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info@beersllp.com
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PROPERTY

Commercial Property

Any property transaction may involve complex legal factors but much more so when that property is a commercial one. Planning considerations, environmental liabilities, investment issues and the payment of tax on a transaction are all concerns if you are buying, leasing or selling commercial property.

With a thorough grasp of the detail of current property legislation, we’ll manage the process of your transaction seamlessly, supporting you, partnering you or leading the way.

We advise on acquisitions, disposals, commercial and residential site development, negotiating and reviewing leases and rent reviews.

Commercial lettings

Landlords are faced with an increasing burden of statutory compliance and tenants find themselves with greater rights and but also greater responsibilities. Our expertise includes acting for both landlords and tenants, providing advice on strategy and procedure from both perspectives. We cover all areas of leasehold management including lease renewals.

“The group at Beers LLP ‘always acts quickly’ and provides a ‘personal service’. Richard Jones heads the team”. The Legal 500, West Country, Commercial Property.

Licensing

You might be buying a restaurant, a corner shop or garage. All have varied licensing requirements.

Working hand in hand with our Commercial Property team, our Licensing team will keep you on the right side of the law in this complex area of law. We can help with the grant and transfer or personal and premises licences to ensure that you comply with the relevant legislation. We can also assist in applications to vary existing licences to suit the changing needs of your business.

Residential Lettings

Advice for landlords

At Beers, we help people who have let their home, bought a property to let or who have bought or inherited a property with sitting tenants. We can assist in drawing up a wide range of tenancy agreements to protect you and and your property.

While a properly prepared tenancy agreement can prevent many problems, when difficulties do arise it is crucial that landlords get appropriate advice about landlords’ rights as swiftly as possible, especially as regards rent arrears policy, using the accelerated possession procedure or getting rent arrears paid.

A letter from a landlord’s solicitor can be enough to get a problem tenant to clear rent arrears and to avoid future arrears because of the threat of legal action. If it does not, enforcing your rights as a landlord at an early stage against problem tenants will result in regaining possession of your property and peace of mind.

Advice for tenants

Advice about tenants’ legal rights is basic and fundamental to ensuring access to affordable and secure housing.

Housing problems such as actual or threatened homelessness, rent arrears or disrepair can have a devastating effect on individuals and families. We recognise that as a tenant or leaseholder, a housing law issue may coincide with problems such as a loss of employment, ill health or disability.

Knowing your tenancy rights or duties and having appropriate legal help at these times can prevent the situation turning into a crisis. We will always act quickly and sympathetically on your behalf to prevent this.

Click here to go to the Law Society and download the Renting out Your Property leaflet »

Click here to go to the Law Society and download the Renting a Home Leaflet »

Buying and Selling Property

Moving home is said to be one of life’s most stressful challenges. But, it doesn’t have to be that way. With more than three quarters of UK homes owner-occupied, many of us will be buyers and sellers at some point in our lives.

We will ensure that you are aware of everything relevant to your property transaction and will carefully manage the process for you throughout.

Experts in buying and selling homes

If you are buying a property, we will ensure that everything is ready for your moving in date.

We will manage carefully the conveyancing process from the start, beginning with the best advice on which survey you may require before making your offer.

We will make sure that you clearly understand the financial position such as any deposit amount, specific mortgage conditions, stamp duty or freeholder notice fees which will affect the cost of buying and keeping your home.

FASTMOVE Sell your house the FASTMOVE way

Beers belongs to FASTMOVE, an agreement between the leading firms in the South West with the aim of standardising paperwork thus speeding up the transaction for you.

If you are selling, we will keep that all important regular contact with the buyer’s solicitor and prepare the necessary property information forms and fixtures & fittings lists and arrange for preparation of the Energy Performance Certificate which will ensure that the transaction proceeds smoothly.

We can, if required, advise on any estate agent’s fees and check any agreements that they have asked you to sign.

Click here to go to the Law Society and download the Buying a Home Leaflet »

Tips on how to avoid Property Fraud and Email Hacking

The legal community has been aware of these issues for some time now and the majority of firms drum it into their employees that no matter how safe the firm’s property firewalls/anti-virus or spam filters are, those of the public will probably be less so.

The Bold Legal Group has over 420 member firms throughout England and Wales and have been highlighting these issues to its members, on a regular basis, for the last year or two. They have a compiled a few pointers for the public:

  • If you receive the solicitor/conveyancer firm’s bank details by email, and don’t also receive the same details by post, phone the firm to make sure they are correct (using a verified landline telephone number).
  • Do not send your bank details by email (to anyone), either phone them through or take them in.
  • Make sure the firm acting for you is genuine by checking with the lists compiled by the Law Society or the Council for Licensed Conveyancers. Carry out a law firm search via the Solicitors Regulation Authority website.
  • Read anything sent to you by your conveyancers carefully. Many firms provide clients with their bank details at the outset (by post) and stress that those details will not change. Always telephone to check if the bank details provided appear to have changed.
  • If you are being pushed to proceed very quickly be careful, fraudsters often use this tactic so that emails are used and corners are cut.
  • If you are buying an empty or tenanted property, tell your conveyancer and make sure they are 100% sure the seller is who they say they are.
  • Ask the firm you are thinking of instructing what anti-fraud and cybercrime measures they have in place.
  • Ask them what checks they carry out to ensure the buyers/sellers firm is genuine. Do they use services like Lawyer Checker/Lender Exchange/The Safe Move Scheme?
  • If you have to send sensitive information by email do not give a clue to what that information might be in the email’s subject line.
  • Test your conveyancers account details by sending a nominal amount, say between £1.00 and £10.00 first, and then phone to make sure it has arrived safely.
  • Do not post any updates on social media as to the progress of your transaction – this is how some fraudsters identify when to send the scam email requesting your money.
  • Working with your conveyancer is a two way street. No matter how good and safe they are, if you are not as vigilant you may end up having your emails hacked or becoming involved in property fraud.
  • Above all, remember that buying or selling a property is one of the most important and complicated things you will ever do. Do not instruct the cheapest firm to act for you. Visit the firm if possible. Certainly speak to the person who will be handling your transaction (or the Head of Department or Team Leader) and make sure you feel confident in them and their ability.

Richard Jones
Senior Partner, Head of Property
Kingsbridge 01548 855010
richard.jones@beersllp.com

Rural ProfessionalsAfter studying law at the University of Liverpool and completing his post-graduate year at the College of Law Chester, Richard qualified as a solicitor in 1996. He joined Beers LLP in 2005 and became Head of Property in 2007.

Richard deals with a wide range of high-value residential and commercial transactions, including sales and purchases, the grant and surrender of leases, agricultural land transactions, the grant of easements and complex development and leasehold enfranchisement matters.

undefinedAway from the office, Richard enjoys spending time with his wife, their 2 young children and their Dalmatian dog. He is a former professional sailor, an indifferent guitar player and an ever slower long distance runner.

Richard is a Fellow of the Agricultural Law Association and is recommended in Chambers guide to the legal profession for commercial property work.

Jonathan Ward
Partner, Deputy Head of Property
Plymouth 01752 246000
jonathan.ward@beersllp.com

Jon is a senior solicitor in the Company Commercial department in our Plymouth office.  Jon read law at Plymouth, obtaining a first class degree and a series of academic awards.  Acting for a variety of clients, individuals and businesses, Jon has many years experience dealing with all aspects of business and company law, sales, purchases, start ups, advising on corporate structure, shareholders agreements, partnership agreements and the like.  He is also widely experienced in commercial property, landlord and tenant work and high value or complex residential conveyancing.  Jon advises on construction contracts (large and small projects), commercial contracts and contentious property matters, such as easements, restrictive covenants, adverse possession and rectification at HM Land Registry.

Outside of the office Jon is undertaking a PhD, researching geotechnology and property rights.  He has published academic articles and lectures various law modules at Plymouth University.

When not studying, Jon enjoys the moors, time with his partner and dog, sailing and dreaming about a classic car.

Claire Chope
Licensed Conveyancer
Kingsbridge 01548 855006
claire.chope@beersllp.com

Claire is a Licensed Conveyancer who specialises in residential conveyancing, particularly sales and purchases of freehold and leasehold property with both registered and unregistered titles, mortgages and remortgages, transfers of equity, Declarations of Trust, shared ownership properties and the Help to Buy Scheme.  Claire also understands the swift nature of investment purchases and auction sales deadlines.

Claire has worked in support capacity within property departments for over 20 years prior to qualifying.

Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my children and love the outdoors, particularly the beach and horse-riding.

Carol Foster
Trainee Conveyancer
Kingsbridge 01548 855013
Carol.Foster@beersllp.com

Carol has worked in residential property for 8 years, beginning in a support capacity and progressing to running her own matters.  Carol is currently training to become a Licensed Conveyancer.

Carol has significant experience in Shared Ownership purchases and particularly enjoys helping First Time Buyers through the conveyancing process, amongst other aspects of residential conveyancing.

In her spare time, Carol enjoys reading and walking her Yorkshire Terrier.

Caroline Anthony
Licensed Conveyancer
Plymouth 01752 246010
caroline.anthony@beersllp.com

Caroline is a Licensed Conveyancer and an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives  specialising in Residential Conveyancing. Caroline’s legal career began when she was 18 working as an office junior, since then she has worked in a support capacity then progressing to a fee earner position and qualifying as a Conveyancing Lawyer.

Caroline is married with a teenage son. When Caroline is not at work she likes to spend time with her family, walking her dog, supporting the local rugby team and when time permits reading a good book.

Carolyn Thomas
Chartered Legal Executive
Plymouth 01752 246014
carolyn.thomas@beersllp.com

Carolyn is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives and specialises in residential conveyancing. Her career in law spans over 10 years and she has experience in a wide range of areas, including family law and litigation. Prior to that she held managerial roles in Administration.

Carolyn has a busy home life with her husband and four teenage children which she has combined with her studies and work. Her experiences have enabled Carolyn to empathise with clients in stressful situations and assist them in a calm, measured way.

Josh Chauhan
Trainee Solicitor
Plymouth 01752 246012
joshua.chauhan@beersllp.com

Josh is a Trainee Solicitor in our Plymouth Office. Josh studied Law at Plymouth University, graduating with first class honours in 2017 and he is currently studying on the Legal Practice Course alongside working at Beers. Josh’s experience includes assisting in commercial and residential property matters, as well as company/commercial matters.

Outside of the office Josh spends much of his time studying, however he enjoys keeping fit and spending time with his family.

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Beers Solicitors

Established in 1885, and now with offices in Kingsbridge and Plymouth,  Beers LLP has been providing generations of clients with high quality legal advice.

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Kingsbridge Office

BEERS LLP
29 Fore Street
Kingsbridge
TQ7 1AA

Tel: 01548 857000
Fax: 01548 852101

Plymouth Office

BEERS LLP
North Quay House,
Sutton Harbour,
Plymouth , PL4 0RA

Tel: 01752 246000
Fax: 01752 246001

Beers LLP is a Limited Liability Partnership registered in England and Wales authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Registered Number: OC323091

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