Reading time: 2 minutes
Written by: Ruth Stevenson, Director/Solicitor at Ives & Co Solicitors
Commercial property offered investors several opportunities in 2025, with demand for offices, logistics facilities and energy-efficient buildings shaping the market. Investors could gain exposure through direct ownership, property funds, REITs, crowdfunding or fractional ownership.
Reading time: 2 minutes
Written by: Ruth Stevenson, Director/Solicitor at Ives & Co Solicitors
Changes to Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief could create significant Inheritance Tax liabilities for farming families. The article examines how the reforms may affect farm succession and outlines planning options involving lifetime gifts, spousal exemptions, business structures and insurance.
Reading time: 2 minutes
Written by: Ruth Stevenson, Director/Solicitor at Ives & Co Solicitors
The UK commercial property market slowed during the final quarter of 2024, with weaker tenant and investment demand across several sectors. However, modern offices and industrial properties continued to perform comparatively well, supported by demand for high-quality, energy-efficient spaces.
Reading time: 2 minutes
Written by: Ruth Stevenson, Director/Solicitor at Ives & Co Solicitors
Proposed restrictions on non-EU property buyers in Spain created uncertainty for British purchasers considering overseas holiday homes and investments. The measures could redirect some demand towards UK coastal and countryside properties as buyers explore alternatives closer to home.
Reading time: 2 minutes
Written by: Ruth Stevenson, Director/Solicitor at Ives & Co Solicitors
The UK commercial real estate market ended 2024 with positive momentum as capital values, rental values and total returns improved. Retail warehouses and industrial properties performed particularly strongly, while the office sector recorded more modest growth.
Reading time: 2 minutes
Written by: Ruth Stevenson, Director/Solicitor at Ives & Co Solicitors
UK property investors faced difficult conditions during 2024, including substantial fund outflows, closures and pressure on listed property investments. Although REITs and housebuilding shares offered alternative routes into the market, careful diversification and risk assessment remained essential.
Reading time: 2 minutes
Written by: Ruth Stevenson, Director/Solicitor at Ives & Co Solicitors
The UK’s ageing population is increasing demand for Wills, probate, trusts and wider estate-planning services. Digitalisation is improving accessibility and efficiency, but changing family circumstances and growth in contentious probate continue to make personalised legal advice important.
Reading time: 2 minutes
Written by: Ruth Stevenson, Director/Solicitor at Ives & Co Solicitors
UK house prices recorded their strongest monthly increase in more than two years, supported by improved household finances, resilient employment and steady mortgage activity. Despite this recovery, affordability pressures and changes to Stamp Duty were expected to influence buyer behaviour and transaction levels.
Reading time: 2 minutes
Written by: Ruth Stevenson, Director/Solicitor at Ives & Co Solicitors
The Law Commission’s review of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 considered how security of tenure should operate in modern commercial leasing. Proposed models ranged from removing automatic renewal rights to making tenant protection mandatory, each carrying different implications for landlords and businesses.
Reading time: 2 minutes
Written by: Ruth Stevenson, Director/Solicitor at Ives & Co Solicitors
Bereaved families can face inconsistent processes, repeated requests for information and delays when notifying organisations or administering an estate. Clearer national standards could encourage more compassionate communication, simpler procedures and better coordination between service providers.