Development Officers' Forum - The Green Agenda in Housing & Communal Energy Systems

Alterations to commercial premises: are you at risk?
By Alice Bainton, James Corbett

Commercial tenants often need to carry out fit-out or other works to premises, but despite the restrictions in many commercial leases, the legal paperwork is sometimes ignored. This is a mistake. Getting the paperwork wrong, or ignoring it altogether, can hand a weapon to the landlord and could lead to protracted and expensive disputes down the line, sometimes involving extra remedial works, “unfair” rental uplifts, damages and - in drastic cases - forfeiture of the lease itself.

Break clauses: A tenant's guide
By Brian Kilcoyne, Mario Betts

A break clause allows a tenant to terminate their lease early, usually subject to certain conditions. This note explains how to get it right every time.

Confusion over benefits puts shelters in jeopardy
By Simon Bagg

In an Inside Housing article, Simon Bagg discusses the news that a number of councils are reviewing their policies on providing housing benefit funding to night shelters because of a legal ruling concerning the definition of a ‘home’.

Many of the shelters rely on housing benefit for income and may be forced to close if it is withdrawn.