Papers: Right of lights ahead!

Abstract

Rights of light are a complex subject in English Law. Developers ignore this area of law at their peril. Failure to take rights of light into account can at best result in the expense of redesigning buildings and at worst, orders of the Court ordering work to stop or work done to be pulled down. There are steps that can be taken at the first stages of development that will identify whether rights of light issues exist and what can be done about them. Planning rules do not govern rights of light so pre-planning advice on these rights is crucial. This paper sets out the law in brief and then concentrates on the questions to ask and the practical steps to take, in conjunction with expert surveyors and lawyers. © 2008 PALGRAVE MACMILLAN LTD.