Development Officers' Forum - The Green Agenda in Housing & Communal Energy Systems

Alterations to commercial premises: are you at risk?
By Alice Bainton, James Corbett

Commercial tenants often need to carry out fit-out or other works to premises, but despite the restrictions in many commercial leases, the legal paperwork is sometimes ignored. This is a mistake. Getting the paperwork wrong, or ignoring it altogether, can hand a weapon to the landlord and could lead to protracted and expensive disputes down the line, sometimes involving extra remedial works, “unfair” rental uplifts, damages and - in drastic cases - forfeiture of the lease itself.

Framework agreements
By Clare Reddy, Owen Williams

Framework agreements offer a potential solution as contracting authorities attempt to minimise the impact of the Public Contract Regulations 2006 on their business. In this inbrief, Clare Reddy and Owen Williams discuss the framework agreement and where and when they should be used. 

Confusion over benefits puts shelters in jeopardy
By Simon Bagg

In an Inside Housing article, Simon Bagg discusses the news that a number of councils are reviewing their policies on providing housing benefit funding to night shelters because of a legal ruling concerning the definition of a ‘home’.

Many of the shelters rely on housing benefit for income and may be forced to close if it is withdrawn.