Sonali Shah

Independent schools considering closure or diversification following the VAT changes must navigate complex legal and commercial challenges. In Education Property Magazine, Partner, Sophie Henwood explores the challenges schools, investors and developers face – from lease restrictions and covenants to planning constraints – and why there is rarely a straightforward solution. As she notes, every property requires a bespoke approach.

Upwards-only rent reviews have long been a feature of institutional leases, but that may be about to change. In CoStar, Commercial Real Estate Partner, Sophie Henwood considers the implications of the proposed ban and whether, in a market already shifting towards shorter leases, the practical effect will be as significant as anticipated.

What does the proposed ban on upwards only rent reviews mean for landlords and tenants? Partners, David Rawlence and Sophie Henwood, and Senior Associate, Kate Symons explore the key changes introduced by the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026, including when the ban will take effect, which leases it will apply to, how rent review provisions may need to be structured going forward, and the wider implications for lease negotiations and market practice.

The Contractual Control Regulations, which introduce a new regime for the disclosure of information relating to certain contractual control agreements, were made at the beginning of June 2026. Although the regime will not be fully in force until April 2027, the new disclosure obligations will apply to qualifying agreements entered into on or after 8 June 2026.