Property Roundtable Winter Session
At the end of the year we inevitably become a little reflective over the events of the last 12 months and take the opportunity to look forward to what the New Year may bring. The winter session of the Property Roundtable took place on Thursday, 17th December, hosted by Steph Richards. With a critical eye turned on the property developments in 2020 the panel discussed the lessons learned from 2020 and their views on what 2021 may bring.
The year in review
It will come to no-one as a surprise that there is a sustained emphasis on working from home given the current position of many parts of the UK. The roundtable participants reflected on the benefits of more flexible working, coupled with the re-imagining of more collaborative workspace for when the working population is freed to meet face-to-face once again. Several anticipated a switch to smaller and more flexible office space, with the areas on offer designed around meeting and break-out areas rather than the more traditional approach of simply providing desk space for employees.
Looking forward
From the experience of the roundtable participants there was a strong consensus that residential property developers looking to provide new, good quality schemes in the Home Counties have seen continued interest and activity in these areas, with particularly buoyant markets at present. The panel anticipate that there will be a renewed focus on houses as opposed to flats for the more suburban areas, and that more and more we can expect to see designs reflecting the need for areas dedicated to working from home.
Keys date: 31 March 2021
The end of quarter 1 of 2021 is due to bring in significant changes for the property sector. Not only is it when the SDLT holiday is due to end (for more information please see our article), but it is also the date on which the date on the moratorium on evictions ends, the extended furlough scheme ends and the last date on which residential homeowners with a mortgage can apply for a deferral due to Covid-19. In addition this is the date on which the current Help to Buy scheme will end.
Given the number of significant changes occurring on this date the panel anticipate that those in the property industry can expect a continued high demand for completions until the end of March. Speculation in relation to the SDLT treatment of property transactions rife, with some anticipating that the SDLT holiday may be extended, or even adopted as the standard rates. However with a budget due imminently after the current SDLT holiday end-date, it remains to be seen whether the government will decide to tinker further with the SDLT system. Indeed, with the unprecedented levels of emergency funding granted by the Government in 2020, the budget may seek to re-coupe some of that spending by increases in tax.
Green Outlook
The Government’s recent Energy White Paper outlined the intentions for a push towards electric power in order to achieve net carbon zero by 2020. While some developments already eschew connections to the gas grid, the White Paper includes a suggestion that there could be a consultation on new connections to gas as soon as 2025. How developers and Local Planning Authorities decide to adapt ahead of such changes is a matter the we will keep in review in the coming months.
The next Property Roundtable
We look forward to welcoming you to the Spring Session of the Property Roundtable, which will take place on 19th March 2021. To register your interest please visit our events page. If you are interested in participating in the next session, or if there is a subject that you would like to discuss, please contact Steph Richards on steph.richards@herrington-carmichael.com.
> Or visit our events page for all our latest events
This reflects the law at the date of publication and is written as a general guide. It does not contain definitive legal advice, which should be sought as appropriate in relation to a particular matter
FREE: Legal Insights and Event News
Keep you, your family and / or business up to date on how the law affects you, by subscribing to one of our legal insights.

Sign up to our Insights
Latest Articles
What is Turnover Rent and who does it benefit?
Turnover Rent is a form of Rent in Commercial Leases which may benefit both a Landlord and a Tenant.
HMRC’s updated guidance on Compensation Payments and VAT
The new guidance from HMRC makes it clear that compensation payments are now generally liable to VAT.
Restrictive Covenants on land and the perils of ignoring them
The dangers of assuming that if you get your planning permission, you can disregard the restrictive covenants preventing building…
Top Legal Insights
Contract Law
Material Breach of Contract
What is a ‘material’ breach of contract by a party to a commercial contract? This is a critical issue regularly considered by the courts. What constitutes a material breach and what are the remedies?
Property Law
Commercial Lease: The Financial impact on Landlord and Tenant
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the restrictions now in place to control its spread, are having a significant effect on many business sectors.
Divorce and Family Law
Divorce in Lockdown: Can I get some discreet legal advice?
We have spoken to clients who are unfortunately experiencing some family issues, and would like to obtain expert legal advice, yet don’t know how...
Land & Property Dispute
Restrictive Covenants – The Price of Modification
Having identified that your land is burdened by a restrictive covenant and for the purposes of this article the covenant in question will be that only one residential building can be erected on the land. What do you do next?
Award winning legal advice
We are solicitors in Camberley, Wokingham and London. In 2019, Herrington Carmichael won ‘Property Law Firm of the Year’ at the Thames Valley Business Magazines Property Awards, ‘Best Medium Sized Business’ at the Surrey Heath Business Awards and we were named IR Global’s ‘Member of the Year’. We are ranked as a Leading Firm 2020 by Legal 500 and Alistair McArthur is ranked in Chambers 2020.









London
60 St Martins Lane, Covent Garden, London WC2N 4JS
Camberley
Building 2 Watchmoor Park, Riverside Way, Camberley, Surrey GU15 3YL
Wokingham (Appointment only)
4 The Courtyard, Denmark Street, Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 2AZ
info@herrington-carmichael.com
© 2020 Herrington Carmichael LLP. Registered in England and Wales company number OC322293.
Herrington Carmichael LLP is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Privacy | Legal Notices, T&Cs, Complaints Resolution | Cookies | Client Feedback