Yesterday evening, James Letchford, Jonathan Dobkin, Hugh Begley and Lydia Chapman (as part of the Commercial Property team at Hunters) were delighted to welcome attendees of the APC Network to our offices for an evening of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training and networking.
The event brought together aspiring surveyors, chartered surveyors and property professionals for an informative and engaging evening. Despite the very hot weather, it was a pleasure to see so many people in attendance and to have the opportunity to share insights, answer questions and connect with those progressing through the qualification process.
The evening began with an introduction by Kess Akhtar from the APC Network. Kess provided a helpful background on the network’s role in supporting and encouraging young surveyors as they work towards qualification.
After James introduced Hunters and provided an overview of the commercial property work we undertake, Hugh kicked off with a talk on the terms “without prejudice” and “subject to contract”, explaining how and when these terms are used in property transactions, why they can be essential in the right context, why they may not be necessary. His presentation offered attendees a practical overview of concepts that are frequently encountered in negotiations and transactional work.
Jonathan Dobkin gave practical guidance on mid-lease remedy options for landlords, focusing on the legal issues that are commonly encountered in the course of practice. This prompted thoughtful discussions about how and when to prepare dilapidations schedules, questions on disputes that may arise and the meaning of proper and reasonable costs.
Lydia finished the session by talking about title deeds and boundaries, with a particular focus on how important a clear understanding is of boundary lines in the context of leases. This prompted further discussions about registrations of leases and what happens when there are discrepancies in a lease between the lease plan and the property description.
The event concluded with wine and canapés, giving everyone the chance to continue the conversation and ask any follow-up questions in a more informal (and slightly cooler) setting.
We were very pleased to host so many people for what proved to be a lively, insightful and enjoyable evening.