News & Insights - Boodle Hatfield

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News & Insights

Our team of experts shine a spotlight on new legal developments, share their views on the impact of current affairs, and offer insights on issues that could impact you and your business.

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24 Mar 2025 Brace for change as the Renters’ Rights Bill takes further steps towards implementation

Much has been written about the Renters' Rights Bill and the considerable impact it will have on those letting residential property.  The Bill has made significant progress through Parliament, completing its

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24 Mar 2025 Confusion, courts & the search for certainty (but at what cost?)

In eprivateclient, Senior Associate, Alexandra Hirst delves into the complexities of modern divorce law, societal changes, and the call for reform to achieve clarity and fairness.

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21 Mar 2025 The Transparency Pilot Scheme: A route to Justice or a Concern for Clients?

In the New Law Journal, Family Senior Associate, Alexandra Hirst weighs up the benefits & risks of the Transparency Pilot scheme that has been in place in all financial remedy proceedings across the country,  allowing qualifying legal reporters and press greater access to the Family Courts.

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19 Mar 2025 Urgent Action Required for Agricultural Landowners to Protect Land Value

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill has reached its second reading in the House of Commons. If it gains royal assent, it will have significant implications for agricultural landowners.

The bill proposes

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14 Mar 2025 Decoding the UK’s new tax reforms: What high-net-worth Africans need to know

For years, the UK has offered a favorable tax regime for individuals who consider their permanent home to be outside the UK. However, major changes are coming and the concept of domicile will no longer apply for UK tax purposes. In Billionaires Africa, Partner, Julie Howard and Associate, Annabella King detail why the UK’s new tax system is so important for HNW Africans to understand.

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10 Mar 2025 The Budget & Inheritance Tax: protecting lifetime gifts from divorce risk

Following the October 2024 Budget, wealthy families may accelerate the gifting of assets to reduce their inheritance tax (IHT) liabilities. However, this is not without complication. One particular risk is divorce. Could gifted assets be attacked upon divorce? Careful planning can reduce the risk, as Boodle Hatfield and Cazenove Capital explore in a joint article.

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12 Mar 2025 Mitigating IHT & Divorce Risks: Strategic Planning For Families Post Budget

In Family Business United, Partner, William Rollin and Senior Associate, Laura Cullinane reflect on the IHT implications of last Autumn’s Budget and explore the planning opportunity to mitigate IHT and divorce risk in the context of a family business.

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07 Mar 2025 Hidden Extra Tax ‘Tie’ for Parents Visiting Children Studying in the UK

A significant overhaul of UK tax legislation from April 2025 means HNW Nigerians with children in the UK could unknowingly become UK tax residents due to their visits. Understanding the ‘family tie’ rule is crucial to avoid unexpected tax exposure. In Business Post Nigeria, Partner, Julie Howard and Associate, Annabella King break down what parents need to know.

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11 Mar 2025 The Building Safety Act – key updates for 2025

The Building Safety Act gained Royal Assent in April 2022 and has subsequently been brought into force through a raft of secondary legislation. Head of Construction, Sarah Rock explores the secondary legislation of The Building Safety Act that is coming in 2025 – including the much-anticipated Building Safety Levy, due to be enacted by Autumn 2025 and the effect of Building Assessment Certificates on conveyancing.

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04 Mar 2025 In Conversation with Julie Howard & Namukale Chintu

In this episode, Partner, Julie Howard is joined by Dr. Namukale Chintu, the Founder and Managing Director of Frontier Market Consultants and Non-Executive Director on the boards of Invesco UK and Invesco Asset Management Ltd. Together they discuss some of the highs and lows of juggling your career and a child,  talk through some of the different structuring models for combining work with family life and the importance of these discussions in inspiring the next generation of female leaders.

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03 Mar 2025 The reinvigoration of commonhold

Enfranchisement reform continues with The UK Government’s white paper proposing a new commonhold model to replace leasehold, aiming to build confidence among developers, consumers, and lenders. Partners Naomi Heathcote and Simon Kerrigan report on the white paper.

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03 Mar 2025 HMRC makes VAT a snag for cladding remediation

In December 2024, the Government clarified HMRC’s VAT policy on cladding remediation works for residential buildings. Head of Construction, Sarah Rock and Tax Partner, Andrew Loan outline when remediation qualifies for reduced or zero-rated VAT as ‘snagging’ and when the standard 20% rate applies, as well as examining challenges in reclaiming VAT, particularly for older buildings, and the impact of the Government’s Remediation Action Plan on expediting safety improvements.

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28 Feb 2025 Split decisions – William Rollin comments in the Law Society Gazette

Historically, the business of the family courts has been conducted behind closed doors, however, journalists can now report from family courts in England and Wales in what the UK's most senior family judge has called

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28 Feb 2025 Further details published on Inheritance Tax reform for farms & businesses

A consultation document published on 27 February now confirms how HMRC propose the Inheritance Tax allowance is to apply, particularly in relation to trusts. Hayden Bailey, Natasha Hassall and Emma Haley detail the key features impacting farms and businesses.

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26 Feb 2025 The EPC Squeeze: Why Landlords Might Need to Shape Up or Ship Out

With the clock ticking towards the anticipated EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) changes, Senior Associate, Sophie Henwood details why the UK’s commercial property landscape could face a seismic shift.

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26 Feb 2025 Transparency reporting pilot: crystal clear?

In the Law Society Gazette, Family Senior Associate, Alexandra Hirst details the drive for transparency in the family court, along with the unintended consequences of having qualifying legal reporters and press in attendance.

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25 Feb 2025 Right to manage reforms come into force March 2025

The Right to Manage (RTM) provisions set out in the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 set out the terms on which leaseholders of a building containing flats may form an RTM company and take over the management

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24 Feb 2025 Is fire safety regulation a balancing act?

In Property Wire, Partner and Head of Construction, Sarah Rock outlines the legislative landscape of fire safety regulations

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17 Feb 2025 Immigration Law – A Notoriously Complex Field

As immigration lawyers, we often find our area of expertise dominating the headlines. Given the complex and ever-changing nature of immigration law, news reports can on occasion

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14 Feb 2025 The last straw: VAT on school fees piles pressure on stretched family finances

In Professional Adviser, Partner, William Rollin and Senior Associate, Alexandra Hirst look detail the implications and financial negotiations which may be triggered by the VAT hike on school fees for separated couples.