A Glossary of Housing Related Terms - Part 1

English: An icon from the Crystal icon theme. Nederlands: Een icoontje van het Crystal icon thema (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Legal rights and regulations concerning housing related matters are most commonly associated with laws surrounding the ownership of property (in its broad legal definition) and more specifically, fixed property (buildings, land, fixtures and fittings etc), known as real estate in some jurisdictions. The following article aims to provide an introduction into some of the key terms that are involved in property and therefore housing law.

Landlord
The owner of any real estate or property (including land) that is rented (i.e., leased – see below) by another party. In some scenarios the landlord can be the party who rents the property from the party who has personal ownership of it, and in turn subleases it – in which case they will still have superior title to that property over the underlying tenant.

Tenant
A tenant is someone who has hold over something – defined as a tenement – but does not own it. The term is most prominent in housing law where a tenant is therefore someone who rents the use of a property from a landlord. Tenancy comes with rights of occupation over the property concerned, despite the fact that the property is never considered to be under the tenant’s personal ownership.

Lease
A more general term describing a contract requiring payment by a user of something to the owner of that thing, for a certain amount of time. In the context of fixed property or real estate, a lease will commonly be referred to as a rental agreement and will be arranged between a landlord (lessor) and tenant (lessee).

Eviction
The process of removing someone from a property, the term ”eviction” doesn’t describe a specific scenario. Lawful evictions occur where the inhabitant has no legal right to live in the property because they have broken terms of their lease, their lease has expired or someone else has a superior claim to the ownership of the property (including lenders following a default on a mortgage).

Unlawful eviction can occur when these conditions are not met, most commonly when a landlord forcibly removes a tenant without following legal processes, particularly when they have failed to serve to required notice.

Repossession
The process of an owner of a property who has superior title/ownership rights on that property claiming it back into their possession, without going through court. The process can be carried out by a lender where a loan has been secured against property, or by an owner in the case of property being leased out. The legal right to repossess will usually be triggered only by a failure to pay monies due in either case.

In the UK the term is most commonly associated with the reclaiming of a property stake by a mortgage lender in the event of the borrower defaulting on the mortgage (i.e., failing to make repayments).

Squatter
An individual who occupies land or property (usually abandoned or unoccupied before they take up residence) over which they have no legal rights. Depending on the jurisdiction a squatter could be committing either a civil or criminal offence, however, in England and Wales squatting has been classified a criminal offence as of 2012.

To find out more about legal matters surrounding housing issues you can visit a specialist housing law firm.

5 Dorset Towns in Profile - Bournemouth & Poole

English: Brownsea Island Ferries, Poole Quay. Regular departures take trippers across Poole Harbour to Brownsea Island. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In previous articles we have looked at the 5 largest settlements in the ceremonial county of Wiltshire. This time it is the turn of the stunning coastal county of Dorset. Famous for its Jurassic Coast, rich in fossils and geological delights, as well as its rolling countryside and pretty villages. Interestingly, Dorset is one of the few counties in England not to be home to a city but its towns still have more than their fair share to offer. The first part of this article focuses on the profiles of the two largest towns, Bournemouth and Poole.

Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a town located in the south eastern corner of Dorset, near the border with Hampshire. Estimates for the population of the town itself lie at around 168,000 but it is certainly the biggest settlement in the county. These days it forms the largest constituent part of its eponymous borough and unitary authority, as well as the South East Dorset conurbation alongside the adjoining towns of Poole (to the West) and Christchurch (to the East). This conurbation which also encompasses nearby towns such as Wimborne, Ferndown and New Milton (in Hampshire) is the main focus of settlement in Dorset with a population of around 400,000 in total.

Whilst being best known as a tourist destination the town has a well developed service and, in particular, financial service sector which provides much of its employment opportunities. There is also a large, and growing, university in the town with over 17,500 students attending although many of these live and study just over its boundaries with neighbouring Poole.

Bournemouth is one of the most prominent seaside towns in the country owing in part to its seven mile long sandy beach and south coast climate and is now also a popular retirement location. In fact as a relatively modern town it grew extensively and rapidly during the Victorian period from a only a handful of buildings on the mouth of the small River Bourne, due to its suitability as a resort in particular. Now it also offers plenty of entertainments, at venues such as the Bournemouth International Centre and the pier, in addition to surf, down the beach in Boscombe, vibrant nightlife and relaxation, in the extensive Winter Gardens in the town centre.

Poole
To the west, Bournemouth melds into the harbour town of Poole. Only slightly smaller than its neighbour with a population of around 138,000, it is the second largest settlement in the county. Although a unitary authority in its own right, it also contributes a very significant chunk of the South East Dorset Conurbation. Poole has developed a mixed economy due to its location on the northern edge of Poole Harbour, (arguably) the second largest natural harbour in the world. It has a thriving service industry and is a key transport hub, with a regular ferry services across the channel, as well as a manufacturing centre famous in particular for yacht building and Poole Pottery.

The town is a popular tourist destination for those attracted by Brownsea Island (the birthplace of cub scouts) with its famous red squirrels, the sandy beaches of Studland and Sandbanks each side of the harbour entrance, or the water sports opportunities in the harbour and Poole Bay. In fact the waters of the harbour regularly play host to sailing, water skiing and wind surfing events amongst others, whilst the beaches are popular with those playing volleyball and kite surfing (not to mention sunbathers). Other attractions in the town include the largest arts centre outside the capital at Poole Lighthouse and the shops and restaurants around Poole Quay. Indeed the desirability of the area is illustrated by the fact that Sandbanks is home to some of the most expensive real estate on the planet, ranked by some behind only London, New York and Tokyo.

In the next installment, we’ll focus on the remaining three towns that make up Dorset’s top five.

© Stuart Mitchell 2012
If you live in or around the Bournemouth and Poole area and are looking for legal advice you can visit Solicitors Bournemouth.

Knightsbridge in Profile

English: Knightsbridge, SW1 (2) Taken at the junction of Brompton Road, and looking towards Hyde Park Corner. The usual heavy traffic is evident here -- this is the A4, a major route out of Central London to the west. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The area of London known as Knightsbridge is a well renowned as a exclusive residential district of London and as home to some of the most famous shops in the UK. The following article provides an overview of this compact, yet significant district of London.

Where It Is
The district of Knightsbridge is located in West London, spanning the edges of the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It has a prime location on the southern edge of Hyde Park, surrounded by Brompton and South Kensington to the west, Belgravia to the east and south with Buckingham Palace just beyond. The area is in fact named after the Knightsbridge Road which roughly forms its northern border, on the edge of Hyde Park. To the east it is approximately separated from Kensington by Exhibition Road and to the west Sloane Street forms its border with Belgravia, although the boundaries of the area are in truth very blurred.

Knightsbridge Road itself is one of the most famous sections of the traditional route to the West of England and Wales, the A4, the Great West Road. As an extension of the Brompton Road it runs towards the centre of London into Hyde Park Corner and ultimately continues past some of London’s most recognisable landmarks. It carries on into Piccadilly, down the northern extent of Buckingham Palace, through Piccadilly Circus, Haymarket and Charing Cross and along The Strand and Fleet Street.

The district sits within Zone 1 of the local transport network in London and is served by Knightsbridge tube station on the Piccadilly line, although Hyde Park Corner tube station is also on the edge of the area.

What’s There
Knightsbridge is world famous for two things, shopping and exclusive homes. In terms of its residential credentials it is up alongside its illustrious neighbours such as Mayfair and Belgravia as home to some of the most expensive and sought after real estate in the UK if not the world. In fact it has been judged that 14 of the UKs 200 most expensive streets are within the small district. What’s more in 2007, the most expensive apartment property on the planet at that time was sold in Knightsbridge for a staggering £100,000,000. Perhaps the most prominent residence in Knightsbridge, however, is actually the towering apartment block of the Hyde Park Barracks, home for the members of the household cavalry.

The district boasts some of the most exclusive designer and retail outlets in the capital too and is home to arguably the two most famous flagship department stores in the UK, Harrods (since 1849) and, just up the road, Harvey Nichols (since 1880). Indeed Knightsbridge has been designated as one of only two international shopping centres in the capital alongside the West End (which includes Oxford Street).

History
The settlement that we now think of as comprising the Knightsbridge area grew from a small settlement founded around a bridge on the River Westbourne, a tributary of the Thames, between the larger villages of Chelsea and Kensington. The river, which is now is now hidden underground in sewage pipes, also shared its name at various stages of its course with areas of London such as Kilburn, Bayswater and Serpentine (in Hyde Park).

The most notable event in the history of the the bridge at Knightsbridge is the fateful meeting between Empress Matilda and the residents of the capital 1141. Matilda was in dispute with her cousin King Stephen for the right to succeed her father, his uncle, Henry I as the ruler of England in a conflict latterly known as The Anarchy. She arrived to claim the throne having captured and deposed Stephen but was ultimately turned away by the Londoners having failed to show enough humility and coalesce on their demands for lower taxes.

For such as small area of London is certainly has a big reputation. Despite being dwarfed for much of its existence by more illustrious neighbours it has now become an internationally renowned hot spot in London for all things associated with an high-end exclusive lifestyle.

© Stuart Mitchell 2012
If you want to find out more about living in Knightsbridge then visit Estate Agents Knightsbridge.

Mayfair - A Potted History

English: Shepherd Market, Mayfair, London W1J (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

For many the name Mayfair is instantly recognisable as the most expensive property on a UK monopoly board and, to a large extent as a result of that association, it is considered one of, if not the, most prestigious areas of London. In reality, it does a good job of living up to that billing and is home to some of the wealthiest commercial and private inhabitants in London, but how did it all come about.

The May Fair

The area of London that we now know as Mayfair, was until the late 16th century farmland on the banks of the old River Tyburn, on the fringes of the city. As may seem obvious, the name of the area was derived from a fair that was held on the site every May and which ran for almost a hundred years from the late 17th century onwards. The fortnightly fair began life in Shepherd Market as a livestock market but later evolved into a broader proposition with a variety of trade stalls and entertainments such as jugglers and theatre.

However, as it grew it attracted more and more ‘undesirables’ whilst, at the same time, the area surrounding the fair was increasingly being built upon and gentrified as a result of its position on the outskirts of the city as well as its proximity to the royal estates. The fair and the area’s new Georgian residents therefore made uneasy bedfellows and in 1764 the fair was moved to Fair Fields in Bow following complaints from the locals.

The Urbanisation of Mayfair

Consequently, the transition of Mayfair from a rural area to an urban district coincided with the decline in fortunes for the fair. From the mid 17th to 18th centuries the streets replaced the fields with the names of many still harking back their original uses - the most obvious example being Shepherd Market where it all began. The urbanisation was driven by local and wealthy land owners such as the Grosvenor family (later to become the Dukes of Westminster) as well as the Royal family (indeed much of the area has in fact remained in crown possession to this day) and so the new streets were filled with sumptuous Georgian mansions and townhouses which were sought after by London’s elite.

Mayfair’s streets spread to fill some of London’s prime real estate; leading off the grand Regents Street to the east and filling the space between the royal parks and estates of Hyde Park to the west and Green and St James parks to the south with their royal palaces. The area became part of the traditional parish of St Martin-in-the-Fields - a parish of central and west London, encompassing the city of Westminster - and with that location, combined with the its fashionable buildings and architecture, its allure was guaranteed to the present day.

Modern Mayfair

Mayfair is now synonymous with elite London, home to the rich and the powerful and it has gained this reputation for good reason - not just due to its prime location on a monopoly board! Situated within the city of Westminster and surrounded by the royal estates to the south and west, it is also bordered by the up-market Marylebone to the north and the commercial and entertainment hearts of London, Oxford Street, the west end and Soho just to the east, making it an incredibly convenient as well as prestigious place within the capital to live.

However, most of the area is actually non-residential. It is home to a good proportion of London’s high-end commercial premises with some of the most exclusive shopping in the world. Savile Row, the world famous street of bespoke tailors is found to the east of Mayfair as is the most definitive street of high-end fashion shops (clothing, jewellery and art etc) in the country, Bond Street, with its unrivalled portfolio of designer brands.

In addition, Mayfair is the location of high profile foreign embassy offices, with the most obvious example being the US embassy in Grosvenor Square, as well as cultural hots spots such as the Royal Academy of Arts. Due perhaps to its location, architecture, fashion and cultural offerings and prestige the area also contains most of the top hotels in the capital with names such as the Dorchester and Claridges.

With all these delights on offer, the brand of Mayfair has never been stronger and it continues to be known all over the world. From humble beginnings it is now one of most desirable places to live not just in the UK, but Europe and beyond.

© Stuart Mitchell 2012
If you are keen to find out more about living in West London then visit Estate Agents Mayfair.