The Exciting New Collaboration That's Revitalising Salisbury's Arts Scene
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AUTUMN / WINTER 2018-19 ISSUE 6 THE ACCIDENTAL LANDLORD The pros & cons of letting property FROM IDEA TO OBJECT Matthew Burt’s life in design CGT IN THE ATTIC Capital Gains Tax exemptions WILSONS LEGAL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE COME TOGE THER The exciting new collaboration that’s revitalising Salisbury’s arts scene SALISBURY AND WW1 Life during the Great War COVER IMAGE: Wiltshire Creative’s production of Her Naked Skin WELCOME here is no denying that the cataclysmic events of the past year have put a huge strain on the city. T However, Salisbury is nothing if not resilient and the unprecedented affair has had the positive effect of bringing everybody closer together. The recovery has long since begun and you can read on page 44 about some of the ongoing initiatives that are helping put the city back on its feet. Salisbury is no stranger to adversity and the story of life on the Home Front during the Great War is told on page 32. At Wilsons it is unquestionably business as usual and our magazine witnesses the legal team sharing insights and expertise on a number of legal matters. First, we examine the pros and cons of residential property letting (p.08), looking closely at the subject from a number of different angles. There are also features on legal hot topics such as no-blame divorce (p.12), and also CGT exemptions (p.20). Elsewhere within these pages, we profile the recently-formed Wiltshire Creative (p.24), an arts collective that has brought together three of the city’s finest organisations (the Arts Centre, the Playhouse and the International Arts Festival) under one umbrella for the greater good. We also had the privilege to chat with the designer-maker Matthew Burt about his award-winning furniture (p.36). As ever, it was great fun putting the Wilsons magazine together and we hope you enjoy reading our latest issue. ■ INSIDE: We explore life on Salisbury’s Frances Mayne Home Front during Senior Partner the Great War T: 01722 427 524 Beautiful Jewellery 32 E: [email protected] Independent Jewellers GENERAL ENQUIRIES London PUBLISHING TEAM Carol Gourlay, Jenny Lau, Andrew Mackie, www.wilsonsllp.com 4 Lincoln’s Inn Fields Frances Mayne, Stephen Oxley, Guy Email: [email protected] London WC2A 3AA www.mediaclash.co.uk Radcliffe, Stephanie Richman, Alexandra 12 Bridge Street, Salisbury, SP1 2LX Tel: 020 7998 0420 Sollohub, Jonathan Stephens WILSONS OFFICES Fax: 020 7242 7661 Editorial Director: Gary Tipp Any views or opinions submitted by contributors Salisbury DX: 199 London Chancery Lane [email protected] or advertisers are those of the authors only and Alexandra House Creative Director: Carly Dugdale do not reflect the views and opinions of Wilsons. St Johns Street [email protected] The publisher accepts no responsibility in respect of any advice or services which may be advertised 01722 324395 Salisbury SP1 2SB in this issue, or for any errors, omissions, Tel: 01722 412 412 Contributors: James Aspden, misstatements or mistakes in any such references. No part of Wilsons magazine may be reproduced in Fax: 01722 411 500 Stephanie Boxall, Holly Britten, any form or by any means, either wholly or in part, www.tribbecks.com DX: 58003 Salisbury 1 Jacqueline Fitzgerald, Tim Fullerlove, without written permission. wilsonsllp.com 03 INSIDE: CONTENTS How to make the perfect G&T – and impress your friends with its history 08 12 24 28 32 36 LAW LIFESTYLE DIRECTORY 08 THE ACCIDENTAL LANDLORD 24 COME TOGETHER 40 NEWS There are many benefits to renting your residential property, Wiltshire Creative brings together three Salisbury arts organisations All the latest news and views from the Wilsons team, but there are also challenges. We analyse the pros and cons to produce a landmark moment for the arts in the city including the latest staff appointments 12 THE NO-BLAME GAME 28 A SHORT HISTORY OF G&T 43 INTERVIEW: JENNY LAU The divorce laws are set to be overhauled with a view to allowing Just a refreshing drink made up of one part gin, one part tonic? Relatively new to the Property & Commercial Litigation team, couples to dissolve their marriage with less acrimony Think again. The humble G&T possesses an interesting past Jenny loves the variety that a working day brings to her 14 VARIETY SHOW 30 MEADOWS SWEET 44 THE BUSINESS OF RECOVERY A recent report revealed a lack of diversity among charity trustees. The Harnham Water Meadows Trust has been managing the The tragic events of 2018 left the city in shock. But positive We explain why diversity is important in the boardroom irrigation of local land for 20 years. They tell us about their work steps are being taken to get Salisbury back on its feet 16 FARMING FOR THE FUTURE 32 SALISBURY & THE GREAT WAR 46 TEAM PROFILE In times of uncertainty, succession planning for family farms Salisbury is famous for training troops for battle, but what was life We meet the Wills & Trusts Disputes team at Wilsons, has become more important than ever like on the Home Front? Here’s a local historian’s perspective specialists who are widely regarded as leaders in their field 20 CGT IN THE ATTIC 36 FROM IDEA TO OBJECT 50 INTERVIEW: ANDREW MACKIE The rules surrounding Capital Gains Tax can be complex, An award-winning furniture maker, Wiltshire-based Matthew Burt Senior Associate Andrew Mackie reveals his love of London, 30 and some of them might surprise you. We explain how it works has a deep love of design, craft and the materials he uses the arts, choir singing and a good barbecue wilsonsllp.com wilsonsllp.com 04 05 10/11/2018 29/11/2018 15/12/2018 MISTLETOE & MERRIMENT CHRISTMAS MARKET HANDEL’S MESSIAH Fisherton Mill’s festive exhibition will see The heart of Salisbury is transformed The City of London Sinfonia teams up a diverse mix of hand-made temptation. into a winter wonderland complete with with the Choir of Salisbury Cathedral to Open until 29 December ice-rink. Until 23 December perform Handel’s masterwork Working for the countryside EVENTS over the last 150 years DIARY A WILSONS GUIDE TO WHAT’S ON 1/12/2018 IN WILTSHIRE THIS 7/12/2018 BEAUTY AND THE BEAST AUTUMN AND WINTER MATERIAL: LIGHT Salisbury Playhouse’s pantomime Visit a sensational light installation at presentation is the tale of Amorette and her Messums Wiltshire by artist Michael Hulls. beastly suitor. Runs until 13 January 2019 Exhibition open until 3 February 2019 Contact a member of our team for the best advice ON NOW 19/1/2019 25/04/2019 on all property matters. HOARDS ORIGINS OF PHOTOGRAPHY EDDIE THE EAGLE Salisbury Museum’s Hidden History The earliest days of photography are The Mercers’ Lectures at Dauntsey’s of Ancient Britain unveils a trove of explored in a vital new exhibition School invite the intrepid Olympian to Savills Salisbury treasure. Until 5 January 2019 at Salisbury Museum reveal the benefits of a have-a-go attitude 01722 426800 [email protected] wilsonsllp.com savills.co.uk 06 DISPUTE RESOLUTION Residential property this will mean that letting may not be quite is not new. Legislative intervention has been as appealing as it used to be. Amateur necessary from time to time with measures landlords should weigh the potential financial designed to protect tenants, traditionally The accidental landlord benefits against their legal responsibilities seen as the weaker party. A balance needs to and the work involved in a successful let.” be struck between giving tenants necessary A HEALTHY FINANCIAL RETURN Alexandra Sollohub The upside is that residential rental property Solicitor The pros and cons of letting T: 01722 427 741 can produce a healthy return. Private rents E: [email protected] your residential property have doubled in the past decade. Excluding THE IMPACT OF AIRBNB London, the average UK rental value was £777 in July 2018, up 1.0% on 2017. Britons Airbnb is growing in popularity, but has specific rules will soon pay out more in rent than they do on mortgages. Of course, you will pay income Airbnb is disrupting traditional rentals and blurring the line tax on anything you earn from letting out a between holiday lets and longer tenancies. But Airbnb is popular property, although you can deduct expenses, with owners and renters. Every night there are some 800,000 but remember that mortgage costs are no people staying in Airbnb accommodation around the world and longer ordinarily a deductable expense. Note the site is adding new hosts at the rate of 14,000 every month. that if HMRC believes that you are running But Airbnb was never aimed at professional landlords and the a rental property business, then you will company is regularly accused of limiting the supply of regular also be liable for Class 2 National Insurance homes in many cities around the world. Municipalities are contributions. responding. Entire home listings in Greater London are restricted However, if you are renting out a room to 90 nights per calendar year; host for more than 90 days and in a home you still occupy, then you can you must have planning permission. They probably won’t be the take advantage of the annual ‘rent a room’ only British cities to take action. allowance - £7,500 in the current tax year. That means if you find a lodger for the spare Know that if you are thinking about letting (‘hosting’) on Airbnb, bedroom, you can earn up to £7,500 tax you will have to comply with many of the provisions that govern free from rent.