Close Menu
News
-
February 2, 2024
The history of Maidstones stag
The statue once described as “a dramatic, rampant stag, rearing up on its hind legs, full of masculine raw energy” is well-known by all Maidstone residents and locals, but less well known is where it came from. The Stag was sculptor Edward Bainbridge Copnall’s largest piece of work and for it he was awarded a […]
-
February 2, 2024
Stamp duty and ‘mixed use’ land and property
A recent tax tribunal ruling highlights the confusion surrounding buying mixed use property or land and how much Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is payable. This decision clarifies what some people have seen as a ‘loophole’ and HM Revenue and Customs look closely at the amount of SDLT being paid on mixed use land and […]
-
February 2, 2024
Staff profile: Georgina Bailey
Position: Associate Solicitor in the Commercial Property Department Time at Gullands: I joined Gullands in February 2021. Main responsibilities and duties: Dealing with a wide range of commercial property transactions ranging from land acquisitions, leases of high street premises to larger development transactions. Why did you decide to pursue a career in the legal sector: Law has […]
-
February 2, 2024
“Squatters’ rights” versus “legal owner’s rights”
Adverse possession (more commonly known as “squatters’ rights”) is the way in which rights of ownership over land can be obtained without the legal owner’s agreement. Sounds unfair? It depends… If you are a legal owner, you obviously would not wish to receive a letter from the Land Registry stating that they have received an […]
-
February 2, 2024
“Smash and Grab” Adjudications – Where are we now?
Smash and grab adjudications happen when the paying party fails to give either a payment notice or a pay less notice. If neither of these notices are given then the full amount applied for by the payee can be adjudicated even if it is not owed in a true valuation. Following the decision in ISG […]
-
February 1, 2024
Prosecuting ‘near miss’ incidents and fines under new health & safety Sentencing Guidelines
Commentators are unanimous in predicting larger fines for health & safety offences following new sentencing guidelines effective from 1st February. However, the guidelines are not just about bigger fines. They also require the Court to look at the risk of harm, not just the outcome. This means a minor injury or “near miss” which […]
-
January 31, 2024
Land option agreements and buying land for development
The Government has a focus on economic recovery and growth and house building has already been singled out as one way of achieving this, especially here in the South East. In September the Housing Secretary announced a new £12 billion investment boost to help deliver more affordable homes and homes for social rent. To achieve […]
-
January 30, 2024
Criminal solicitor turns detective to retrace family history
Gullands’ Criminal Solicitor Patrick Bligh, has recently turned detective as he embarked on a journey which took him to Italy to retrace his father’s World War Two experience. Patrick’s father, Ken Bligh, was a Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers fighting in North Africa when he was captured and became a prisoner of war, held in PG 49 […]
-
January 19, 2024
Charities and land disposal changes for trustees to be aware of
Trustees should be aware that sections of The Charities Act 2022 came into force in June 2023 which amends some of the rules relating to the disposal of charity land. There are still some final sections of the Act, namely 18 and 23 which at the time of writing this article are still due to […]
-
January 19, 2024
Chambers Legal Directory
Our Criminal department has once again been recognised as a Tier 1 law firm in the annual Chambers Legal Directory. Whilst we don’t actively make any legal directory submissions as a firm, it is still good to receive the positive acknowledgement of the wider industry. John Roberts comments: “As the number of firms offering expertise in this […]
