Megan Smith
I am a Paralegal in the firm’s Rural Property team, assisting Partner, Sarah Jordan, and our wider Rural Property team…
Rural services
Into the woods: Inheritance tax relief on woodlands
It is estimated that 72% of land in the UK is farmed but, in 2017, the AGFORWARD project estimated that…
Stay updated: Agriculture (Lump Sum Payment) Regulations 2022
The Government produced its response in February 2022 to the consultation exercise last year on the Lump Sum Exit Scheme.…
Boundary agreement vs determined boundary – what’s the difference?
Clients often ask why an on the ground boundary differs to the red line on their land registry filed plan.…
Avoid disputes by not making promises you cannot keep
On 27 January 2022, the High Court handed down its judgment in Morton v Morton [2022] EWHC 163 (Ch), which concerned a dispute…
Rebekah Jolley
Specialisms
Banks and Lenders
I am a paralegal in the rural property department. I assist Charlotte Brackley with the selling…
Oxford Farming Conference 2022
On the 5th till the 7th of January, a number of the Moore Barlow Rural team attended the Oxford Farming Conference 2022…
For sale: what to consider when selling your farmland
The pandemic restrictions and ongoing Brexit-related issues have had a significant impact on the UK’s farming and agricultural sector. In…
Cheltenham 2021 under the microscope with Callum Helliwell
Callum Helliwell is a Sky Sports Racing researcher & Goffs UK bid spotter
The Rural Team at Moore Barlow acts…
Succession planning: a matter of trust?
Trusts have been a part of the UK’s legal system for centuries and often take the form of private legal…
Carbon Trading and new environment agreements under agricultural tenancies
Following the introduction of Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS) in place of the EU funded Basic Payment Scheme and the…
How new agri-environment schemes will be applied in the New Forest
Following a consultation, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has changed the way New Forest Commoners are allocated subsidies for forest…
Felling licences and restocking notices – everything you need to know
When many people think of cutting down trees, their first thought can be to look at whether the trees are…
Five key considerations to make when buying a farm
The pandemic has seen a shift in people’s habits, from spending more time in the countryside enjoying the outdoors to…
Louise Williams
Farms and Agriculture
Estate Management
Land Transactions
Commercial Property
I am a solicitor in our Rural Property Team, specialising in…
Key points to consider when diversifying your farm
Philip Whitcomb, partner at law firm Moore Barlow specialising in rural matters, shares his top tips when planning to diversify…
Working a farm in a shifting environment
In November last year – following passing of the Agriculture Act 2020 (discussed in the last edition of Rural News)…
Farmers, mind your head
In 1964 Bob Dylan sang ‘The Times They Are A-Changin’ and today this song holds particularly true for rural life…
Is your farming partnership fit for purpose?
US President Dwight D Eisenhower is quoted as saying “farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil, and…
Home is where the holiday is
The Government’s indicative roadmap out of lockdown has prompted a boom in both UK and foreign holiday bookings, with the…
What you need to consider before buying a vineyard
If you or your client are considering purchasing or investing in a vineyard, you’ll need to consider the following as…
Farm Business Tenancies: who drafts what for whom?
When drafting a farm business tenancy, it’s easy to get confused as to which documents a solicitor prepares and which…
How to buy your own plot of woodland
Philip Whitcomb, partner at Moore Barlow specialising in rural matters, explains how to buy your own plot of woodland and…
Agricultural tenancy reform update
In an earlier edition of Rural News, we considered the proposals put forward in the Defra Consultation Paper on Agricultural…
Legal guide to buying a farm
The pandemic has led to greater appreciation of the countryside and of shopping locally, which is good news for the…
Family law and property transactions – unregistered land
As family lawyers, we work closely with colleagues in other teams to provide expertise to our clients going through relationship…
Farm succession planning
The Moss family has farmed Manor Farm for 150 years and is a highly respected local family. They’re just about…
Moving to the National Park- From the old life to the New Forest?
As I write this from my home office in the New Forest, I’m looking out on a picture-perfect postcard of…
Holiday time for stamp duty
In his Summer Statement the Chancellor announced a temporary reduction in residential stamp duty land tax (SDLT) rates in England…
Moore Barlow partner authors new definitive legal guide to farming partnerships
Top 100 UK law firm Moore Barlow today announces that partner Philip Whitcomb has authored a new book which is…
Rural 4
They are a strong firm and have a loyal following in the market with a solid client base.…
Rural 3
Certainly far more efficient and professional than several other firms that I have recently had dealings with. The advice given…
Rural 2
Moore Barlow LLP has an excellent pipeline of country wealth experience, with good knowledge of estates, agriculture and the surrounding…
Rural 1
This is a medium/large firm, but treats clients in a personal, non-corporate manner that the clients like and allows trust…
Restructuring a family business for the third generation
Moore Barlow has many clients who are family businesses. From entrepreneurial investment vehicles, to landed estates and rural businesses, to…
What is Occupiers’ Liability and how can you protect yourself against it?
If a visitor on your land or premises falls or injures themselves, what occupiers’ liability might you have?
There are…
The Agriculture Bill
At the time of writing this article (the end of February), the Agriculture Bill is wending its way through the…
Lifetime farm valuations; ‘hope’ value and the importance of getting it right
Lifetime valuations can be a useful strategic tool for landowners. A forthcoming succession, pre-death tax planning when creating a Will,…
Caring for farmers with dementia
It is generally accepted that the health and social care sector is facing some of its greatest challenges to date.…
UK points-based immigration system policy update
On 19 February, the government published the first details about its proposed new Immigration system planned to be operational on…
Seasonal worker scheme multiplies by four
Following concerns over a lack of migrant labour as a consequence of Brexit, the government is significantly expanding its Seasonal…
Exchange of contracts within 48 hours
Buying a house is often one of the largest investments that we make, making it one of life’s most significant…
Farming divorces
Dealing with a divorce is stressful enough but when farmers divorce there are usually additional considerations. It is not uncommon…
Smart farming – have you got the legal issues covered?
Technology has always played a vital role in the agricultural sector and it should be no surprise that Smart Farming…
Where there is a horse, there is a will
The whole idea of getting up at 6am on a dark winter’s morning to ride out in the pouring rain…
Don’t forget the new 30-day window to report disposals for CGT payment
If you are in the process of considering disposing of residential property on or after 6 April 2020 new rules…
Charlotte Brackley
I buy and sell high value rural property: large country houses with land, farms and landed estates. I have worked…
COVID-19: how to make your house move happen
The UK government has now issued guidance to those buying or selling their home during the Covid-19 lockdown. This update clarifies what…
Anita Symington
Sales and purchases of farms and estates
Agricultural tenancies , succession planning and proposed tenancy reform
Diversification enterprises on farms…
Rebecca Langmead
Farms and Agriculture
Estate Management
Land Transactions
Commercial Property
Landlord and Tenant
I act for a mixture of both private…
Philip Whitcomb
Drafting complex wills
Inheritance and capital gains tax planning
Farming partnerships
Succession planning for farmers and landed estates
Heritage law…
Sarah Jordan
A trusted legal adviser to the rural sector, my client base is focused on acting for families of landed estates,…
Edward Whittington
I am privileged to lead Moore Barlow, a dynamic and forward thinking law firm based in London and the regions.…
Steven Watts
Land development
Land promotion
I am a senior associate solicitor in the firm’s land development team.
I advise residential and…
Budget Predictions for Farmers and Landowners
There is now less than a month before we hear what Rishi Sunak disclosures in his first budget. Here are…
Proposed abolition of Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988
The Government has issued a Consultation Paper entitled “A New Deal for Renting”, seeking views on how to implement its…
Stamp Duty Land Tax – Mixed Use update
On 25 June 2019 HMRC issued updated guidance on the meaning of ‘garden and grounds’ for the purposes of Stamp…
Putting unused buildings to good use
There are many ways of putting redundant agricultural buildings back into use. Diversification can help stabilise the farm across the…
Brexit and farming subsidies, insolvency & restructuring concerns
Our insolvency & restructuring team sits within our Rural Sector team, working to warn farmers and encourage them to seek…
The New Forest National Park has adopted a new ‘Local Plan’
The New Forest National Park has adopted a new ‘Local Plan’ containing stronger policies to help safeguard the Forest’s landscape…
Funding care for farmers
For anyone requiring long-term care the impact on family can be devastating, but for farmers it can affect their business…
Proposals for agricultural tenancy reform
Moore Blatch has recently responded to the Defra Consultation paper on proposed reform of agricultural tenancy legislation, based on our…
Case Law update – tenancy status of agricultural workers’ spouses
Hook and another v. Hawkins [2019] UKUT 147 (LC)…
Casual seasonal workers and holiday pay
A casual worker is entitled to paid holiday, and their entitlement pay is calculated pro rata by reference to the…
Moore Blatch sponsors 2019 Royal County of Berkshire Show
The leading firm is a Gold sponsor at the annual agricultural event
Moore Blatch, one of the largest law firms…
Rural Property team grows at Moore Blatch
Anita Symington has joined Moore Blatch as a consultant in the rural property team. …
Commoner’s corner #Grazingisgood
The New Forest National Park and Commoner’s Defence Association have launched the #grazingisgood campaign, which recognises the benefit commoning brings…
Equine negligence
Professionals have insurance to protect them when accidents happen. If your local vet reversed their car into you, or you…
Assets of community value
The recent case of Banner Homes Limited v St Albans City and District Council illustrates how the Asset of Community…
‘Mixed-use’ rate – Stamp Duty Tax
When you purchase property in the UK you will normally be subject to paying Stamp Duty Land Tax (“SDLT”) on…
Escape to the country
At Moore Blatch, we regularly act for purchasers who are based in London and other urban centres who are looking…
AHA Tenancies – Obtaining vacant possession
We are regularly being asked to report on the status of agricultural tenants who occupy land required for development by…
Occupying land without a written lease, license or agreement
Problems and confusion can often arise where someone is occupying an area of land without any written basis for doing…
Case law update – Restrictive covenants
The case of Jones v Oven [2018] EWCA Civ 1895; [2018] 8 WLUK 105 looked at the effect of restrictive…
Succession Planning for Farmers – Top tips for success
Farming succession is absolutely imperative to the success of individual farmers, but it is also integral to the overall agricultural…
Farm labour shortage addressed – but is it enough?
Last week the government announced a new nationwide pilot scheme for seasonal agricultural workers from outside EEA countries to come…
AHA tenancy loophole
We all work in the rural sector so the basics of AHA tenancies under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 (AHA)…
Boundary disputes and encroachments
Rural and agricultural properties and Estates often have boundaries that are not clearly demarcated by physical boundary structures. …
Commoner’s Corner, New Forest rights – does your property benefit?
The New Forest was designated a national park in 2005 and is one of the most visited National Parks in…
Every farmer should have a Lasting powers of Attorney
A Property & Financial Affairs Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) can prove essential in helping to protect a farm should…
Somerset farming company fined £16,000 for breach of work at height regulations
Evercreech Park Farms Ltd was recently fined £16,000 and ordered to pay legal costs of just under £3,500 for a breach of the Work at…
Moore Blatch announces 17 firm wide promotions
Moore Blatch solicitors, which has offices in Southampton, Lymington, the City of London and Richmond, has announced 17 firm-wide promotions…
Strict liability continues – Case law update
Following the case of Mirvahedy v Henley in 2003, it is well known that if an animal causes damage to…
Recruiting seasonal workers after Brexit – possible solutions?
The issue of immigration has featured prominently in the Brexit debate. Following the decision to leave in June 2016, the…
Farming dispute following a bereavement – private client perspective
The case of Sargeant v Sargeant 2018 EWHC 8 Ch focuses on the case of a farmer’s widow, Jane Sargeant,…
Commoner’s corner
Exploring rural property issues and developments in the New Forest, Kerry’s Commoner’s Corner, is a new feature for rural news.…
A loophole giving residential tenants the right to enfranchise and buy
Many common law tenancies contain a little known or understood loophole that can cause a huge headache for Estate and…
Town and country homes
Your legal advice on your dream home or investment should come from those with expert knowledge of law and who…
Landed estates and farming
Your legal advice on rural, farming and family affairs should come from those with expert knowledge of law, combined with…
Moore Blatch signs up to Shared Forest Business Group
During the course of 2016, nearly 100 New Forest animals were killed by vehicles travelling along roads through the New…
Shooting rights case law update
A recent decision in the High Court, Fuller v Kitzing and another [2017] EWHC 810 (Ch), will be of interest…
Bank security: The benefits of landowners, banks and solicitors working together
We all know farmers don’t like selling land to release capital. Re-financing is often the better option to raise cash…
Licensed shoots – Farm diversification
From oil paintings to period dramas to the Shooting Times, the shooting season is the inspiration for many quintessentially British…
Exchange in one day? Yes, it’s possible, says Ed Whittington
Moving house is a tortuous process in every way, usually not helped by the legal process which can drag on…
A kingdom for my horse: Livery businesses qualifying for BPR
As Winston Churchill said; “the outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man” – something that…
The Digital Economy Act: introducing the “New Code”
The 27th April 2017 brought the Digital Economy Act, a refreshed version of the previous Digital Economy Act of 2010.…
Agricultural property relief, what to do following the death of a farmer
…
Farm diversification- Film on a farm
At sunset, viewers are treated to the viewing of classic film favourites. I watched Notting Hill, but other films such…
Farmers diversifying if subsidies scrapped could cost them tens or hundreds of thousands, warn lawyers
The Prime Minister’s announcement that the UK will not have a half-in, half-out deal, means the subsidies UK farmers currently…
Septic tanks a dirty word
When you are marvelling in the peace and tranquillity of having bought a home in the countryside, you are unlikely…
