Plans to rationalise the work of eight property-related tribunals into two were unveiled this week by the Law Commission.

A Property and Valuation Tribunal - organised regionally - would deal with all matters now dealt with by the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal, Rent Assessment Committee, Rent Tribunal, Valuation Tribunal and Agricultural Land Tribunal.

A reformed Lands Tribunal would handle appeals, and also carry on its current work as well as taking on cases dealt with by both the Commons Commissioners and the Adjudicator to the Land Registry tribunals.

The proposals arise from a recommendation by the Leggatt review of the entire tribunal system and follow a consultation started late last year.

In its initial plans, the Lands Tribunal would have been more of an appellate body and only dealing with complex cases at first instance.

The commission has changed its mind, saying: 'It became clear during the consultation process that this would not sufficiently take account of the specialist expertise of the Lands Tribunal in exercising its current first instance jurisdictions.'