Civil way: 19 February 2010

Soaring fees

“It’s a blasted covenant job.” If you’ve got business for the Lands Tribunal, take it there before October 2010. That’s when the level of its fees is set to soar so that one-half of running costs is recovered. Fees have remained static since 1996. A Tribunals Service consultation paper reveals what’s in store. Take applications to discharge or modify restrictive covenants. The lodgement fee will jump from £200 to £800—it is said that these applications are hugely time consuming for Registrars as they typically involve reviewing plans and lengthy documents—and the final hearing fee from £350 to £1,000. Right of light certificate applications are also said to be time consuming. They are planned to leap from £250 and £350 to £1,200 and £1,500.

Drug addicts: bad news

Trust lawyers have a spring in their step or are as white as a sheet, depending on age. They’ve got some new law. The Perpetuities and Accumulations Act 2009—created by the Law