Welcome to 2020!
c.jermyn • January 3, 2020
Carly Jermyn reflects on 2019 and considers what's in store for 2020...
Welcome to 2020 from the team at Woodstock.
Reflecting back on 2019, it's been an interesting year for the team:
The residential landlord and tenant team have been working hard with landlords and agents to gain possession of properties as quickly and as efficiently as possible, whilst navigating the ever more complicated legislation and tough approach by the courts faced by those in the private rental sector.
Along with the standard cases, we have been dealing with obtaining possession of large HMO's, properties being used as brothels (more regularly than you would expect), cannabis farms and misused company lets being let to less then perfect tenants.
We have also been assisting landlords facing prosecution by the local authority for breach of improvement notices and prohibition orders, helping landlords avoid claims for unlawful eviction and agents with the huge changes brought in my the tenant fee ban.
Frank and Rosie in our debt recovery team, have achieved great results for landlords looking to recover rent arrears or losses arising from damage caused to their property. Making use of writs of control, tough negotiations on settlement and attachment to earnings orders, it's great to see landlords recover losses that they may otherwise have written off.
Frank has also had great success working with property management companies to recover unpaid service charge arrears.
Simone has been busy acting on an array of interesting property litigation matters, from disputed commercial lease renewals to complicated block management disputes.
Peter Fowler continues to work on some interesting commercial and residential property transactions, from new burger bars to pubs and a remarkable number of new businesses being established! With the uncertainty of Brexit removed, perhaps we can be cautiously optimistic about commercial prospects for 2020.
We have also welcomed solicitor Amy Cousineau to the Woodstock team. Amy is a legal 500 rising star, bringing a wealth of talent to the team and offering a great resource in HR and employment law to new and existing clients. Many of the agents that Woodstock work with have been making use of Amy's experience which is great to see.
So what does 2020 have in store?
The team at Woodstock will be delivering more training for our clients and contacts working in the private rental sector. We will also continue to service our legal helpline, which now includes employment advice, courtesy of Amy.
Amongst other things we will be paying a close eye on the plans to abolish no fault evictions and the appeal of Trecarrell House Limited v Rouncefield (B5/2019/0499),
which deals with the requirement to serve a gas safety certificate on tenants prior the commencement of the tenancy.
I'm sure 2020 will be as interesting as 2019, if not more so.
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News & Insights
We are delighted to share that Woodstock Legal Services has been shortlisted for Conveyancing Firm of the Year - South of England at the Modern Law Conveyancing Awards 2026 . We are also proud to see Bethany Hudson , one of our Consultant Licensed Conveyancers, shortlisted for Rising Star of the Year. With our head office in Poole, Dorset, we are proud of our roots in the South West and the relationships we have built within the region’s property community. These shortlists recognise both the strength of our Residential Property team and the people behind the scenes who support our clients throughout their property journey. At Woodstock Legal Services, our focus has always been on building a conveyancing service that works for both our clients and our consultants. By bringing together experienced conveyancers with dedicated back-office support and the right infrastructure, we aim to make the process of buying and selling property as straightforward as possible, while giving our lawyers the flexibility and support to deliver excellent client care. Our connection to the South West remains an important part of who we are. Through relationships with local property professionals and organisations such as Poole Property Club , we continue to build connections within the property market while supporting clients across England and Wales. Over the past year, our Residential Property team has continued to grow, supported by investment in our people, processes and technology. Our dedicated back-office teams play an equally important role, helping keep transactions moving so our conveyancers can focus on their clients and the legal work that matters most. Being shortlisted for Conveyancing Firm of the Year in the South of England is a recognition of the collective effort behind our service, from the conveyancers working directly with clients to the teams supporting them behind the scenes. Car Jermyn Managing Director of Woodstock Legal Services, added: " I’m incredibly proud to see Woodstock Legal Services shortlisted for Conveyancing Firm of the Year and Bethany Hudson recognised as a Rising Star. Both awards reflect the quality of our lawyers and the commitment of the wider team supporting them. It’s great to see the work happening across our business recognised, particularly in the South of England, where our roots are firmly established. " A growing modern law firm As we continue to grow, we are always keen to speak with experienced lawyers who want to work differently, be properly supported, and be part of a collaborative community. Behind every successful consultant is the right firm. Click here to see why consultants choose Woodstock.
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