Property auction process First, it’s important to understand the auction process. Auctions are typically held in a public venue or online and allow potential buyers to bid on the property. The highest bidder at the end of the auction is legally bound to purchase the property, provided the reserve price (the minimum price at...
Buying a house is one of the most significant investments that most people make in their lifetime. Whether you are a first-time buyer or an experienced property investor, the process of buying a house can be daunting and complex. In addition to finding the perfect home, there are numerous legal considerations that you need to...
Conveyancing can be a long and stressful process, but the work of conveyancers helps to reduce this significantly by taking on many of the more complex tasks. Selling a house can be daunting, and many legal considerations need to be taken into account to ensure a smooth and successful sale, such as providing an Energy...
National Conveyancing Week has been launched to raise the profile of organisations who conduct property transactions, with the inaugural event taking place from 20th-24th March 2023. Property lawyers up and down the country are taking part in a series of events over the course of the week designed to educate and inform all those involved...
Following the dramatic 30% fall[1] in the number of sales agreed in the aftermath of last year’s mini-budget, when mortgage rates soared, there were concerns that double-figure inflation and the cost of living crisis would put a permanent dampener on the property market. But those fears look to be mistaken with latest figures from the...
What better time could there be to decide if the house you are in is the home you want to see yourself or your family in before next year? In this article, we look at why January is a good time to start preparing to sell and just how you can do that. The market...
One recent long-running case saw an Essex couple fighting over six inches of disputed land ownership for eleven years, with costs predicted to be as high as £60,000. The couple, Philip and Denise New, say they have had to remortgage their home to cover the costs after losing their case. The argument started after they...
However, you now have a mountain of paperwork to complete and lots of questions in relation to the funds you will be using to facilitate your purchase. Suddenly your exciting property purchase seems far less fun and a rather daunting and laborious experience. You might be asking yourself why so many questions? For those who...
The Land Registry has seen a dramatic rise in property fraud over the last 12 months and last year alone paid out £3.5million in compensation for fraud. The properties most at risk are those which are rented out, those left empty for long periods of time, properties which are mortgage free or of a higher...
The Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill applies to new, qualifying long residential leases in England and Wales and was tabled in response to one of the Law Commission’s recommendations designed to overhaul residential property in England and Wales. The recommendations address unfair practices in the leasehold system, which has already seen a ban on leasehold...
As the shutters lift on life, with shops and bars opening and holiday planning underway, property owners may be thinking of cashing in on the demand for UK trips by offering their home for short-term lets, but they may run into trouble if they don’t check the small print. Whether it’s your main property or...
With recent announcements from both the UK and Scottish government about further lockdown restrictions, you might be planning to fill your time with some lockdown home improvements. At the time of writing, tradespeople are exempt from lockdown restrictions and may enter your home to carry out necessary repairs. However, you should be aware that certain...
The Chancellor has announced that the stamp duty threshold will be temporarily raised from £125,000 to £500,000. … The stamp duty holiday will run until 31 March 2021. It means that nearly nine out of 10 transactions will no longer be subject to stamp duty. Buying a new home is exciting and with the current...
Mum and Dad need to get with it – Parents who help their children get on the property ladder are being urged to adopt a more professional approach when it comes to handing over the cash. Faced with high rental costs and soaring property prices, more parents are dipping into savings or releasing capital from...
The latest involved a property in Lincoln, where landlord Julie Churchill was fined £40,000 for not having a licence for a house in multiple occupation and for failing to ensure the property was safe for the tenants. Failings included no working fire alarm on the ground floor and padlocks to bedroom doors which could delay...
Julian Alahakoon, Partner and Head of Commercial and Agricultural features on this broadcast from This is Alfred a local community resource for the town and surrounding villages of Shaftesbury Dorset. Here he discusses how we are working with the local Chamber of Commerce to produce an off-the-peg legal agreement for short term commercial leases which...
On 1st June this year, a new act came into force that has a profound effect on rental market law. It’s relevant not just for landlords and tenants, but for agencies that, to date, have made a very nice little living out of charging tenancy fees and administration costs for rentals. These fees have affected...
The Environment Agency has produced binding rules imposing requirements for the replacement or upgrade of septic tank drainage systems as a means of reducing pollution and improving water quality. The EA is taking these measures as septic tanks are notorious for causing pollution, which can have far-reaching environmental and social consequences. Under the new regulations,...
In a perfect world, you would be able to convert a commercial property from one type of business to another without having to jump through too many hoops or get tangled up in too much red tape. Unfortunately, though, this world is far from perfect, and a change of use can involve a surprising amount...
