Torsten Bell

The Bona Vacantia Division (“the Division”) of the Government Legal Department acts on behalf of the Treasury Solicitor (the Crown’s Nominee for bona vacantia).

The Division is currently dealing with 380 freehold titles which appear to have vested as bona vacantia following dissolution via striking off by the Registrar of Companies or formal liquidation.

Freehold titles from companies dissolved following liquidation are less likely to vest as bona vacantia as they are normally disposed of prior to dissolution by the Insolvency Practitioner.

The Government is committed to ensuring that historic, life-critical fire safety defects in affected buildings are addressed. Our remediation programmes have processes in place to ensure that work is done to the appropriate standard and is remedied if not.

While the specific controls and assurances of remediation programmes differ, both developers and applicants to government remediation funds must provide a Fire Risk Appraisal of the External Walls (FRAEW), which will assess risks and recommend remedial works to address these risks where necessary. These are carried out by independent Fire Risk Assessors and robust processes are in place to assess the FRAEWs submitted.

All remedial works must also obtain Building Control approval which provides independent assurance that the works comply with Building Regulations.