Blogs
Consultation unveiled on proposed new cladding rules
Prior to his appointment as Home Secretary on Monday 30 April 2018, former Housing Secretary Sajid Javid unveiled an important consultation on new proposals to improve fire and safety testing on cladding systems installed on residential buildings. It is expected that the consultation, which comes....
Making mirror wills – will your wishes be fully reflected?
If you and your partner share the same plan for what happens to your estate after each of you has passed away, then mirror wills can work for you. Basically, mirror wills are two separate wills made at the same time, naming the same beneficiaries. Often, the only difference between them is the name ....
The Skripal case – unravelling the unusual and challenging mental capacity issues
Over recent weeks, the twists and turns in this high-profile case have made daily media headlines. The events that unfolded on a bench in a park in Salisbury rapidly became first a national and then an international political issue, as Colonel Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, were hospitalise....
LGA voices concerns over permitted development changes for rural communities
In recent days, Housing Minister Dominic Raab has unveiled important changes to permitted development rights affecting home and land owners who live in rural areas. Previously, farm owners were able to convert existing agricultural buildings into a maximum of three houses without seeking planning....
Why you need to get the best possible legal advice when buying your home
With Britain’s housing crisis never far from the news headlines, the government is looking at various ways to update and improve the house-buying process. As part of this initiative, the Department for Communities and Local Government recently held a consultation into ways the current procedures m....
Important new leasehold changes could affect property developers
Property developers who are dependent on payments from leases to bolster their operations could be adversely affected by leasehold changes which appeared in the Government’s Housing White Paper in February. Currently, there are an estimated four million residential leasehold properties in the U....
Joint tenants or tenants in common? What you need to know
With property prices remaining high, buying a home with family members or friends can often be the only practical way of getting onto the property ladder. There are plenty of advantages. The deposit will be lower, as will the ongoing costs of ownership such as mortgage repayments, council tax and ut....
Six lesser-known ways to reduce Inheritance Tax you may not have considered, but really should
Inheritance Tax (IHT) is one of the most controversial taxes in the UK, so it’s little wonder that families are looking for ways to reduce the likely bill. So, if you’ve used up your annual exemptions, made gifts to individuals, given money to the bride or groom, plan to outlive your lifetime....
When nature fights back against development
When developers are looking to break ground on a new site, as part of the planning process, they are often required to conduct an environmental review of the site to ensure protected species are not present. Now pop star Ed Sheeran has been caught out in this process as his plans to construct a w....
Potholes – a personal injury hazard of our time
As we head towards spring, the cold snowy weather is still taking its toll on our roads. Potholes continue to be more than just an annoying feature of the UK’s road network - motorists, cyclists, joggers and walkers can often sustain serious personal injuries through coming into contact with this ....
PM unveils plans to “rewrite the rules” on planning law
In recent days, Prime Minister Theresa May has unveiled Government proposals to “rewrite the rules” on planning law in a bid to try and solve the UK’s so-called housing crisis. In a speech delivered in London on Monday 5 March 2018, Mrs May said that the Government would work to restore the....
Will my funeral wishes be respected?
If you’d like to be cremated or have an eco-burial, or want your favourite piece of music or a special poem to be used at your funeral, it’s important to leave instructions for your Executor, and ensure you make your wishes known to friends and family members. As the law currently stands, it....
