Property and Real Estate Law

Contemporary land grabbing, research, and bibliography

Online guide to the acquisition of large areas of land by foreign investors in developing countries, mainly in Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America. The guide was written by Jootaek Lee who is Senior Law Librarian (Research Librarian for Foreign, Comparative & International Law), Lecturer, and Affiliated Faculty for the Program on Human Rights and the Global Economy (PHRGE) at the Northeastern University School of Law.

Land ownership and control in Nauru

Published in 1995 and hosted as part of the E-Law journal project of Murdoch University in Australia, this paper by Peter H MacSporran focuses on those aspects of the law in Nauru which affect land ownership and control, from customary Nauru law, through the application of both German and Australian law, through to independence. The article is fully referenced and freely available, with the citation (1995) 2 Murdoch University Electronic Journal of Law.

Building Regulations

This part of the UK government website provides guidance on obtaining approval for building work. There is a link to the Building Regulations which promote standards for the construction and energy efficiency of buildings in England and Wales. There is a link to the Planning Portal site which gives guidance to planning rules and building regulations for the most common building work projects for the home including extensions and conservatories.

Planning Appeals Commission

Official website of the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) of Northern Ireland. This independent appeals body hears appeals made against planning decisions taken by a number of government departments including the Department of the Environment (DoE), Department for Regional Development (DRD), Department for Social Development (DSD), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) and the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM). The website gives full details of the functions of the PAC and information on how to appeal.

Ombudsman Says

The Ombudsman Says website is a joint initiative of HouseMark and the ombudsman schemes dealing with housing issues: the Housing Ombudsman Service; Local Government Ombudsman; Public Services Ombudsman for Wales and the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman. The site provides free access to case digests for the housing sector. Case digests can be browsed by ombudsman service, topic or type of tenure. Topics include tenancy management, adaptations, anti-social behaviour, housing benefit, repairs and rent and service charges. The cases can also be searched by keyword.

Housing Ombudsman Service

The Housing Ombudsman Service provides an independent service for dealing with complaints made against landlords and housing agents in England, including complaints against social landlords and housing associations. Its website provides information on the work of the Ombudsman and guidance on making a complaint. It also has a link to a selection of case digests and a register of social landlords in England.

Crofting Commission

Website of the Crofters Commission, an organisation established in 1955 to develop and regulate the crofting system and to promote and protect the interests of crofters. Crofting is a system of land tenure, regulated through the Crofting Acts, found only in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. This site provides information on the role and functions of the Commission and on becoming a crofter. Publications of the Commission, including leaflets, can be viewed n the site. Forms, legislation and policy guidance can also be downloaded.

Property Bar Association

Web pages for the professional association of barristers in England and Wales specialising in property law and property-related work. The site sets out the Association's objectives, presents a programme of events, meetings and seminars and publishes papers derived from past events. An alphabetical list of members is presented in PDF. The text of the Association's constitution is also published on the site in HTML format.

Construction Law Review

Construction Law Review is an occasional online review of legal developments of interest to the construction industry based in the USA, edited by the Construction Practice Group of Pepper Hamilton LLP, US attorneys in law. The review offers comment on current issues in the field with close reference to US federal and state legislation and caselaw. Recent issues can be viewed by month of publication or by topic, beginning with September 1995. The site also provides background information about the Group and its work.

Maori Law Review

Website for Maori Law Review, a monthly periodical reporting law affecting Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand/Aotearoa. The Review covers decisions of the Maori Land Court and general courts, reports of the Waitangi Tribunal and publications of government and law schools. The Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993 and related law; legislative, regulatory and rule changes are also covered. The site complements the printed version and contains the full-text of all issues from December 1993 onwards except the latest few months. A site search engine is available.

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