on UK real estate as it navigates new financial, economic and social challenges including detailed sector specific discussions.

• Retail sector trends as it adapts to a new normal in consumer trends after the rise of ecommerce
• Industrial warehousing performance, supply chain impacts and the rise of operational industrial real estate including the new green economy
• Office sector occupational trends including the new mix of conventional, flex and ‘plug & play’ formats in a setting of ESG
• Debt availability, cost and impact on investment volumes and development. Impacts on UK from possible US financial market deregulation
• Beds sectors trends and the latest on planning reform and house building

Walter Boettcher, Head of Research & Economics, Colliers

USER CLAUSES IN LEASES: THE NEED FOR CHANGE AND HOW TO HANDLE IT

The use of a leasehold property is not necessarily set in stone. Understanding how to achieve the use the now tenant wants and how to persuade a landlord to consent to any alterations essential for that change are essential keys for unlocking the value of the lease in the tenant’s hands.

• Interpreting the clause; strategies for change of use
• Must consent be given, and can the landlord make demands?
• Fast track to consent: essential information and approaches to speed the process
• Ignoring the lease: the power of the Law of Property Acy 1925, s84

Sarah Thompson-Copsey, Non-Practising Solicitor, Legal Lecturer and Trainer

PLANNING: A NEW SYSTEM TO DELIVER GROWTH?

The Labour Government has made a strong commitment to simplify planning, cut red tape and deliver growth.

The new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out the intent to ‘speed up and streamline’ through a planning system which is an ‘enabler of growth’.

But will it?

This session will review:

• The Government’s proposed reform of the Planning system
• The new NPPF24 including:
  • Support for commercial development
  • The ‘Presumption in Favour of Sustainable Development’
  • Approach to Green Belt and ‘Grey Belt’
• High Street Auctions
• Suggested further ‘permitted development’ opportunities

Ian Anderson, Senior Director, Lichfields

5.00pm CLOSE OF PROCEEDINGS