The Ground Floor, Episode 5 – Can You Sign Away Property on WhatsApp? with Charlotte John

The Ground Floor, Episode 5 – Can You Sign Away Property on WhatsApp? with Charlotte John

Most of us make decisions over WhatsApp now, including, increasingly, decisions about property. But could an informal message really be enough to give away your share of a house? In this episode of The Ground Floor, Barrister Blessing Mukosha Park [https://www.linkedin.com/in/blessingpark/] is joined by Charlotte John [https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlottejohn/], Barrister at Gatehouse Chambers and Deputy District Judge, to unpack the High Court's decision in Reid-Roberts v Mei-Lin [2026] EWHC 49 (Ch), where the court had to decide whether informal WhatsApp messages exchanged during a separation could satisfy section 53 of the Law of Property Act 1925. They explore what section 53 actually requires, the difference between an immediate disposition and an agreement still in progress, and whether a WhatsApp display name can ever count as a "signature" in law. Along the way they cover the leading authorities, from Hudson v Hathway to J Pereira Fernandes, WS Tankship and Neocleous v Rees, and the Canadian thumbs-up emoji case that hints at where digital authentication may be heading. Whether you are a property solicitor, a family practitioner, a junior barrister, a co-owner, or simply someone who negotiates over messages, this episode breaks down what really decides whether a message has legal effect. This episode is sponsored by BLESSING AT THE BAR [https://blessingatthebar.com/], a platform supporting aspiring and practising lawyers with practical resources, courses, and productivity tools. Topics covered include * What section 53(1)(c) LPA 1925 requires for a disposition of an equitable interest * Immediate disposition versus an agreement still in progress * The contrast with Hudson v Hathway * Whether a WhatsApp display name can be a signature * The signature authorities: J Pereira Fernandes, WS Tankship and Neocleous v Rees * The Canadian thumbs-up emoji case and the direction of travel on digital authentication * Practical guidance for advising clients in family and property disputes Next episode: Blessing returns with a deep dive on the Property (Digital Assets etc) Act 2025, the Act that created an entirely new third category of personal property, and what it means for the future of property law.

The Ground Floor Episode 4 - Creative Collaboration and Legal Risk - Common Issues in Creator Contracts with Mary-Grace Olu

Brand collaborations are now a central part of how businesses market their products and how creators build careers. But despite the money, visibility, and reputational stakes involved, many of these collaborations are still governed by contracts that are rushed, vague, or treated as an afterthought. What often gets overlooked is how much legal risk sits beneath arrangements that feel informal and creative. In this episode of The Ground Floor, Barrister ⁠Blessing Mukosha Park⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/blessingpark/] is joined by ⁠Mary-Grace Olu⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marygraceolu/], Financial Services Associate at Latham & Watkins and content creator, to unpack the legal realities behind influencer marketing and brand partnerships. Mary-Grace brings a rare dual perspective, advising on complex commercial matters for global clients while navigating the creator economy from the other side of the table as a creator herself. They explore how brand collaborations are typically structured, where misunderstandings begin, and why so many disputes arise long after the campaign has ended. The discussion breaks down advertising disclosure obligations, copyright ownership, moral rights, image rights, and the contractual gaps that most commonly trigger disputes between creators, brands, and agencies. From when content legally becomes an advertisement under the CAP Code, to unfair commercial practices under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, to exit strategies, morality clauses, and the emerging risks of AI-generated content and deepfakes, this episode examines the legal considerations that sit behind modern brand and creator relationships. Whether you are a creator negotiating a collaboration, a brand commissioning influencer content, an agency managing campaigns, or a junior lawyer advising in commercial, IP, or regulatory practice, this conversation offers a grounded and practical insight into what really happens when creativity meets contract law. This episode is sponsored by ⁠BLESSING AT THE BAR⁠ [https://blessingatthebar.com/], a platform supporting aspiring and practising lawyers with practical resources, courses, and productivity tools. Topics covered include * How brand collaborations are typically structured and where misunderstandings begin * When content legally becomes an advertisement under the CAP Code * The role of creator agencies and where liability sits * Unfair commercial practices under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 * Copyright ownership and why payment does not equal ownership * Licensing scope, duration, territory, and platform creep * Moral rights, image rights, and passing off * Contract gaps that trigger disputes including exclusivity, duration, and scope of use * Exit strategies, morality clauses, and termination rights * Regulatory risk for creators in finance, crypto, and legal commentary * AI, deepfakes, and emerging content risk Next episode: Charlotte John, Barrister at Gatehouse Chambers and Deputy District Judge, joins Blessing to ask whether property rights can really be signed away over WhatsApp, and what Section 53 of the Law of Property Act 1925 means in the age of digital messaging.

The Ground Floor Episode 3 - What’s New in Property Law for 2026 [Solo Episode]

In this solo episode of The Ground Floor, Barrister Blessing Mukosha Park step's back to look at the property law developments that are going to matter most in practice in 2026. This episode focuses on three key areas: * The Renters’ Rights Act and the restructuring of residential possession * Leasehold, freehold and commonhold reform * Digital assets and the expansion of the legal concept of property 2026 is not a year where property law is being reinvented, but it is a year where existing law is being given more bite. Many of the reforms passed in 2024 and 2025 are now coming into force, and the real impact will be felt in courtrooms, in advice, and in how risk is managed from the start of a matter. The big theme running through this episode is that property law is becoming more discretionary, more evidence driven, and more strategic. The days of purely procedural possession claims and tick-box compliance are fading, and what is replacing them is a system where conduct, evidence, and preparation matter more than ever. If you work in property law, advise on property, or are a landlord, developer, or property professional, this episode will give you a clear overview of the changes to watch. The next episode of The Ground Floor will feature Mary-Grace Olu, where Blessing and Mary-Grace will be discussing common legal issues in creative contracts, from collaborations and brand deals to the clauses that creators and businesses consistently underestimate. Make sure you follow the podcast so you don’t miss future episodes!

The Ground Floor Episode 2 - Buying a Home with a Friend with Professor Martin Dixon KC (Hon)

For many people, buying a property with a friend is the only realistic way onto the property ladder. Rising house prices, stagnant wages, and changing lifestyles mean more buyers are making pragmatic decisions rather than romantic ones. What often gets overlooked is how exposed those arrangements can become when friendships break down. In this episode of The Ground Floor, Barrister Blessing Mukosha Park [https://www.linkedin.com/in/blessingpark/] is joined by Professor Martin Dixon KC (Hon) [https://www.falcon-chambers.com/barristers/academic-fellows/profile/professor-martin-dixon#:~:text=Martin%20Dixon%20FRSA%2C%20MA%20(Oxon)%2C,Honorary%20Bencher%20of%20Lincoln's%20Inn.], one of the UK’s leading authorities on land law, co-ownership, and trusts of land, to unpack what really happens when friends buy property together and fall into dispute. They explore how the law approaches platonic co-ownership, why so much of the existing authority is rooted in marital and cohabiting relationships, and why the courts often take a very different approach when the parties are simply friends. The discussion breaks down the legal mechanics behind co-ownership, the importance of intention, and the harsh realities that can follow when arrangements are informal or undocumented. From unequal deposits and mortgage contributions, to one friend wanting to sell, exclusion from the property, post-acquisition payments, and the court’s powers under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996, this episode examines the scenarios practitioners see again and again in practice. Whether you are considering buying a property with a friend, advising clients on co-ownership disputes, or working in property or chancery practice, this conversation offers a grounded and practical insight into how the law really responds when friendships unravel. This episode is sponsored by BLESSING AT THE BAR [https://blessingatthebar.com/], a platform supporting aspiring and practising lawyers with practical resources, courses, and productivity tools. Topics covered include • Buying property with friends and the rise of platonic co-ownership • Legal title versus beneficial ownership • Joint tenancies and tenancies in common explained • Unequal contributions and how courts assess intention • Orders for sale under TLATA 1996 • Post-acquisition payments, improvements, and equitable accounting • Exclusion from the property and occupation rent • Why most platonic co-ownership disputes end in sale • How many disputes could be avoided with proper advice at the outset Next episode: Blessing explores the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 and the major changes it is set to bring to landlord and tenant law.

The Ground Floor Episode 1 - Creative Tenants, Commercial Leases with Ana Zandi

Every city has that one spot, a creative pop up, a takeover, a gallery that appears for a moment and disappears just as quickly. What most people never see is the legal framework behind those spaces. The contracts, conditions and obligations that determine whether a creative idea thrives or collapses. In the first episode of The Ground Floor, Barrister Blessing Mukosha Park [https://www.linkedin.com/in/blessingpark/] sits down with property solicitor Ana Zandi [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anahitazandi/] to unpack how creatives use commercial spaces, and why the difference between a licence and a lease decides almost everything. They explore the practical realities behind short term lets, brand activations, planning restrictions, fit outs, reinstatement, reputational risk and the consequences of getting it wrong. From the pitfalls of calling something a “licence” when conduct makes it a lease, to the real impact of break clauses, covenants, forfeiture and planning rules, this episode breaks down the legal considerations that sit behind modern creative culture. Whether you are a brand thinking about a pop up, a creative collective negotiating a short term space, a commercial landlord renting to new businesses, or a junior lawyer working in property or chancery practice, this conversation gives a grounded insight into what really happens behind the scenes. This episode is sponsored by Blessing at the Bar, a platform supporting aspiring and practising lawyers with practical resources, courses and productivity tools. Topics covered include • Licence versus lease and why the label is not always decisive• How conduct can create unintended lease rights• Planning, permitted use and the risks of getting it wrong• Fit outs, reinstatement and the Capital Park Leeds v Global Radio decision• Operational and reputational risks for commercial landlords• Forfeiture, break clauses and why commercial consequences are fast• Practical guidance for creatives, brands and property owners Next episode: Professor Martin Dixon KC (Hon) [https://www.falcon-chambers.com/barristers/academic-fellows/profile/professor-martin-dixon] joins Blessing to discuss what really happens when friends buy property together and why the law may not recognise friendship the way you do.