patron news
It’s been an incredibly challenging summer, both personally and professionally, for everyone in Kingston (and the rest of the World!). Thankfully, with considerable hard work, the last few months have seen a gradual resumption to an environment that is resembling some degree of normality. We always strive to make the visitor experience to Riverside Walk as welcoming, safe and entertaining as possible. We are very pleased to announce the next stage of improvements planned for our site, one of the highlights is the recently
purchased wide beam narrowboat which will be used as a flexible space for the Kingston community. Creatively, this can provide an eclectic range of events from the roof, such as hosting live music, drama, comedy and spoken word. We are considering a range of uses for the inside of the boat, from a pop-up coffee shop, to ice cream bar or a Yoga/Pilates studio for example. The intention is to fit out the boat over the winter months so it will be ready for use next summer. As with any new boat launch, we will be running a competition for the chance to come up with a name for the boat, (am afraid the wonderful entry for
David Attenboroughs boat naming competition, Boaty McBoatface, will not be accepted this time either) so keep an eye out on our social media pages for updates and start getting your creative spirit inspired. Our aim is to continually invest in Kingston and to constantly improve the experiences on offer. With that ambition, we hope to announce shortly an onsite, public realm art installation from a world renowned contemporary artist. This period has made us realise even more how much we desperately miss our friends at the Rose, Banquet
Records and IYAF among others. We hope the Creative Arts in Kingston can get back to what they do best soon. Finally, we would like to say a big thank you to all residents and businesses who have helped support us through the lockdown. We are really looking forward to delivering these exciting new projects and to help reinforce what a great town we live in. Instagram: Riverside_walk Facebook: Riverside Walk Website: https://www. riversidewalkkingston.co.uk/
May you live in interesting times The old Chinese curse, “May you live in interesting times” seems very apt for the strange world in which we now live. With rules and restrictions constantly changing, it’s hard to find firm ground on which to plan.
for others and we are seeing clients looking to auctions and elsewhere for investment prospects. As these situations crop up, seek advice at an early stage to avoid problems becoming more complex later. Partners David Hards and Donald Morrison are able to assist across a wide range of issues.
Pearson Hards has not been immune to the trials and tribulations. We went through a period where most of the staff were on furlough or working from home but we are back operating on full speed, albeit with fewer visitors to the office, so social distancing can be observed.
Being prepared for the future The loss of a loved one is distressing and challenging at the best of times and we have seen an increase in the number of probate cases. We have an experienced and sympathetic team able to guide and advise people through this difficult period. Please contact partner Ian Lipscombe if you would like to discuss any issues that you may have.
So what then does the legal world look like at the moment? Making technology work for you Lawyers are not best known for being at the fore front of technological advance. Much Court work is now being dealt with digitally and hearings are taking place by telephone or video call. Some cases do need a physical hearing to be deal with sensitive matters and these are still possible. Family law partner, Emma Rothstein and colleague Claudene Howell, and our civil litigation partner, Claire Darby are all able to meet with clients either face to face or digitally, so please get in touch if you need advice or assistance. There has been a slowdown in civil litigation during lockdown but this may well change. The courts imposed a moratorium on all residential landlord
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and tenant matters to reduce the workload in courts and also to protect tenants from possible eviction when the opportunities for rehousing were limited. A hold was also placed on commercial forfeiture and rent recovery actions. The moratorium has just been extended to 20 September. This area of law is technically complex so please contact Partner Claire Darby to help you navigate through any residential and commercial issues. Housing and commercial sector update Surprisingly the local housing market is very buoyant. This is partly a catch up for the months in lockdown, but also a lot of new activity. The concessions on Stamp Duty Land Tax is an obvious factor. Until 31 March 2021, the threshold for SDLT is raised to £500,000, with tax being paid on the balance of price above that figure on a sliding scale. Savings can be significant and so it is a good time to buy. Please contact conveyancing partners Hatice Mustafa and Jonathan Throp to discuss your plans. The commercial property sector is also showing some signs of life. Some businesses are being forced to sell or move to smaller accommodation. Difficulties for some do create opportunities
BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community
Sadly, a majority of adults in this country still do not have wills. There really is no excuse not to have a will when one considers the difficulties and unhappiness that can arise if someone dies without having made one. If you are considering making a will please contact Serena Welch who can meet with clients by video call, face to face at the office or at clients’ homes, for those who are less restricted. For Pearson Hards, these interesting times continue to throw up new challenges but we are adopting new processes to be able to serve the people of New Malden going forward. Please call us if you need help or advice on any legal issue on 020 8949 9500 or visit our website at www.pearsonhards.co.uk.
