Business Rates has been a hot potato in the property industry for many years, no more so than in the retail sector. We are a nation of shoppers, yet the outdated system of rates valuation disincentivises investment in retail property and inhibits growth. The way in which we shop has changed, with the growth of online and multi-channel retailing, but the way in which retail businesses are taxed on their bricks and mortar has not ...
The new Act on Strategic Investment in Croatia has achieved its goal of reducing administrative procedures and ensuring the speedy realisation of strategic projects in Croatia. In order to declare a project “strategic,” it must meet several criteria. Foremost, the project must be in accordance with spatial planning regulations. Also, the total amount of capital expense must be HRK 150 million (approx. EUR 19.6 million) or more ...
The Swedish court of appeal (hovrätten över Skåne och Blekinge) decided in May this year that the party ordering a transport service also is liable for payment of such service; regardless of if the parties have agreed that the receiver of the goods or any other party shall be the receiver of the invoice. In this case a seller of goods has agreed with a carrier that the freight should be invoiced the receiver of the goods ...
Unlike the position in England, in Scotland there is virtually no statutory protection for a commercial tenant at the expiry of their lease.Provided sufficient notice has been given by their landlord, the lease will come to an end on the expiry date and, unless a deal can be struck with the landlord, the tenant is required to leave the property on or prior to that date ...
Condominium and villa investors will have a more affordable, flexible and attractive opportunity to invest in the Turks and Caicos Islands’ (TCI) real estate following the enactment of the Fractional Ownership Ordinance. The Ordinance has not yet come into force, but shall do so once a notice has been published in the gazette, to this effect ...
The Colombian government, aware of the need to improveinfrastructure in order to reduce logistical costs and thereby promote the country’s growth and development, is currently in the process of selecting contractors for the fourth generation road concessionprogram, which envisages the award of approximately 25 concession contracts, with total investment of close to €18,300 million ...
FUNGAL CONTAMINATION AND COMMERCIAL LEASES Fungal contamination: a complex problem The detection of a fungal contamination problem in a building can be a complex operation. For example, recurring water infiltration due to leaks in a building’s outer envelope can create an environment that is conducive to the growth of mould in spaces not visible to the occupant, such as behind walls, in ventilation conduits, and in the plenums of the ventilation system ...
This year the North Carolina Court of Appeals issued an opinion that effectively nullifies many construction warranties. In Christie v. Hartley Construction, Inc., et al., No. COA12-1385, the Court limited warranties for construction defects to six years, even when the contractor or product manufacturer expressly provides a longer one. Plaintiffs George and Deborah Christie contracted for the construction of a custom home in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in 2004 ...
The "pay when paid" issue has troubled the construction industry for many years. It refers to payment terms contained in a sub-contract, which typically provide that the main contractor shall pay the sub-contractor a certain period of time after the main contractor has received payment from the employer. The controversy is whether the phrase should be construed as creating a condition precedent to the main contractor's liability to the sub-contractor ...
In our Autumn update, we start with a nature theme by looking at problems caused by tree roots and Japanese knotweed. We also round up news on business rates and the new CRAR regime and then finish with a stark reminder about the perils of remaining in occupation once a lease has ended ...
When does title in the ship pass from the shipbuilder to the shipowner? Can the parties agree to change when title will pass? Usually shipbuilding contracts are negotiated on standard forms such as the SAJ form produced by the Shipbuilders’ Association of Japan and the AWES form produced by the Association of European Shipbuilders and Shiprepairers. South African law generally recognises freedom of contract and accordingly parties to a contract are entitled to vary the terms by agreement ...
The case arose out of the construction of a petrochemicals plant in the north east of England. The parties entered into an engineering procurement construction (EPC) contract for delivery of the plant.The purchaser, Sabic UK, considered that the contractor, Simon Carves, was not proceeding with due diligence as required by the EPC contract.Having issued a warning notice under the contract, Sabic terminated the contractor's employment ...
Introduction A collateral warranty can be a construction contract and therefore subject to the right to refer disputes to adjudication, according to a recent decision by the Technology and Construction Court in Parkwood Leisure Limited v Laing O’Rourke Wales and West Limited [2013] EWHC 2665 ...
The Technology and Construction Court (“TCC”) decision in National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside (Trustees of) v AEW Architects and Designers Ltd [2013] EWHC 2403 (TCC) was published last month. In his decision, Mr Justice Akenhead shows much pragmatism in assessing the heads of quantum put forward by the Claimant, which some may view as particularly widely casted ...
CONTENT What Happens when an Option to Terminate is not Exercised in Accordance with its Terms?The Landlord's Obligation to Provide Peaceful Enjoyment WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AN OPTION TO TERMINATE IS NOT EXERCISED IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS TERMS? Chantal Joubert An option for the renewal or termination of a lease generally provides for the mechanism that is necessary to exercise the option ...
What Happens when an optio to terminate is not exercised in acccordance with its termns? An option for the renewal or termination of a lease generally provides for the mechanism that is necessary to exercise the option ...
SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan contributed to the Philippines section of Asia Pacific Property Investment Guide, a publication produced by Ashurst - Singapore and Jones Lang LaSalle ...
The Major Transport Projects Facilitation Amendment (East West Link and Other Projects) Bill 2013 ('the Bill') was commended to Victoria's Legislative Assembly on 13 June 2013. The Bill principally amends the existing Major Transport Projects Facilitation Act (Vic), which governs the assessment, approval and delivery of major transport project infrastructure ...
What is a Mechanic’s Lien? In South Carolina, construction liens, called mechanic’s liens, are automatically created by statute to protect anyone “to whom a debt is due for labor performed or furnished or for materials furnished and actually used in the erection, alteration, or repair of a building or structure upon real estate or the boring and equipping of wells.” S.C. Code Ann. § 29-5-10 ...
A version of this article was originally published in April 2013 and has now been updated. Effective April 1, 2013, project owners in North Carolina are now required to designate a Mechanic’s Lien Agent (MLA) for the vast majority of construction projects, and contractors or other potential lien claimants must now identify themselves through written notice to the MLA if they want to ensure their lien priority against lenders or purchasers ...
Imagine you are a materialman, selling indoor carpet to the contractors. You are approached by a West Virginia developer that wants you to supply carpet and flooring for several houses in a new development. The contract represents $50,000 in new business for your company – and you hope it marks the establishment of a productive relationship with the developer. Over the course of several months, you supply the developer with carpeting and flooring, which are installed in the new construction ...
In February 2013 the Supreme Court of Virginia handed down its decision in Jack Bays1, a mechanic’s lien lawsuit involving the landowner, several lenders, the general contractor and no fewer than eleven subcontractors. Although the decision broke no new ground with respect to the Virginia mechanic’s lien statutes, it is a good review of procedural issues and a reminder of the importance of thoroughly documenting work progress and communications with other parties in a construction project ...
Three months ago, the general contractor (GC) showed up driving a brand new, fire-engine-red, extended cab, turbo-charged 425-horsepower diesel dually that set him back sixty-five grand. The final invoice for your foundation work should have been paid that day—it’s still unpaid. Payday is tomorrow, your cash is low, your stomach aches, and the material supplier is calling twice a day now. A month later, the job is deserted, and the GC’s phone is disconnected ...
West Virginia has seven "mechanic's and materialman’s lien" statutes to protect the interests of those performing or supplying construction-related work in the state.1 Although these statutes are interpreted by the courts to be inclusive in their application to protect a wide range of those performing services or supplying materials, they specifically provide protection to the following persons, firms or corporations:Contractor (W. Va. Code 38-2-1)Subcontractor (W. Va ...
