Skip to content
Home Link Logo
Property Hub

Property Hub

Helping companies in the Property and Construction sectors adapt, grow and maximise their opportunities for growth

Our multi-disciplinary Property and Construction team provide practical, user-friendly guidance to help companies adapt to the changing world and grow their business. We do this by providing commercially focused advice drawing on our expertise that encompasses all financial reporting, budgeting and tax matters – from SDLT to VAT, from Corporation Tax to Capital Gains Tax.

Our expert team work collaboratively to deliver the best service to our clients. You will deal with one lead partner, who is able to call upon the depth of expertise in the firm, co-ordinating the services you require and ensuring that these reflect your needs and ambitions.

Heather Property Intro

The Annual Landlords Survey: Spotlight on EPC

In its drive for the UK to reduce carbon emissions and reach net zero by 2050, the UK Government has imposed new guidelines meaning many landlords now find themselves having to make a range of improvements to their rental properties.
In 2022 we conducted a survey to investigate how these guidelines affect UK landlords, with the results showing that many appear ill-prepared for the changes:

  • 37% of residential landlords were not aware of the EPC rule changes
  • 52% of commercial and residential landlords had no plan in place to ensure compliance
  • 80% of commercial landlords were unsure of the costs involved to meet EPC standards

But how have things changed over the last 12 months? And how do you compare to other landlords?

The survey has now closed.

We’ll reveal the results soon.

 

Heather EPC Thumbnail

2023 Property Forecast: The Challenges and Opportunities

Some of the biggest names from across the built environment joined the Blick Rothenberg Property & Construction team for a lively, wide-ranging discussion on the challenges and opportunities facing the property market in the year ahead.

Chaired by BE News editor-in-chief Liz Hamson, and hosted by Heather Powell, the carefully selected and diverse panel of industry leaders discussed a number of themes including the economic outlook, sustainability, the housing policy, and more.

BE Property Report 2023

Adapt & Grow

The wide range of opportunities and challenges facing the Property and Construction sectors can, without careful planning, result in a cash-flow crisis. Current examples of these include significant increases in labour and material costs as well as the recent change in the tax regime for residential developers – increasing the tax payable on developments, both of which reduce the capital retained in the business.

As the pandemic aftermath, Brexit and other factors continue to impact the sector, we emerge into the new world with opportunities for businesses that, with careful planning, can be taken to build their businesses.

We can help you

  • Gain a clearer understanding of your position in this changing landscape
  • Help to continually monitor financial results with a focus on optimising cash flows
  • Invest in identifying and addressing issues as they arise
  • To be in the best position to thrive and grow your business as the economy recover

VAT treatment of overage payments

Overage payments are essentially an additional consideration paid by developers to sellers of land and property where certain events or milestones are met after the land sale. Their primary aim is to give the seller a share in any excess profits that materialise from the development and the onward supplies made by the purchaser. By their very nature, it’s not always possible to quantify the value of the overage payment (or as we will see the VAT liability) at the time the land or property to which the overage payment relates to is sold.

Overages can be an extremely important part of a property deal and are relatively commonplace. It’s therefore surprising that the VAT treatment has remained so controversial for so many years, with HMRC seemingly undecided about the correct VAT liability and, to date, offering little or no published guidance.

UK Building Development

Tax Transaction Services

Any buyer of property, whether a development site or an investment, needs to consider all of the UK taxes that impact not only at the date of purchase but also during the period of ownership. Getting this wrong can be an expensive error. Whether acquiring property via the purchase of shares in a company, or buying the asset itself, SDLT, VAT, Corporation tax and Income tax all need to be considered – as well as how profits can be extracted in the most tax efficient way.

Our team give advice on the best way to structure a purchase, and where a company is being purchased, work with buyers and their other professional advisors in completing a review of the financial and tax records to ensure that no unexpected liabilities are acquired with the company shares. A combination of property sector knowledge and technical expertise allow the team to deliver a focussed, cost effective service to clients which is clear, concise and timely.

Taher Suterwalla and Anor v Revenue and Customs 2023

Stamp Duty Land Tax tribunal

A recent case looked at the issues concerning mixed use, and whether the Property acquired by the Appellants constitutes land consisting entirely of residential property or whether it also includes land that is non-residential property. You can read the full tribunal citation here, as well as Sean’s 60-second video recap on events.

“It goes to show how unpredictable litigation is, in particular mixed use cases”

Sean Randall, Partner

Sean Randall Property

Podcast: Finding Perfect Property – Diary of a Buying Agent

Taxing Times – Decoding the impact of a Labour Win on London’s Residential Market in 2024

The Finding Perfect Property podcast takes a deep dive into buying property – the pitfalls, the challenges, and how to get it right.

Camilla Dell from Black Brick Property Solutions talks to Blick Rothenberg CEO Nimesh Shah and Stamp Duty expert and Partner Sean Randall.

They discuss what a Labour win might mean for the London property market, UK res non doms, stamp duty and top tips for anyone thinking of buying this year.

Property Podcast Jan 24

Events

Another hugely successful MIPIM

The Blick Rothenberg Property and Construction team were delighted to once again attend this year’s MIPIM Conference having met contacts new and old to discuss their views and share our thoughts on what the year ahead may hold for the industry.

Heather Powell, Head of Property & Construction said:

MIPIM allowed us to build on existing relationships, create new ones, and understand what the key issues are for investors and developers in 2024 – and their hopes for 2025. It was great to go with colleagues, being able to support each other, and to spread the word to a larger audience about the great work we do for clients in the property sector.

If you met with our team in Cannes and wish to follow-up on those conversations, or missed MIPIM but would like to speak with our team, please get in touch with Heather Powell, Head of Property & Construction, to arrange a meeting or informal chat.

Women in Property EPC Panel Discussion – Impact of the new regulations

Having published our Annual Landlords Survey: Spotlight on EPC report, responses from residential and commercial Landlords all over the UK paint a picture of confusion and ill-preparedness for the upcoming EPC Changes. The report asks the questions:

  • Are UK rental properties ready to meet the Government’s new requirements?
  • How do property owners plan to fund the works required?
  • What impact will implementation have on commercial and residential landlords?
  • Heather Powell outlined the results of the firms’ recent survey alongside Suzanne Gill, Partner at Wedlake Bell, and Chris Strathon, Senior Director at JLL.
Heather Women In Property Event Video

Contact our Property Team