News

Devonshires’ Housing Management Department is often approached for advice when a landlord becomes aware that the relationship between two tenants sharing a property has broken down.

Diet controlled Type 2 diabetes does not amount to a disability under the Equality Act 2010 (EqA 2010) according to a recent finding by the Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) in Metroline Travel Ltd v Stoute.

Devonshires are welcoming Insolvency Partner Jim Varley, one of the founding partners from Locke Lord to their growing insolvency and debt recovery practice.

According to reports there are now over two million people in the UK who use e cigarettes. So should employers expressly include the use of e-cigarettes, or “vaping”, in their no smoking policies?

“Disposing of Land” is a guidance document issued by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) to help Private Registered Provider’s understand the HCA’s approach to their decision making in respect of disposals of social housing dwellings and other land under the general consent or specific consent regimes.

The Government has announced that the new Procurement Regulations will come into force in the UK on 26 February. The new Regulations will make some important to changes to public procurement in the UK. It will be important for all of our contracting authority clients (which include Registered Providers and Local Authorities) to understand how the current regime will change, and what these changes will mean for them in practice.

Devonshires are pleased to welcome Matthew Webb, Brian Hearne and Krissun Soodin to the Real Estate & Projects team.

Devonshires’ Banking Governance and Corporate Team have acted for Paragon Community Housing Group in the first RP bond deal to be completed in 2015.

Devonshires is acting for Dolphin Square Foundation on its registration of a new registered provider with the Homes and Communities Agency. Dolphin Square is itself a registered charity and has recently acquired the New Era estate.

As part of the trend of those operating within the housing sector looking to explore new exciting opportunities, Devonshires Solicitors has recently acted on behalf of Spectrum Housing Group in relation to a joint venture with Galliford Try in relation to a development of a 1,600 housing scheme with associated infrastructure worth a reported £400m over a period of 20 years.

The Devonshires Banking and Governance Team acted for Jephson in connection with its complex merger with Raglan Housing. The merger has resulted in the creation of the new Stonewater organisation, one of the largest social housing providers in England, with an estimated annual turnover of around £160m.