Our Market Harborough office is located in Numbers 39 and 40 High Street and employs 66 members of staff. There are over 30 professional staff providing expertise and supporting clients across all 6 key service areas of the business; property agency, rural consultancy, utilities and infrastructure, renewable energy, planning and construction and commercial property.

We have welcomed two new faces to our office in September, Tom Paybody who is FACTS qualified and will be assisting the farms department with technical advice on crop production and agribusiness consultancy work. Secondly William Inglis has joined us after graduating from the Royal Agricultural University, having studied Rural Land Management BSc (Hons). Originally from North Lincolnshire William joins the rural department assisting both Darren Edwards and Matthew Pocock. 

To find out more about our Market Harborough team click here

Rutland County Council is commencing a “Call for Sites" in which local developers, land owners, town and parish councils and other stakeholders are being asked to submit details of potential development sites for consideration in the Local Plan in Rutland.

This is the first part of a review of the Council’s Local Plan. The existing Local Plan for the period up to 2026 will be reviewed and extended to cover the next 10 year period up to 2036. The review is required in order to comply with national planning guidance and to meet the future needs for additional new housing, employment and other development over the extended period.

The Council is particularly looking to find sites for new housing, affordable housing, employment and retail uses in the main towns and larger villages that would be suitable to allocate for development in the plan. If a site is put forward to the Council, this does not imply that it will automatically be included as an allocation in the Local Plan. Only those sites that are needed to meet requirements and which meet the criteria in terms of site size, location and suitability are likely to be allocated in the Local Plan. The sites put forward and allocated will be subject to further consultation through a Draft Local Plan which is to be published for consultation later in 2016.

Site details should be submitted to the Council by Thursday 5th November 2015. If you have any queries about this consultation, or have any land with development potential that is relevant to this and requires representations to be made then please contact William Young on 01858 411243 or email him here.

As a trustee it is important to have a professionally prepared valuation of trust assets by a registered RICS valuer in advance of the 10 yearly anniversary charge. Under the finance Act 2006 the ‘relevant property regime’ was introduced, affecting most trusts. The changes introduced in March 2006 affect trusts in two ways, firstly a system for levying inheritance tax on trusts which require tax to be paid on the value of trust assets every 10 years, and secondly there is an exit charge payable when an asset leaves a trust. The rates of taxation are complicated to calculate and could have a maximum of a 6% charge on the value in question.

Assets transferred into a lifetime trust on or after 22 March 2006 are subject to the relevant property regime, as too are discretionary trusts created prior to 22 March 2006. So if you are a trustee you need to act now to plan ahead for charges which come into effect as early as March 2016.

Fisher German have extensive knowledge in valuing rural and commercial property and have a dedicated valuation team to ensure you have valuation report to present to HMRC on inspection.

If you have any queries or need further advice please contact Holly Richardson-Parry on 07501 720416 or email

The 1st October 2015 brought changes to landlords who let residential property under an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST). There are new requirements covered by Section 21A of the Housing Act for the service of a valid s21 Notice allowing a landlord to regain possession of the property. If the landlord has breached the prescribed requirement, the notice is void.

So what has changed?

• Any new tenancy granted on or after the 1st October 2015 must have smoke alarms (mains or battery operated) installed and working on all storeys of the house providing accommodation to the tenant. A carbon monoxide alarm must be installed in any room with a solid fuel burning appliance/facility. The tenant can be obliged to change the batteries in these alarms during their occupation.

• The landlord or appointed agent must be able to demonstrate that the EPC and Gas Safety certificate and a ‘How to Rent’ guide as released by the Department for Communities and Local Government have been given to the tenant at the start of the tenancy.

This is in addition to the previous requirements in place for ensuring the tenants deposit is correctly protected.
If you have any queries about the changes, or have any residential tenancy queries then please contact Matthew Pocock on 01858 411208 or email

In September we hosted our Annual Clients’ Drinks Party at Turvey House, Bedfordshire which was well attended by both clients and professionals associated with the Market Harborough and Bedford offices. The evening allowed guests to view the house which is only open to the public for 28 days of the year and enjoy the views across the Great River Ouse. The weather was fittingly sunny and warm enabling those present to explore the wonderful walled garden. Thanks goes to the Hanbury family whose estate Fisher German manage.

Also in September we entered 2 teams into the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) Go-Karting event at Whilton Mill. FG Flyers were 10th and FG Bandits were 15th amongst 22 other teams all raising money for RABI. The event had a great atmosphere and the &2,070 raised on the evening will go towards supporting local farming families that require support during times of need, hardship and distress. As a charity RABI have distributed over &17,000 in Northamptonshire alone in 2015.

Fisher German sponsored the inaugural Rural Business Awards which took place on 1 October 2015 at Stapleford Park, near Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. The awards, which recognise rural business success across the UK, are the brainchild of rural specialist & MD of Be Rural, Jemma Clifford and management consultant Anna Price. The event was attended by individuals from the Market Harbrough office amongst 200 other guests who enjoyed a prestigious awards dinner, where the best of British rural entrepreneurship was recognised in 10 award categories. Fisher German was delighted to be associated with 7 of the fantastic finalists. A very enjoyable and worthwhile evening and congratulations to all of the winners, including our clients, and the new rural businesses we had the pleasure of meeting on the night. For more information on the event click here

The Pytchley Team Chase and Hunter Trials was held at Winwick in Northamptonshire with Fisher German sponsoring the Intermediate Team Chase Class. Jack Merry presented the rosettes and prize monies to the top three winners.

And finally the office annual Bonkers for Conkers event took place earlier this month, with around 40 individuals battling it out to win the prestigious garland of conkers and bottle of champagne. This year’s skillful winner was Jonathan Cordingley, who is part of the rural team, and said ‘I feel very honoured and fortunate to be crowned champion. Thanks to Charity and Jo for organising a great event and I look forward to defending my title in Autumn 2016’.