Welcome to the Autumn edition of Real World from Dechert’s London Finance and Real Estate Group, keeping you up to date with recent developments in real estate law and practice.

In this issue:

- How to get administrators to pay rent

- What is a house?

- Beware the “boomerang lease” – it comes back after it has been assigned

- Spread of fire from neighbouring property

- Planning round-up

This Autumn times continue to be tough for landlords and tenants on the High Street and there have been more high profile administrations. In this edition of Real World we suggest a lease provision designed to prevent administrators from occupying rent-free and warn of circumstances in which a lease which has been disposed of may come back to haunt the tenant who assigned it. We also explain the limited circumstances in which commercial tenants may have the right to buy their freeholds following a recent Supreme Court case and a case which has clarified the position in respect of damage caused by fire spreading from neighbouring property. Finally we have a round-up of recent changes in planning. As always I hope you enjoy this edition and I welcome your comments and views.