Innovation and sustainability

Property plays a crucial role in our society, for instance in the form of homes, office buildings and shops. The property market is currently undergoing enormous changes and facing complex challenges, such as a rising volume of vacant office and retail space and the increasingly risk-averse strategies being adopted by investors and financiers. Meanwhile, government intervention is also bringing about changes - take for instance the changes to the property rules that have taken effect on 1 January 2012, which will alter the way in which healthcare-related property is valued, potentially leading to a reduction in asset values, with all the associated implications.

Structural changes

There is a growing awareness in the property sector that structural changes are necessary in order to bring supply and demand into alignment. Innovation and sustainability are paramount in this respect. For instance, can new uses be found for outdated, vacant properties? Is it possible to satisfy demands for greater sustainability? And what opportunities are offered by the New World of Work? As construction volumes shrink, quality is becoming a more pressing issue, thereby requiring co-operation between parties and better project management.

Our added value

The Property Law department of DVDW Advocaten is keenly aware of all these developments. This means that we can take a constructive, proactive approach to help you consider and prevent problems, as well as helping you determine a strategy and draw up a plan for tackling development and renovation projects. The aim is to ensure that the value of your property portfolio increases and that you can actually collect the rent and instalment payments due to you, or obtain sufficient certainty that payment will ultimately be received.

Tailor-made solutions

Where necessary, we offer tailor-made solutions for contracts of sale, leases, construction and project development agreements. We also know exactly how to tackle negotiations about limiting accommodation costs or problems with clients or contractors.

Government

In the property world, the government plays an indispensable role as a regulator, permit issuer, supervisory and enforcement authority. In addition, the government is also a land owner, which means that government and business may have either shared or conflicting interests. There has been an explosion of new environmental law regulations in recent years, affecting every new project in a number of different respects. Given all of these developments, it can be very difficult to see the wood for the trees. Fortunately, DVDW Advocaten has the necessary know-how and expertise to guide you through this forest of regulations and ensure that your project can be completed to your satisfaction.

Benefit from our expertise

Sale transactions

Drafting and evaluating contracts of sale for property
Project development and operation in the property sector
The legal position and liability of estate agents and other intermediaries
Infringements of rights of ownership and use
Litigation on disputes that arise from contracts of sale or the associated negotiations
Visible and hidden defects
Warranties and security rights

Leases

Drafting and evaluating leases for commercial property
Lease termination proceedings
Renovations (strategy and plan for the termination of leases)
Rent disputes and revisions
Residential leases
Debt collection and attachment
Eviction proceedings

Property rights

Advice and litigation on the rights and duties of neighbours
Apartment rights (residents' association disputes)
Advice and litigation on servitudes
Ground leases
Obligations attached to property

Construction law and contracts

Drafting and advising on construction contracts
Drafting and advising on development contracts
Liability of parties involved in construction, such as the contractor, architect and subcontractor
Construction arbitration
Liability for pollution

Spatial planning and the environment

Advising and litigating on environmental permits
Advising and litigating on zoning plans
Providing legal advice and assistance regarding spatial planning/construction disputes and the laws governing water and the environment
Providing advice and assistance in relation to the Crisis and Recovery Act
Enforcement and supervision by the government