On the 7th January 2021, the Housing Secretary, Robert Jenrick, announced that under proposed Government reforms, leaseholders (tenants) will be given the right to extend their lease by a maximum term of 990 years at zero ground rent. These proposals come off the back of a Law Commission report in July 2020, which set out… Read more »
Buying and selling a residential property can be stressful and time-consuming without the help of a property lawyer from the outset. Andrew Clark, Partner in the Property team, outlines how sellers can help to speed up the property transaction process and explains the how a proactive property lawyer can help ease the pressure of, not… Read more »
The COVID-19 restrictions which were put in place in March are slowly being eased. New guidelines state that the buying and selling of residential properties is now allowed, as long as social distancing measures are followed. Andrew Clark, Partner in the Property team, shares his thoughts on how the outbreak has impacted the property market… Read more »
We are pleased to announce that conveyancing is moving again. On the 12th May 2020, the Government announced that the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions would no longer apply to the process of moving house from Wednesday 13th May 2020. Our conveyancing team has been working extremely hard throughout the lockdown period, progressing cases for clients to ensure… Read more »
A fundamental piece of advice for home sellers is: don’t wait until after you find a buyer to instruct a solicitor. With the Coronavirus lockdown in place, this advice stands true now more than ever. Many of our clients have recently asked: can I still sell my home during lockdown? Sellers may assume that nothing… Read more »
Gathering the right documents for your Solicitor at the start of selling your house could save time, delays and expense. Providing your identification documents (ID) and instruction forms quickly will enable your solicitor to open a file for you and conduct their compliance checks. Gather your funding information at the outset. Solicitors are required by… Read more »
As the government pledges to build one million homes nationwide over the next three to five years, they have also developed incentives to help potential buyers make a purchase. Schemes such as ‘Help to Buy’ have assisted first time buyers and those struggling to get on the property ladder. First time buyers also have a… Read more »
Chancel Repair Liability (CRL) is a financial obligation imposed on some property owners in England and Wales to pay for certain repairs to a church which may or may not be the local parish church. The liability attaches to the land and can extend to property situated a long way from a church, making it… Read more »
What is Gazumping and Why is it Happening? Gazumping occurs when a higher offer for a property is made after an offer has already been accepted by the seller. This succeeds in obtaining the property, leaving the previous would-be buyer without the property and suffering a financial loss from incurred legal fees. The national average… Read more »
There are an estimated 2.9 million leasehold flats and 1.4 million leasehold houses in England which amount to almost a fifth of the housing stock in England. The confirmed leasehold reforms by Government for all new homes will affect a large number of people, including both leaseholders and landlords. Leaseholders are granted the right to… Read more »
