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The lay of the land

31 January 2014 / Martin Dray
Issue: 7592 / Categories: Features , Property
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What does the year have in store for property law asks Martin Dray

“There are known knowns; there are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns; that is to say, there are things that we now know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns—there are things we do not know we don't know.”

So said Donald Rumsfeld about weapons of mass destruction in 2002. Property law may be less controversial but for the large part it is no easier to predict. What will make the headlines in 2014? Here are some clues.

Known knowns

Here one is on the surest footing.

One 6 April will see the abolition of distress for rent. Effectively confined to commercial property for years now, a remedy favoured by landlords as a cheap and effective means of recovering rent arrears will be swept away when Pt 3 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007—a long time in the gestation— is brought into force along with the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013 (SI 2013/1894). Its replacement is the snappily-entitled “commercial rent

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ career profile: Liz McGrath KC

NLJ career profile: Liz McGrath KC

A good book, a glass of chilled Albarino, and being creative for pleasure help Liz McGrath balance the rigours of complex bundles and being Head of Chambers

Burges Salmon—Matthew Hancock-Jones

Burges Salmon—Matthew Hancock-Jones

Firm welcomes director in its financial services financial regulatory team

Gateley Legal—Sam Meiklejohn

Gateley Legal—Sam Meiklejohn Premium Content

Partner appointment in firm’s equity capital markets team

NEWS

Law school partners with charity to give free assistance to litigants in need

Magic circle firms, in-house legal departments and litigation firms alike are embracing more flexible ways to manage surges of workloads, the success of Flex Legal has shown

Magic circle firms, in-house legal departments and litigation firms alike are embracing more flexible ways to manage surges of workloads, the success of Flex Legal has shown

Magic circle firms, in-house legal departments and litigation firms alike are embracing more flexible ways to manage surges of workloads, the success of Flex Legal has shown

Walkers and runners will take in some of London’s finest views at the 16th annual charity event

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