Latest blog posts

Having talked about it for many years my family and I ‘escaped to the country’ in October last year; specifically to a converted barn on the edge of a little Essex village. When we started our search we laid down certain criteria, the property had to be: Within a 1 hour drive of Peter Barry’s North London office. In a rural ... Read more >>

You’ve probably read newspaper articles about warring neighbours who’ve spent tens of thousands of pounds going to court over a 6 inch strip of land.  Until now boundary disputes have been dealt with by the courts and the lack of a statutory framework means that costs often escalate to level well in excess of the value of the land that is ... Read more >>

If you own a flat or maisonette it is almost certainly held on a lease. The original term of the lease is likely to have been 99 or 125 years and there will be provisions for the Landlord to collect ground rent every year at an amount that will normally increase throughout the term of the lease. As the remaining term of the lease reduces so ... Read more >>

The Subterranean Development Bill was originally an amendment to the Localism Bill sponsored by Lord Selsdon and drafted by members of the Pyramus & Thisbe Club. The driving force behind the bill appears to be resident associations in affluent areas of London such as Belgravia and Highgate where many members of the House of Lords have ... Read more >>

Over the last couple of years I have noticed that Japanese knotweed has received an increasing amount of press coverage, the reports always seem to have similar characteristics and usually follow the same pattern: After struggling to save up enough money and seemingly against all odds a young couple view a property, decide it’s the one for ... Read more >>

In past blogs I have covered the many issues in regards to extending or acquiring a new lease; however most of these have only taken us as far as the point of valuation. This blog will focus on the statutory process once your surveyor has produced his report and also look to highlight some potential pitfalls. The first step to initiate the ... Read more >>

Many adjoining owners wrongly assume that a potential injury to their light is a matter that should be discussed by the appointed surveyors. I say ‘wrongly’ because Section 9 of The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 makes it clear that nothing in the Act shall ‘authorise any interference with an easement of light or other easements in or relating ... Read more >>