The opportunity to purchase a competing or complimentary business provides an important route to expansion, but it is important to be clear about what exactly you are acquiring in a business - whether this is via shares or assets. According to commercial...
Businesses may need to send someone to court for a variety of reasons; from recovering an unpaid debt or contractual overpayment, to defending a personal injury claim or tax action brought against them by HMRC. Whatever the circumstances, there will be a...
A significant percentage of land in England and Wales is still unregistered and a large part of that is agricultural and rural land. Why? Well, agricultural land often remains within the same ownership for decades and land which was purchased before...
When the New York Times announced in February 2022 that they had bought the popular free to play word game Wordle for a seven-figure sum, there were a few raised eyebrows. How could a game that was only launched a few months earlier, which has never...
Adrenalin may be running high if you are on the verge of buying a business or selling the company you have built from scratch. You may have already sought professional advice regarding the company valuation but there are other critical issues on which...
New legislation taking effect from 15 June 2022 requires all new homes, construction projects, workplace, and retail buildings to install electric vehicle (EV) charging points. Currently, the UK lacks the electric charging infrastructure which is needed to...
Contractual rights v tortious remedies When a problem arises in a business relationship, many people mistakenly believe that the only thing they need to check in order to ascertain their respective rights and obligations will be the terms of any contract...
When a commercial lease is due to end, both landlord and tenant will consider their business plans to decide whether they want to put a new or extended lease in place. Many business tenants have an automatic statutory right to ask for a new lease when...
It is not uncommon for commercial landlords and tenants to disagree about the extent to which repair, redecoration and reinstatement obligations have been complied with when a lease comes to an end. Disputes of this nature are known as a ‘dilapidations...
The most common reason why a director will be required to provide a personal guarantee is because a lender or supplier perceives a level of risk in your business. Perhaps the lender is not confident that your business cash flow is liquid enough to fulfil its...
Once a commercial tenant has agreed a lease and moved into business premises, they will rely on having unobstructed access to easily enter the premises for the purposes of their business. Unless premises sit alongside a public road, they will probably...
The best investment property will be one where the fundamentals are right. It should be in a suitable location, in sound structural condition, and ideally give you scope to upgrade and reconfigure the internal layout to appeal to a range of tenants. ...
If you are contemplating buying another business, then you will have been suitably impressed with the sale particulars. But these do not tell the whole story and when you decide to acquire the assets of a business you will want to satisfy yourself that...
If part of your land or farmyard is currently unused, then you may be considering allowing another person to use this vacant area for their own purposes. We always advise clients to document this sort of arrangement properly at the outset to minimise the...
Setting out the terms upon which you provide your goods or services to another business will reduce the risk of a dispute by making clear the expectations on either side. But what if a dispute arises and a client or customer claims that they have suffered a...
Retail, leisure, and hospitality businesses will be banking on a good festive season this year. Shops will want to stay open for longer and may want to add to their usual offer, to attract as much footfall as possible. Landlords with empty units will be...
Key points to consider as part of your business and farming family resilience. When considering the issue of resilience specifically in connection with your agricultural business there are certain points where our team of specialist land law...
Commercial landlords rely on insurance to cover the cost of repairing damage to their investment property beyond normal wear and tear, and business tenants expect a rent holiday if they cannot use their premises. Many commercial landlords and tenants,...
Greater damages likely under new ‘scope of duty of care’ test in professional negligence claims. In June 2021, the Supreme Court issued a judgment which has the potential to make it easier for clients who have received negligent...
Growing evidence of climate change has put sustainability firmly on the commercial property agenda. Owners, occupiers, and lenders are increasingly focused on ‘ESG’ which refers to environmental, social and governance issues. Lenders...
The Coronavirus Act 2020 currently prevents landlords evicting commercial tenants for non-payment of rent. This restriction will, in principle, remain in place until 25 March 2022. This rent moratorium was first introduced in March 2020 as part of the...
Making sure a commercial property is well maintained is one of a landlord’s key priorities, and it is almost as important as getting in the rent. Under a full repairing and insuring lease; the tenant is obliged to keep the property in a good state of...
If you are a fan of Marmite or Hellman’s mayonnaise, you may recall a brief dispute that broke out between Tesco and Unilever in late 2016 which led to the supermarket temporarily suspending the sale of a range of popular branded products. The dispute...
With the coronavirus still disrupting supply chains and causing financial difficulties, it is unsurprising that some trading partners are unable to meet their contractual obligations to provide goods, services, or remittance within previously agreed...
If you have decided that the time has come to admit a new member to your partnership, then there are a number of important steps that you will need to take in preparation. To help you plan, partnership law expert Ian Barnard, Director...
The Yorkshire Post Country Week Conference takes place on Wednesday, 6 October 2021 starting at 10am. It is a virtual conference, free to attend and there will be the opportunity to put questions to all the panelists. To register and for more details...
Keeping commercial property insured and in good repair is important for both landlords and tenants, but for slightly different reasons. The tenant wants to be able to run a business from a well-maintained property. The landlord’s chief...
Ecommerce is a fast-moving medium for retailers and, whether you have an established online presence or are just starting out, a periodic review of changes in the law and trading regulations can help ensure your business runs smoothly. ...
Water, drainage, and sewers; out of sight, but not out of mind. When contemplating our business properties, attention tends to focus on the visible aspects, such as the architectural design or practical aspects such as access facilities or security....
According to the Hamptons Letting Index there has been an increase in first-time landlords entering the buy-to-let sector, with many enticed by the stamp duty holiday and low interest rates. Unfortunately, some property investors think being a landlord is a...
Before the coronavirus struck, the options for landlords looking to recover commercial rent arrears were extensive. Depending on the circumstances, you could use the statutory commercial rent arrears recovery procedure (CRAR), effect forfeiture by...
Relationships with manufacturers can become the backbone of your business in the long term, which is why it is important to have legal agreements in place that will grow with these relationships. ‘B efore any contract conversations even begin,...
Biomass Boilers and the Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive – How does the UK leaving the EU affect me? Many businesses, non-profit organisations and the public sector took advantage of the Renewable Heat Incentive (NDRHI) put in place by...
Selling a business ? Make sure you clear out any skeletons first. Preparation is the key to success with most things in life and is particularly important when you are trying to attract a buyer for your business. This is because any potential...
Can I halt court proceedings against my business, if no attempt made to resolve matters outside court first? Where a dispute arises in business, it is always preferable if it can be resolved without the need to go to court. That is why an...
If your business is expanding, you may have outgrown your current premises. Before you start looking for a new site, it is worth investigating whether you could extend your existing property. Depending on the site and the nature of your building,...
An easement is a right for a third party to use someone else’s land for a specific purpose. If you have been continuously or regularly exercising a right for at least 20 years (such as a right of way, a right of access, or a right for service media to...
If you have a great idea for developing a piece of unused land, you may find that you need to get control of some neighbouring property to provide access or just to make the development large enough to be financially viable. Assembling a site can be...
The risk of flooding in England and Wales is increasing year on year and exposing millions of homeowners to the possibility of property damage and the consequent misery that this causes. In some cases, there is nothing you can do but try to claim on...
Whether you are planning on using subcontractors for a one-off project or on a long-term basis, there are several steps you can take to safeguard both your business and business relationships. ‘ The first step is to carry out some basic checks...
On the face of it, using a field to keep horses is no different to keeping sheep or cattle in the field, so surely planning permission would not be required to use it for equine purposes. However, keeping horses on the land may be seen as a material change...
With the UK economy currently in the deepest recession since records began, disputes between landlords and tenants are beginning to rise as pressure mounts on commercial occupiers to find ways to diversify and slash overheads in order to survive...
It is the thing that all company directors dread – the prospect of a claim of an alleged breach of duty – for this can give rise to personal liability or can result in the imposition of criminal sanctions or a director’s disqualification...
Starting any new business comes with a steep learning curve, especially as a founder when you often find yourself wearing all the management hats. This is why it is important to deal with the core legal issues early, so that when the time comes to scale up,...
We are pleased to be able to share blogs over the coming months written by our staff, talking about their job role, working at the firm and career progression at Crombie Wilkinson Solicitors. In this blog by Emma Campbell , Trainee Solicitor at Crombie...
Unregistered land is land which is not registered with the Land Registry. In order to prove ownership, the owner of the land must produce historical title deeds which are complex and can sometimes be ambiguous. The Land Registry estimates that approximately...
If you are reviewing your commercial property portfolio, you may decide that the time is right to sell some of your property. It goes without saying that you will want to get the best possible value from the sale. Prices are strongly affected...
Up until January of this year (2021), the usual position for a landlord and a tenant was that no pets are allowed in rental properties unless the landlord has provided consent, usually in writing and in advance. Whilst this has undoubtedly been...
While certain changes are already in place as a result of Brexit, we can expect a continuous stream of legislative reform that will affect businesses and their commercial contracts . As the new trading relationship with the EU evolves, it is likely...
We know that our farming clients will have been paying close attention to the Agriculture Act 2020 (‘AA2020’), which aims to create a new post-Brexit agricultural framework. There are, of course, a vast number of topics which AA2020 covers, but...
If the pandemic has left you with empty commercial property , now could be a good time to look for alternative uses. To help businesses make the best use of commercial real estate, the Government has made the planning rules more flexible so that it...
Latest update for landlords and tenants about the eviction ban. On 5 November 2020 we posted a blog in relation to Landlord and Tenant disputes, namely evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic . The restrictions on evictions were due to come to an end on 11...
On 7 January 2021, changes came into force which enable leaseholders to extend their leases by up to 990 years without the need to pay any ground rent. There are currently approximately 4.5 million leaseholders in the UK who face paying high ground rents...
Update as of 8 January 2021 - the Government have just confirmed a 6 week extension to the eviction ban. if you are a landlord or a tenant, contact a member of our Dispute Resolution team if you would like help and advice about an eviction. ...
‘ If your business is struggling and you lease your premises, it might be tempting to simply hand back the keys and walk away from your lease ,’ says Isobel Willoughby , Director and commercial property solicitor with Crombie Wilkinson...
Businesses need to be agile to survive and prosper, particularly as we face the duel challenge of having to deal with a global pandemic, while also bracing ourselves for the UK’s exit from the EU. The ability to react quickly and to develop services...
The new Agriculture Act 2020 is the first domestic legislation covering agriculture for over 70 years and was passed into law on 11 November 2020. It is widely considered to provide a boost to the farming industry after years of, what was often times...
Back in 2017, Farmers Weekly carried out research which suggested that around 60% of farming families did not have a written succession plan in place. Based on our experiences with farming clients throughout Ryedale and beyond, this percentage is unlikely...
Autumn is upon us and horse owners are waving a solemn goodbye to pleasant weather and hacking out late into the evening. The end of this years’ Eventing season will be upon us in a matter of weeks, following the sport’s post-lockdown resumption...
Horse racing has at last returned (albeit behind closed doors) following a short hiatus during lockdown which sadly saw the demise of this year’s Grand National meeting and the postponement of the Derby and the Oaks. However, now that racing is back,...
Spring is a busy time for farmers and those who support them. Lambing, calving and the last of the spring drilling means that there is little time to think about the long-term plans for the farm business. 2020 has been no exception to this. With many farmers...
Every business we speak to at the moment is seeking ways to mitigate the disruption caused by the Coronavirus pandemic . Of particular importance to our clients is protecting their workforce, and trying to avoid the need for lay-offs, wage reductions, and...
As concerns over the Coronavirus increase, we are finding that a lot of employers are asking our advice in relation to their obligations towards their employees. Coronavirus – What is it? “Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses...
The government has published a policy and progress update, Farming for the Future (2020), which updated the policy statement published in 2018. The statement provides information on how the policies after Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will ensure...
There are approximately 1 million properties in the UK which are not connected to mains drainage. It is particularly common for rural properties to have a septic tank or small sewage treatment plant in place of main drainage. In 2015 the requirements...
We are proud to have been announced as a new sponsor for the leading jump trainer and jockey in Yorkshire award for Go Racing in Yorkshire. We will give the prize to the trainer and jockey who has the most wins across the Yorkshire courses. Clair...
An opportunity to get all the answers to business questions in one place is happening in Malton in February 2020. The Local Enterprise Partnership with Ryedale District Council and the local business community will be on hand at the Popup Business...
As we come to the end of the year, there is an argument to say that it has been a missed opportunity for a number of reasons, as there was potential for the year to be ground breaking on various different fronts. The start of the year began with a number of...
Taking a commercial lease represents a huge investment and commitment with regards to time and finances for a business. We have therefore set out below a guide with the basic steps of obtaining a commercial lease . ...
Crombie Wilkinson continue to deliver on their Value of ‘Community Focus’ with their recent York RUFC 2nd XV player support for right winger Rob Green for his 2019-20 rugby playing season. “ We are delighted to support Rob with player...
Our Commercial Property team have put together the following top 10 tips for you to consider when looking to rent an industrial or commercial property. Be prepared – consider the property you are looking to rent, how much space do you need? How...
Clair Douglas, Head of the Agricultural Department at Crombie Wilkinson Solicitors, looks at the issue of locating the boundary line if your land borders a road, track and/or path. Where your land abuts a private road or track the Land Registry title plans...
As a landowning farmer, what should you do if your adult children do not want to farm but you want to keep the opportunity open for your young or even unborn grandchildren? Inevitably, some form of trust arrangement is required. The suitable trust depends...
Many owners of biomass boilers are unaware that there are ongoing obligations that must be complied with in order to continue to receive RHI payments. Even if the biomass boiler was installed correctly and you received confirmation of accreditation, you must...
We see a significant number of clients who are farming in partnership with their family members and, of course, such arrangements frequently run perfectly smoothly. Any reluctance to formalise the family partnership in a written agreement is therefore...
The government is consulting on planned changes to the way residential tenancy agreements can be terminated by landlords, which would end ‘no fault’ evictions, and could effectively make open ended tenancies a reality. Agricultural Holdings Act...
As the weather improves, with Summer not far around the corner, the time pressures on agricultural businesses are becoming greater and you can be forgiven for not reading the small print when purchasing goods and equipment or providing services or products....
The Tenancy Reform Industry Group (TRIG) has published a report with recommendations on a reform of agricultural tenancies. Following this report, Defra has launched a consultation on the proposed changes, which will run until 2 July 2019. The plans put...
Sheep worrying seems to be becoming increasingly more widespread and somewhat more controversial given the sensitivity to both farmers and dog owners. Talk to one of our specialist agricultural law solicitors for legal advice if you are concerned about...
Landlords need to be aware of environmental legislation requirements before letting their properties. This is called the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) Regulation. The main aim behind this is to prevent Landlords from renting out residential and...
The new tax year starts on 6th April when the following changes will come into effect: General and employee tax and NI changes for 2019/20 • The personal allowance (the amount that someone...
There are very few hard and fast rules and the Courts have ultimate discretion to make whatever order is ‘fair’ on the particular facts of your case. The starting position is an equal division of assets, which can include property, savings,...
"Going the Extra Mile" GEM Awards We believe that recognising some of the fantastic things our staff do throughout the year is essential. Therefore to continue such recognition we have decided to celebrate individual contributions by awarding GEM...
York law firm MD directs local musical to communicate World War One 100 th Anniversary As the nation, including many towns and cities in our region of Yorkshire, fell silent and held commemorative services and events to mark the 100 year anniversary of...
As we regularly hear of our ageing population, multi-generational living appears to be making a comeback and more frequently a serious consideration of families trying to avoid need for residential care. Residential care homes can provide social...
Each year we choose a charity at each of our offices to support and raise funds for for a 12 month period. Our staff were asked to nominate charities they would like to be considered and these were voted on to pick a chosen charity for each office. The four...
York Business Week is back and shaping up to be the ‘biggest and best yet’ according to organisers Make It York. York Business Week 2018 will take place from 13-19 November, with a wide range of events running across the city. Based around four...
Following a recent annual independent assessment, local law firm Crombie Wilkinson Solicitors, with offices in Pickering, Malton, Selby and York, is delighted to confirm their continued accreditation with Lexcel, the Law Society quality standard. They now...
Landlords need to ensure that their properties meet minimum energy performance standards before letting out property. On 29 January 2018, Duncan Morter published an article warning landlords that changes to EPC ratings are coming and you can read this...
It is an exciting time to be in the food and drink sector in Yorkshire. An interesting article from Bdaily.com can be found here showing excellent growth over the last 12 months for Yorkshire and Humber food and drink exports. There has been an 11%...
What are the new Regulations? The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards Regulations (MEES) set out the minimum level of energy efficiency for properties in England and Wales. From 1 April 2018, it will be unlawful for landlords of non-domestic private...
We have recently become a sponsor of Yorkshire Powerhouse. Yorkshire Powerhouse mission is to boost small businesses and start ups in Yorkshire and it is ours too – because we can! Together with Yorkshire Powerhouse we can provide high quality, advice...
Most farmers understand the basic concept of diversification e.g. utilising your land for commercial ventures other than agricultural matters, such as renewable energy, farm shops or office development of redundant buildings. Economic changes particularly...
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is an independent regulator of health and social care, including the dental profession. It became a legal requirement for dentists to register with the CQC from 1st April 2011. As a result, individuals looking to acquire a...
If you were asked why it is important to protect your brand, I’m sure you could supply an endless list of motives. However, the common misconception lies in how to do this effectively. Simply registering your business name at Companies House or...
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has highlighted the increasing use of personal devices (such as smartphones, tablets and laptops) for work purposes. The ICO suggests that businesses should update data protection policies and provide staff...
New Contract Checking Service for NFU Members Before you sign any contract, you need to understand what you’re getting yourself into. That is why the NFU is offering a Contract Checking Service to all their farmer and grower members, in conjunction...
Many people decide to purchase a small business as a going concern, be it a pub, bed and breakfast, cafe, or something a little more unique. You might already have a lot of experience in how to run the particular business (or, at the very least, bags...
Property Owners who let out their property for short-term holiday or business lettings could be in breach of User Covenant. In a recent case appealed by the Tenant from the decision of the First-Tier Tribunal, the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) considered...
Buying or selling a dental practice should be an exciting time for any dentist but all too often this excitement is overshadowed by delays in the transactional process. While unexpected delays can arise in any deal, which are out of all parties’...
We would recommend you to anyone as we were highly satisfied.
Everything was explained clearly and as a first time buyer I found this particularly helpful.
Have huge confidence in Crombies, always listen, always act.
Your firm did an excellent job meeting my expectations at a sensible cost.
You are available for the client, you communicate with the client, you do this within 24-48 hours, we feel safe with you because of this.
Our solicitor, secretary and the reception staff all excellent service.
Quick and easy, I have already recommended a friend, they are also using you to buy a house.
Your patience and support has been much appreciated. You helped me through a very difficult, frustrating time but I am already settled in my new home and the children all feel happy there, in fact they have hardly left!!
Everyone was so friendly, we were soon put at ease.
Immediate attention and sunny disposition, caring, nothing was too much. Levels of service are perfect, no improvement necessary.
I was very pleased with Crombie Wilkinson. I will in future always go back with any problems I may have.
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