Blogs
Government proposals to limit the sale of newbuild leasehold homes
When you’re looking to buy a property, it’s not uncommon nowadays to find not just flats but also new-build houses for sale on a leasehold basis. With leasehold properties, buyers can have the option to buy the freehold - the land the property stands on - at some point. Leasehold property owners....
The Green Belt – should we use it to solve the housing crisis?
The concept of a ‘green belt’ was first put forward by the Greater London Regional Planning Committee back in 1935 as a way of restricting urban growth. Their proposal was to provide “a reserve supply of public open spaces and of recreational areas and to establish a green belt or girdle of op....
Domestic violence – not just a problem faced by women
It’s a sad fact of life that domestic abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of their social class, age, race, disability, sexuality or lifestyle. Much of the media coverage of domestic violence issues highlights the plight of women who find themselves on the receiving end of physical, psycholo....
Boundary disputes – how to avoid crossing the line
Every year, neighbours find themselves falling out over boundary issues such as building works, fences, tree branches, leylandii hedges and shared access to property. Fierce battles are often waged over just a few inches of land, and can sometimes turn into prolonged and expensive legal disputes. ....
Why every business should think about their social media policy
Social media plays an increasingly important part in all our lives, and Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and blogging have also become part and parcel of modern business communications. This means it’s more important than ever that employers set out clearly what is and isn’t acceptable behaviour when....
My Planning Application has been refused, what can I do?
It can come as a nasty blow to hear that your Planning Application has been refused, and you’ll be left wondering what your options are. Your local planning authority must provide reasons in writing as to why your application was turned down, so it’s worth going through these thoroughly to get a....
We’re divorcing and don’t have any assets to divide, do I need to do anything?
Yes, you do. Even in situations where both spouses trust each other, and neither intends to make a financial claim against the other, there is always a risk that if one of the spouse’s financial circumstances were to change, then the other party might decide at that stage to make a financial claim....
Declarations of Trust: What are they and when should you be making them
Declarations of Trust are legally binding documents that are used to set out the interests of parties where property is owned by more than one person. A Declaration of Trust can for example be entered into by couples purchasing their first home, when a partner moves into an existing home, or when pr....
Delayed or missed diagnosis by a doctor – what can I do?
For the most part, doctors and health professionals do an excellent job and perform to high standards of care and treatment. However, on occasions patients can find that that their condition is misdiagnosed, or there is an unacceptable delay in getting the correct diagnosis and treatment in place. ....
Employers: When can you have a protected conversation with an employee?
The government put forward the concept of ‘protected conversations’ as a way of, in the words of the then Prime Minister David Cameron, “a boss and an employee could feel able to sit down together and have a frank discussion at either’s request”. The idea was that these conversations could....
My wife is with another man, can I divorce her on the grounds of adultery?
If your wife is having a sexual relationship with a member of the opposite sex while you are still married, then this is adultery. This is the case even if your relationship with your wife has come to an end, or you have been living apart for some time. Adultery is one of the five facts that can be ....
Luxury apartment in one of London’s finest and most expensive locations available to buy for less than £100,000 BUT there is a catch….
Would you like to live in one of London’s most exclusive locations and be able to count Nigella Lawson and the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson as one of your neighbours? Well now you can, as a property in the illustrious Belgravia area is being sold at auction with a guide price of just £90,000. ....