What are lawyers for?
Posted by Justin on Oct 4, 2012 in Nelsons' Column | 0 comments I am proud to be a lawyer that acts for real people – not an “Inc Lawyer”. See http://memex.naughtons.org/archives/2012/09/12/17010read more
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Lock-in agreements – use with caution
Posted by Justin on Sep 23, 2012 in Nelsons' Column | 0 comments In the current housing market, it is very tempting to use lock-in agreements to lock-in a potential buyer. If someone is keen to buy a particular property, but cannot do so immediately (usually because they must first find a buyer for their own home), they may offer to pay a “holding deposit”. Such a deposit is of no value to the seller unless there is agreement as to the...read more
Buyer beware!
Posted by Justin on Sep 17, 2012 in Nelsons' Column | 0 comments Seth Godin has an interesting take on a well worn legal tag “buyer beware” – see here While I accept Godin’s analysis and recommendation for all businesses – and will strive to implement it throughout my own business – “buyer beware” is still a fundamental tenet of English law: If you buy a house, the seller has no obligation to disclose any...read more
Japanese Knotweed
Posted by Justin on Sep 9, 2012 in Nelsons' Column | 2 comments I’m not sure why, but most surveyors’ reports these days refer to the problem of Japanese Knotweed. I’m not suggesting it is not a problem – far from it – see this article for why: Japanese Knotweed-2012-06 My bafflement is as to why now, when it has been around (and a problem) for so long. Whatever the reason, it is being mentioned in survey reports more often...read more
Commercial leases
Posted by Justin on Sep 2, 2012 in Nelsons' Column | 1 comment Commercial leases are very different from residential ones, and especially different from short tenancies, such as assured shorthold tenancies. In essence, there is no real statutory protection for the tenant – the tenant’s rights depend on the contents of the lease, not (on the whole) on any background law. This is particularly so regarding repairing obligations: the landlord takes...read more