Research Assistant for Escalating Ground Rents

Internal Applicants Only

Deadline: 7 July 2023

Professor Bright is looking for a research assistant to help with  a research project on escalating ground rents.

The project aims are to consider the control of escalating ground rents in residential leases.

Tasks for the Research Assistant will be, in particular, to provide detailed research into the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 (UTCCRs), for contracts entered into before 1 October 2015, and Part 2 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA), for contracts entered into on or after 1 October 2015, and how these provisions apply to escalating ground rents. The Competition and Markets Authority launched an investigation in June 2019  (see https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/leasehold), and considers escalating ground rent provisions to be unfair.

The aim of the research is to examine the underpinning doctrinal law in England, and in Europe. In addition, as the UK government has announced that it may introduce a cap on these ground rents the project will also consider the potential for challenge under Article 1 Protocol 1.

The expectation is that the Research Assistant will work closely with Professor Bright and they will together look to puzzle through the application of law to this particular context.

Work can start in mid- or late Summer 2023 but must be completed by the end of Michaelmas 2023 to allow the PI to start follow-up work in Hilary 2024.

Duration and hours

Working hours: a total of up to 100 hours across the duration of the project, to be agreed with the project supervisor.

Start date: 14 July 2023 at earliest (flexible but no later than 15 September 2023).

Date by which the work must be completed: 15 December 2023.

Reporting

The Research Assistant will report to Professor Bright.

Requirements

• A good understanding of the field of English contract law (and understanding the relationship with rulings from the ECJ) is essential.
• A knowledge of English leasehold property law is desirable.
• A knowledge of human rights law, in particular Article 1 Protocol 1, is desirable.
• Experience of law referencing systems is desirable. 

The work can be done in any place in the UK where you have access to a good library and internet. Meetings with the PI/team members will be held in-person in Oxford or held online.

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to current graduate students in the Faculty of Law and the hours are in line with the restrictions on working hours for students in the Law Faculty. It is expected that the work will be undertaken in the UK. 

Rate of Pay

The work will be paid at £17.02 per hour (including the exceptional non-consolidated uplift for 2022-23), which equates to University Grade 6, point 1, on the basis of completed and approved timesheets, which must be submitted to payroll@law.ox.ac.uk by the last Friday of each calendar month for payment on the last working day of the following month.

In addition, paid annual leave will be assumed to be taken in the month in which it was accrued.

Funding

This opportunity is funded by a Law Faculty Research Support Fund grant (RSF2223-31).

How to Apply

A short CV and cover letter (including the name of your supervisor) should be sent by email to susan.bright@law.ox.ac.uk by 7 July 2023. Please explain how you meet the requirements for the role, and give details of your availability. Supervisors may be asked for a reference. 

Enquiries about the project are welcome, and may be addressed to Professor Bright. General queries, e.g. about the appointment process, or eligibility, may be addressed to research@law.ox.ac.uk.