In this edition of Inside Residential I am delighted to announce that the team has been named Residential Property Team of the Year at the Chambers & Partners High Net Worth Awards 2026. This recognition reflects both the expertise and dedication of the team and the close relationships we build with our clients which allow us to advise on the full range of challenges facing residential property owners. Many of our clients come to the UK property market from abroad, and part of our role is helping them understand where the rules here differ, sometimes significantly, from what they have encountered elsewhere.
Our US clients buying property in London often look for homes with air conditioning already installed or want the option to install it themselves. Understandably, they are not always aware that the position in England is often far more restrictive than in the US, with planning controls, listed building consent and lease restrictions applying. London’s recent heatwave and the prospect of hotter summers as a result of climate change may require freeholders and landlords to think again about older policies and lease covenants that prohibit air conditioning or operate as an effective blanket ban in practice. In some cases, particularly where elderly occupiers or those with existing health conditions are involved, this is no longer simply a matter of comfort, but may engage wider issues of health, wellbeing and safety. At the same time, air conditioning brings its own environmental and energy-efficiency considerations, so there is a balance to be struck. The legal framework has not gone away, but the competing pressures may become harder to ignore. In this edition of Inside Residential, Alison Taylor looks at the legal issues around air conditioning installation, including the consents that may be required and some possible alternative solutions where conventional systems may not be permitted.
The Government’s consultation on the High Value Council Tax Surcharge for properties in England, due to be introduced from April 2028, is now under way and gives a clearer indication of how the surcharge may operate in practice, including who will be treated as the “owner” for these purposes, how complex ownership structures such as trusts may be dealt with, and what limited support, discounts or deferral arrangements may be available for those unable to pay. The consultation also raises broader questions around tied accommodation, possible additional premiums for non-UK residents and the treatment of properties that are substantially improved after the new regime comes into force. Antonia Cosby summarises the latest position and the key points for owners and advisers to watch as the proposals develop.
We have an article from Partner, Sonal Thakrar, on chattels and SDLT, looking at a question that arises regularly in residential transactions: when part of the purchase price can properly be attributed to chattels, thereby reducing the amount of SDLT payable. As Sonal explains, the principle is legitimate, but only where the apportionment is made on a just and reasonable basis and supported by proper evidence. Her article revisits the distinction between fixtures and chattels, the valuation issues that often cause difficulty in practice, and the importance of an itemised and realistic contents schedule if HMRC later asks questions.
Finally, the government has now issued its response to the two consultations it held last year on home buying and selling reform, together with a roadmap including a plan to encourage the use of digital tools and AI enabled conveyancing technologies . As a firm, we are well placed to meet these developments: through MDRLab and our strategic collaboration with Legora, announced in February 2025, our private real estate team is already working with AI to support tasks such as drafting, document review and due diligence, alongside the legal judgment, experience and personal attention that our clients expect. This is not the first attempt by government to improve the home buying process, as we remember from the ill-fated home information packs, However, hopefully lessons have been learned and the early instruction of conveyancers and careful preparation of sales packs will soon become the norm across the sector.