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Latest News
Rising house prices brings inheritance tax windfall to government
According to The Office for Budget Responsibility’s forecasts, tax receipts accumulated from IHT will rise from £5.1billion in 2019-20 to £6 billion in 2021-22.
Stamp Duty holiday fuels largest monthly leap in house prices since 2004
House prices in England rose at their fastest pace since 2004 last month after the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, extended stamp duty relief on property purchases, a Nationwide survey suggests. Property prices in England rose by 2.1 per cent in April. Compared to April 2020 this is a rise of 7.1 per cent. The survey suggests […]
Government proposes mortgage guarantee scheme to help buyers with a small deposit
The government will offer incentives to mortgage lenders in a bid to bring back 95% mortgages which have all but disappeared during the Coronavirus crisis.
Stamp duty holiday to be extended by six weeks?
The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, is considering extending the stamp duty holiday for a short period according to a newspaper report today. The Daily Telegraph, quoting an unnamed government source, says the Treasury may extend the stamp duty holiday deadline of 31 March 2021 by as much as six weeks– taking it to mid-May. The move […]
Help to Buy deadline extended
The government has extended the deadline of the current Help to Buy scheme. COVID-19-related delays of up to eight months meant that buyers of yet-to-be-completed new build properties were at risk of being unable to complete on the purchase before the end of the Help to Buy Scheme. History of Help to Buy In the […]
Stamp duty holiday end looms large for home buyers
Introduced last year as a response to the pandemic, the chancellor’s tax concession means no stamp duty land tax (SDLT) is paid on the first £500,000 of a property sale. However, all rates are set to return to their pre-pandemic thresholds on 1 April. For buyers this will mean the end of a tax saving […]
Call for extension to original Help to Buy Scheme
Delays in the building of new homes caused by the Covid-19 pandemic may mean thousands of property buyers will lose out if their homes are not ready before the end of the current Help to Buy loan scheme. The government launched the Help to Buy equity loan scheme in 2013 offering loans of up to 20 […]
Conservative backbencher revolt over who pays for cladding bills
The Tory government faces a backbench rebellion over the plight of residents stuck in blocks of flats who face crippling bills to remove flammable cladding. Backbenchers are calling for an amendment to make it illegal for housing developers to pass on remediation costs to leaseholders. They are close to obtaining the 44 Conservative party member signatures […]
Flat sales drop amid cladding controversy
The scandal over shoddy flat construction is causing the housing market to see flat sales drop. According to Land Registry figures, the housing market saw flat sales halve in 2020. Thousands of flat-owners are unable to sell their apartments following the scandal caused by the Grenfell Tower fire which killed 72 people. Following the disaster, […]
Government reforms to end ‘feudal’ leasehold system?
MPs have announced plans to prepare the housing market for a move from leasehold to commonhold ownership. The move could save those with shorter leases thousands of pounds. Former council tenants who bought their homes in the 1980s are likely to be among those who will benefit. How will the proposed changes solve the problems […]
New price limits for Help to Buy Scheme 2021
The government’s Help to Buy scheme is changing in England. The government launched the Help-to-Buy scheme back in 2013 to help homebuyers purchase a new build with a small deposit. Original Help to Buy The original scheme allowed house hunters to purchase a new-build property worth up to £600,000 with a 5 per cent deposit […]
Probate delays
Solicitors applying for a Grant of Probate on behalf of a client, are reporting problems and delays with the Probate Service, part of HM Courts and Tribunals. The probate service has closed local offices and now uses regional bases to scan documents from people and solicitors who use the online form. At the same time, […]
Wills witnessed by video link to be made legal
The government is introducing new legislation in England and Wales that will allow people to witness a will signing remotely via a video link. The new legislation will not be place until September however the government intends to back date the law to the 31 January 2020. Why has the government introduced this change? Under […]
Temporary change in Stamp Duty threshold
The chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced a temporary amendment to Stamp Duty rates on Wednesday. What is Stamp Duty? When you purchase land or property in England you must pay Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) on the value of the acquisition. What is the change to Stamp Duty? From the 8 July, the Government has raised […]
Rise in challenges to wills
The number of wills challenged in the High Court hit an all-time high last year. The Ministry of Justice has released figures which show that claimants brought 188 will challenges to court last year. This is a 47% increase on the 128 claims made in 2018. Reasons for rise in number of will claims Lawyers […]
Delays at probate office cause further grief for bereaved families
Delays and problems at the probate office are causing further stress and anguish to the recently bereaved. What is probate? When a person dies, the person named as executor in the deceased’s will need to apply for grant of probate before they can deal with the deceased’s finances and share out their assets. Are there […]
Time to re-claim higher rate of Stamp Duty extended
As movers struggle to sell their old home during the lockdown, the government has extended the time allowed to reclaim stamp duty. Those who have moved to a property they considered their main residence before selling their previous main residence had to pay the higher rate of Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) but if they […]
Reform for Victorian Wills Act needed?
Lawyers have called for MPs to pass emergency legislation to amend the rules on witnesses but, more than two months into lockdown, there has been no change.
Southport conveyancing market reopens
Ministers updated regulation 6 of the Coronavirus Regulations to allow people to leave the house to undertake any of the following activities in connection with the purchase, sale, letting, or rental of a residential property:
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