Real estate legal news—June 2026

Against a backdrop of rapid change, our team has been busy examining the evolving landscape of property law and practice. In this issue, we consider how climate change is reshaping property transactions and the growing importance of environmental due diligence. We also explore everyday questions with significant legal implications - from whether working from home could breach your lease, to the limitations of emoji-based communication in landlord-tenant disputes.

On the commercial side, we untangle what happens to underleases when headleases come to an end, and highlight why the work of a property lawyer continues long after completion day, particularly given ongoing Land Registry processing times. We also continue our series on commonhold, looking at what England and Wales might learn from Italy's condominio model of flat ownership.

There's plenty to cover in this issue, and we hope you find this round-up from the Russell-Cooke real estate team informative. Enjoy!

If you would like to find out more, please do get in touch with our real estate team.

Whether you are building, renovating or extending a high-value home in the UK or abroad, early legal advice can help protect your position and reduce the risk of costly delays and disputes. Our specialist team advises private clients throughout the lifecycle of a residential construction project, from contracts and professional appointments to completion and any issues that arise.