<p data-start="152" data-end="348" class="">On 12 May 2025, the Law Society released its long-anticipated <em data-start="214" data-end="244">Climate Change Practice Note</em>, offering important guidance for property lawyers navigating the growing risks posed by climate change.</p>
<p data-start="350" data-end="572" class="">This note is essential reading for solicitors advising on residential, commercial or mixed-use transactions. It outlines the risks that must be considered, and the professional obligations that arise when advising clients.</p>
<h3 data-start="579" data-end="608" class=""></h3>
<h3 data-start="579" data-end="608" class=""><strong>Why This Guidance Matters</strong></h3>
<p data-start="610" data-end="860" class="">Climate change is already affecting property transactions. From flood risks and rising insurance concerns to new regulatory requirements, solicitors must be able to recognise where legal liabilities may arise and how these could affect their clients.</p>
<p data-start="862" data-end="1050" class="">This practice note builds on the Law Society&rsquo;s 2023 guidance and focuses specifically on the legal dimensions of climate risk in property transaction.</p>
<h3 data-start="1057" data-end="1092" class=""><strong></strong></h3>
<h3 data-start="1057" data-end="1092" class=""><strong>The Three Types of Climate Risk</strong><strong data-start="1097" data-end="1115"></strong></h3>
<p><strong></strong></p>
<p data-start="1097" data-end="1379" class=""><strong data-start="1097" data-end="1115">Physical risks</strong><br data-start="1115" data-end="1118" />These include subsidence, flooding, coastal erosion, heat stress and wildfires. Physical events may affect buildings directly, or indirectly through infrastructure such as roads or utilities. These risks can make a property harder to insure, finance or sell.</p>
<p data-start="1384" data-end="1669" class=""><strong data-start="1384" data-end="1404">Transition risks</strong><br data-start="1404" data-end="1407" />These relate to policy and legal changes made to meet environmental targets. The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), for example, may tighten over time, affecting which properties are lettable. Compliant buildings today may not be compliant in future.</p>
<p data-start="1674" data-end="1993" class=""><strong data-start="1674" data-end="1702">Liability or legal risks</strong><br data-start="1702" data-end="1705" />These arise when a property fails to meet climate-related obligations, such as MEES. Owners or landlords may face penalties or be unable to enforce legal rights due to physical climate impacts, such as inaccessible rights of way caused by flooding.</p>
<h3 data-start="2000" data-end="2038" class=""><strong></strong></h3>
<h3 data-start="2000" data-end="2038" class=""><strong>What Solicitors Are Expected To Do</strong></h3>
<p data-start="2040" data-end="2130" class="">Solicitors are not expected to offer technical or scientific advice. However, they should:</p>
<ul data-start="2132" data-end="2510">
<li data-start="2132" data-end="2205" class="">
<p data-start="2134" data-end="2205" class="">Explain the legal implications of risks revealed in searches or surveys</p>
</li>
<li data-start="2206" data-end="2290" class="">
<p data-start="2208" data-end="2290" class="">Recommend that clients seek appropriate advice from surveyors, valuers or insurers</p>
</li>
<li data-start="2291" data-end="2398" class="">
<p data-start="2293" data-end="2398" class="">Include clear wording in the report on title or the engagement letter to define the scope of their advice</p>
</li>
<li data-start="2399" data-end="2510" class="">
<p data-start="2401" data-end="2510" class="">Offer guidance on search options, including climate risk screening tools</p>
</li>
<li data-start="2399" data-end="2510" class="">
<p data-start="2401" data-end="2510" class=""><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">The note provides suggested wording to use in reports, which can be adapted based on the nature of the transaction and the client&rsquo;s understanding.</span></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></p>
<h3 data-start="2665" data-end="2697" class=""><strong>Good Practice and Compliance</strong></h3>
<p data-start="2699" data-end="2764" class="">The Law Society&rsquo;s recommended checklist encourages solicitors to:</p>
<ul data-start="2766" data-end="3038">
<li data-start="2766" data-end="2821" class="">
<p data-start="2768" data-end="2821" class="">Consider flood and environmental searches as standard</p>
</li>
<li data-start="2822" data-end="2865" class="">
<p data-start="2824" data-end="2865" class="">Highlight MEES thresholds and EPC ratings</p>
</li>
<li data-start="2866" data-end="2935" class="">
<p data-start="2868" data-end="2935" class="">Clarify which party is responsible for mitigation or remedial works</p>
</li>
<li data-start="2936" data-end="3038" class="">
<p data-start="2938" data-end="3038" class="">Liaise with lenders or brokers regarding insurance implications</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 data-start="3045" data-end="3078" class=""><strong></strong></h3>
<p><strong></strong></p>
<h3 data-start="3045" data-end="3078" class=""><strong>Adapting Advice to the Client</strong></h3>
<p data-start="3080" data-end="3178" class="">The guidance sets out factors to consider when acting for different types of clients. For example:</p>
<ul data-start="3180" data-end="3425">
<li data-start="3180" data-end="3272" class="">
<p data-start="3182" data-end="3272" class=""><strong data-start="3182" data-end="3193">Tenants</strong> should understand what the lease says about repairs, alterations and insurance</p>
</li>
<li data-start="3273" data-end="3345" class="">
<p data-start="3275" data-end="3345" class=""><strong data-start="3275" data-end="3285">Buyers</strong> need to know if the building is resilient to long-term risk</p>
</li>
<li data-start="3346" data-end="3425" class="">
<p data-start="3348" data-end="3425" class=""><strong data-start="3348" data-end="3359">Lenders</strong> may require additional investigations or specific insurance cover</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p data-start="3427" data-end="3543" class="">Solicitors should assess each transaction based on the client&rsquo;s knowledge, intentions and level of exposure to risk.</p>
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<h3 data-start="3550" data-end="3586" class=""><strong>The Role of Searches and Surveys</strong></h3>
<p data-start="3588" data-end="3810" class="">The note explains that desktop climate risk searches are a useful starting point, but are limited in scope. They usually use publicly available data and do not take into account the condition or construction of a building.</p>
<p data-start="3812" data-end="4050" class="">Clients should be encouraged to commission independent surveys from qualified professionals. These reports may inform decisions on insurance, finance, or whether to proceed with the transaction at all.</p>
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<h3 data-start="4057" data-end="4071" class=""><strong>Conclusion</strong></h3>
<p data-start="4073" data-end="4342" class="">This practice note marks a significant step in integrating climate risk into mainstream legal advice. It encourages solicitors to adopt a proportionate but informed approach, and to clearly explain the limits of their role when it comes to assessing environmental risk.</p>
<p data-start="4344" data-end="4497" class="">Solicitors who follow this guidance will be well-placed to support clients in managing both present and future risks to property posed by climate change.</p>
<p data-start="4499" data-end="4633" class="">For the full guidance, visit the <a data-start="4532" data-end="4632" rel="noopener" target="_new" class="" href="https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/topics/climate-change/climate-change-property">Law Society&rsquo;s website</a>.</p>

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