Property Investment

Herrington Carmichael is a full service law firm offering legal advice to UK and international businesses as well as individuals and families.
/
/
/
Property Investment

We are highly regarded for our commercial and pragmatic approach and advice, provided in a prompt and efficient manner to private investors and companies in the UK and overseas. We recognise that each of our clients has their own unique requirements when investing in commercial Real Estate and so we aim to align our support and advice with our client’s commercial objectives.

We work closely with other teams in the firm, in particular our Construction, Corporate and Banking, and Real Estate Dispute Resolution teams, so that we offer a multi-disciplinary service to advise clients on the best way of structuring and financing any given transaction.

At Herrington Carmichael, we also recognise the importance of working alongside our client’s other professional advisors, with pro-active advice and support every step of the way.

Our Real Estate Investment team advises on both large and small investment transactions. We have the capacity and expertise to advise investors with large multi-let portfolios but can also assist clients who are new to the investment market or who simply wish to purchase a smaller portfolio or a single let property.

Herrington Carmichael aims to work with our clients from the very outset to devise the most effective structure to achieve your objectives, whether a large portfolio acquisition; a single income producing investment; a portfolio acquisition; a mortgage portfolio transaction; a sale and leaseback; a disposal; or a trading transaction.

Our aim is to assist you in enhancing the performance of your property investment by effective management of the assets and we can assist you in all aspects of the landowner/occupier relationship.

Our real estate development finance and secured lending team have industry recognised expertise and regularly advises clients on a full range of complex property financing transactions and arrangements.

We are experienced in drafting and advising on documentation based on LMA standards, bank standard documents, complex security suites (including overseas) and multi-currency lending arrangements.

We manage transactions from start to finish, ensuring a smooth and cohesive process which facilitates commencement to completion in a quick and timely fashion. We will invest the time upfront with you to understand your standard internal facility documentation and security requirements. Our expertise includes:

  • Bridging finance
  • Development finance
  • Prioritisation of loans
  • Property acquisition and investment finance
  • Property refinancing
  • Refurbishment loans – heavy and light
  • Short term loan funding
  • Sale and leaseback structures

Alongside our corporate and commercial teams, we are able to offer advice on:

  • Loan agreements
  • Floating charges
  • Debentures
  • Guarantees, security over building contracts and other finance documentation

Herrington Carmichael's Property Investment team assists clients in managing property portfolios across the UK. We pride ourselves in offering a friendly, approachable service at a cost-effective price (when compared with a City firm) without compromising on attention to detail or quality of advice.

Our dedicated commercial property investment solicitors are able to offer a bespoke and personal approach to clients looking for investment opportunities, with legal services tailored to individual needs.

Key contact

Liz Hailey PNG
Liz Hailey
Partner, Head of Real Estate

What our clients say about us

I have had the pleasure of working with Liz on several complex property purchases, including overseas based companies and legal opinions, commercial leases analysis, building contracts assignments and collateral warranties. On each occasion, Liz has acted promptly, kept me appraised of the progress and demonstrated excellent commercial awareness and professionalism in dealing with client’s solicitors, in order to meet tight completion deadlines. I have no hesitation in recommending Liz for all property related legal matters.

I also would like to specifically recognise Rachel Duncan, Partner Real Estate, for her outstanding support. Her expertise in real estate, particularly within the housing sector, has been exceptional. She provided clear, pragmatic advice on a complex matter, helping us navigate potential disputes and avoid unnecessary costs.....Her practical, solution-focused approach, combined with her responsiveness and professionalism, made a significant difference. She is a real asset to the firm.

The property team have been diligent, timely and highly responsive. This has allowed us to focus on our developments knowing that the matter is in capable hands.

I am delighted with the level of service and advice I got from Rachel. I felt in a safe pair of hands which took the stress out of negotiating the lease with our new landlord. It allowed me to focus on the fit out of our larger office.

She has always been extremely knowledgeable and professional, providing fantastic support and skill across all property transactions.

Thanks for all your help with the finalising the renewal lease for our tenant company in Ottershaw. You ensured that the process went smoothly and we were able to discuss various aspects of the renewal and decide which factors were relevant to this transaction and which ones were optional.

We used Herrington Carmichael to assist with a neighbour dispute regarding trespassing. With Daniel’s support, we were able to achieve our desired outcome in a timely manner. Daniel was approachable, clear in his communication and instructions, and provided us with well-informed advice on the best options for resolution. All communication was transparent, and any costs incurred were clearly explained in advance before work was undertaken. We would not hesitate to use Herrington Carmichael again for any future legal services and would definitely recommend them to others.

Professional, informative and would recommend.

Thank you so much, Thomas, for your hard work, persistence and patience throughout the process of getting the required documentation over the line by the deadline. It certainly was a challenging and frustrating time with quite a few obstacles thrown in our way, but your determination got us there.

I would love to start by saying our experience with Herrington Carmichael has been amazing from start to finish, and I would highly recommend the firm. Thomas Joucan was absolutely brilliant, and I couldn’t be any happier with his professionalism and absolute integrity, with such speedy replies and getting all aspects of our purchase and sale tied in seamlessly. Without doubt a brilliant, honest and professional solicitor with a big future ahead.

Tim Hardesty is our residential development lawyer. He is a good lawyer and has offered very sound advice. He is able to provide advice on land purchasing, planning, SDLT and issues that impact on the land buying process. What I like about Tim is that he doesn’t use legal jargon and has a common-sense approach to land buying. He is proactive in getting deals done and, importantly from my perspective, doesn’t hold deals up over unimportant legal points. He is also very personable, and well known and liked by other professionals.

We've had a great experience with Herrington Carmichael when buying our first house! All of this was completely new to us and they made sure the process was smooth and easy! Lisa has been amazing and was a recommendation from some other family members who have used her in the past. Thanks again.

I have thoroughly enjoyed working with you. Your professional advice, responsiveness and straightforward approach have been invaluable.

I recently had the pleasure of working with Herrington Carmichael and I can't express how grateful I am for their support and expertise. From our very first interaction, they made me feel valued and understood my needs. Their professionalism and attention to detail were evident in every step of the process. The team was always available to answer my questions and provided clear explanations of the legal jargon, which made everything much more manageable. They navigated the complexities of my purchase with such skill and care, ensuring that I was informed and comfortable at every stage. It was clear that they were committed to achieving the quick turn around from agreement to completion, and their hard work truly made a difference. I could not have asked for a better solicitors in what could have been a stressful experience. I highly recommend Herrington Carmichael to anyone in need of legal services. Their dedication and proficiency are unparalleled, and I am incredibly thankful for the support they provided. Thank you for making this journey so positive!

It was a pleasure working with Liz and Hannah on this transaction, securing crucial funding for an iconic hotel in South Devon. The communication and commercial guidance from Liz, Hannah and the wider Herrington Carmichael team was first rate throughout. I would not hesitate in recommending them for future transactions and look forward to working with the team again soon.

Dealing with Hannah was very easy. She was very helpful and professional.

Absolutely spot on - well done. I cannot be more thankful to all of you for being extremely helpful and professional right from day one. Special thanks to Hannah for getting everything sorted out at the last minute. Thank you for the excellent service and helping us out at every stage of our first house purchase. You will always be remembered!

The Real Estate team at Herrington Carmichael were excellent in dealing with this transaction, they delivered their expertise in a pragmatic and commercial way maintaining a professional and responsive approach throughout. They provided clear, commercially informed guidance, and took a highly structured approach to coordinating the requirements of our lender, the transaction as a whole and our development strategy. I'd like to thank Liz and the team for all their support in helping the Chartwell Group successfully complete the transaction. We really appreciated their guidance and look forward to working with them again in the future.

Jamie and Hannah made a complicated BTL sale as easy as possible, pushing back hard against a challenging solicitor and ensuring the right result was had as speedily as possible. Both were incredibly informative and I didn’t once have a concern for communication. I would highly recommend them both and thank them again!

I have been very impressed both with Claire’s professionalism and her friendly and responsive manner.

The phrase “outstanding service” is not one I use often, but I have to hand it to you, yet another seamless property transaction completed. Thank you!

Very many thanks for the prompt and efficient way you dealt with all three [plot] sales.

Robyn Whitmore at Herrington Carmichael is exceptionally proactive and handles our high-volume, complex conveyancing work with precision and good grace. We have come to rely on both Robyn and Claire McSorley, who integrate seamlessly into our team, consistently anticipating challenges and delivering solutions. We rely on their professionalism and dedication and genuinely enjoy working with them – they are an invaluable asset to any property transaction.

The property team have been diligent, timely and highly responsive. This has allowed us to focus on our developments knowing that the matter is in capable hands.

Thanks so much for your assistance with this lease agreement, it has been a pleasure working with you from start to finish. You have been so responsive to emails and very clear with all of the necessary information so I will be sure to recommend you to anyone that asks.

This was my first time using their services, and I was thoroughly impressed by the professionalism and responsiveness of the team. The quick communication and support made the entire process smooth and stress-free. I will definitely be using their services again in the future.

Having been recommended Herrington Carmichael to aid us with the sale of our business the Regency Cafe, I was immediately impressed with their clear, calm and thorough attitude guiding us through all the different aspects of the sale, whether it be in corporate, lease matters, employment or dispute resolution. I most notably dealt with Anna Svensson in Real Estate and Edward Beedham in Corporate, and despite the matter taking much longer than anticipated, proving somewhat frustrating at times, they remained professional, communicative and clear-headed, giving sound advice and working in a timely and responsive manner, ultimately reaching a satisfactory conclusion with the sale of my business. I have had no cause for complaint with their service whatsoever and are immensely grateful for all their help. I would not hesitate to recommend them.

Thanks for all your help with the finalising the renewal lease for our tenant company in Ottershaw. You ensured that the process went smoothly and we were able to discuss various aspects of the renewal and decide which factors were relevant to this transaction and which ones were optional.

On behalf of Ascend Clinical Research, we would like to thank the HC team for the professionalism efficiency and strategic approach they have fostered to ensure our project transaction and legal requirements are fulfilled and secured. The team has always been accommodating and kind to explain and guide us on the next steps and the rationale for the legal processes taking place. We felt safe, secured and reassured.

Thank you for helping me to apply the exceptional assurance and I got the application succeed very quickly.

Usof was a pleasure to work with and his wealth of knowledge on the topic of immigration law was evident. We collaboratively delivered a successful webinar to hundreds of construction professionals on the post-Brexit immigration system and Usof was able to answer complex questions on the spot, demonstrating his attention to detail and professionalism. We would not hesitate to recommend Usof and Herrington Carmichael.

Usof Shah has been a great source of information and guidance both in setting up to become a sponsor and also in getting candidates sponsored.

The team provides useful guidance and support on the pitfalls and processes of being a sponsor. The team helps set everything up to become a sponsor as well as assisting with processing CoS applications.

Very knowledgeable in an often complex area. The depth of knowledge seems to extend through the team. They will act as our agent if/as necessary, taking full responsibility for things like Visa applications.

They provide tremendous, responsive and friendly support both professionally and emotionally. They always listen to clients carefully and give bespoke advice for legal matters.

I have always found the team to be very responsive in any query posed to them. They take the time to listen and understand any issues. They are very customer service focused, professional and a pleasure to work with.

I have worked with Usof Shah for a number of years within Immigration services. Usof is always willing to explain processes clearly and takes time to make sure I understand what I need to do. He is very clear in explaining what work needs to be carried out from him and his team and always provides costing upfront so there are no surprises.

Usof Shah is the best solicitor that I have ever worked with. He always does his best to answer any concerns and gives the best advice based on his up-to-date expertise.

I want you to know that I have been so pleased to work with you on this. Despite me working with IR35 for many years in has been amazing to gain your insight and knowledge on this legislation and the reform. Your knowledge, advice and general 'chat throughs' have been so great for me. You are second to none on this and I couldn't thank you enough.

Matt is a truly brilliant lawyer. He has great expertise in employment matters, he is very responsive, but above all his advice is always pragmatic and very clearly explained. I have both worked with Matt and sought advice as a client from Matt and it has always been a pleasure. I would not hesitate to recommend him for employment law related matters

Matt is clear, straight talking, smart and practical. He really brings that value add that you go a long way to find. One of the very best employment lawyers out there.

Matt Jenkin is very responsive, highly knowledgeable and very commercial, one of the best employment lawyers you will find.

Darren Smith is an exceptional employment lawyer. His knowledge and professionalism goes without saying. Beyond this, he is pragmatic and able to take a commercial view on issues that require problem solving. He is very personable which makes him very easy to work with.

I am delighted to recommend Alistair and the employment team at Herrington Carmichael. As a business we have had a variety of complex employment related matters in recent times. Alistair and Robert are always able to provide advice and guidance on the legal considerations and commercial practicalities of the situations we are faced with.

I am always pleased with the support and assistance provided by Alistair and the employment team at Herrington Carmichael. I rely on Herrington Carmichael to be readily available to give advice relevant to our issue and our business.

Alistair is always on hand to give practical, commercial advice on the various employment queries we have. Support is always provided in an effective commercial manner and with a smile.

Alistair and his team at Herrington Carmichael continue to provide us with the highest level of support on the various employment law issues which have arisen. I would highly recommend them and the services that they provide.

Alistair is a bit of a star. He has the confidence to steer cases strategically without losing sight of the commercial sense over legal strengths. He is personable but also tenacious for his clients. He has great knowledge and experience in all employment matters. His instructions are always comprehensive. He is particularly brilliant in TUPE-related matters.

Commercial specialist Mark Chapman ‘has strong technical knowledge and deals expeditiously with requests’ and ‘takes the time to understand clients’ businesses and shape his advice and support in a way that works for the client.

Mark Chapman is extremely thorough and has a good eye for detail, but advises with a very good balance of technical legal advice and commercial/practical suggestions.

Insights

Get valuable insights from our articles.

Retiring father and his smiling adult son jointly holding the finalized ownership transfer document for their family business.

When Family Business Succession Plans Fail: What Happens Next?

Family businesses are often built over decades through hard work, careful planning and shared values. However, when succession plans fail,…
yellow safety helmet on workplace desk with construction worker

JCT vs NEC Contracts: Choosing the Right Contract for Your Construction Project

Selecting the right construction contract is one of the most important decisions you will make at the outset of any…
Family, senior parents and woman by pool holding with care, love and hug bonding outdoor. Smile, happy person and people in retirement with adult daughter together with bokeh in nature in summer

Due to Inherit? The Dos and Don’ts for Beneficiaries

Receiving the news that you are due to inherit money, property, or other assets can be emotional and sometimes overwhelming….

Meet our experts

Dedicated professionals ready to assist you.

Liz Hailey PNG
Liz Hailey
Partner, Head of Real Estate
Tim-Hardesty-PNG
Tim Hardesty
Partner
Jamie-Lynch-PNG
Jamie Lynch
Partner
Rachel Duncan PNG
Rachel Duncan
Partner
Edward Jones PNG
Edward Jones
Partner
mellisa v2
Claire McSorley
Legal Director
mellisa v2
Hayley Moore
Legal Director
Anna Svensson PNG
Anna Svensson
Senior Solicitor
Thomas-Joucan-PNG
Thomas Joucan
Solicitor
Sophie Darwish PNG
Sophie Darwish
Solicitor
Amery Harilal PNG
Amery Harilal
Solicitor
Charlotte Keeper PNG
Charlotte Keeper
Solicitor
mellisa v2
Hannah Clouting
Solicitor
Charlotte Harris PNG
Charlotte Harris
Solicitor, Real Estate
Abbie Bellinger PNG
Abbie Bellinger
Plot Sales Supervisor
Lisa Kennelly PNG
Lisa Kennelly
Paralegal

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to your most pressing questions about our services and processes.

There are various reasons why a commercial premise can prove to be a sensible investment. Commercial properties usually have a higher investment return compared to residential properties, due to longer lease terms and potential for multi-let occupancies. There tend to be fewer investors within the commercial space, meaning more choice for investors and reduced competition for prime properties.

There are many factors to consider when investing in commercial property, from ensuring the most financially-efficient way of structuring any acquisition, to maximising income streams through lettings. It is essential to be sure that the property you are acquiring is a solid marketable investment, free from any legal property covenants or issues which may cause issues in the future. As such we carry out comprehensive property due diligence on your behalf to ensure that you are aware of any potential future issues before you commit to purchasing.

UK property can be held in a number or ways, either directly or indirectly – including via a limited liability company, a LLP, a traditional partnership, or unit trusts. You will need to consider the most suitable structure for your property investment, and in particular the tax implications when deciding which structure is best suited to your requirements. The tax consequences will depend on a number of factors, such as your tax residence and the investment vehicle you choose. We always advise that you seek tax advice specific to your particular circumstances.

If you intend to borrow monies to finance your property transaction, the funding arrangements will need to be in place and agreed before the property legal documents are entered into. As your legal advisers, we will liaise with your lenders to ensure that they are comfortable with the legal title and due diligence relating to the Property, that their requirements for drawdown of the monies can be met, and that any security they require over the property being acquired is property documented and registered.