Under the new Tenant Fees Act, damage deposits taken at the start of a tenancy will be capped. There are also new rules around holding deposits. Landlords and letting agents need to take heed of the changes, or it could prove costly. What do the new laws say? The Tenant Fees Bill is set to […]
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Tenant Fees Will Soon Be Banned
The new Tenant Fees Bill is set to be introduced this summer. Here’s a brief run-down of what’s changing, when, and what breaching the news laws could mean for landlords and letting agents. What’s changing? Until now, landlords and letting agents have been able to charge tenants additional fees for things such as references, credit […]
Proposals to protect new-build buyers
Advisory body the Home Owners Alliance has recommended that buyers of new-build homes should be able to retain 2.5% of the purchase price for the first six months to cover the cost of snagging defects. The body’s chief executive said that the proposal “would create a powerful incentive for builders to put problems right”. Such […]
No stamp duty surcharge for derelict second homes
A tax tribunal has ruled that buyers Paul and Nikki Bewley do not need to pay the 3% second home surcharge on the purchase of a derelict property that took place in 2017. Since April 2016 if a buyer already owns a property and purchases another, the stamp duty rates on the second purchase are […]
Welsh assembly raise care savings limit to £50,000
From the 8th April 2019, people living in Wales will have to pay the full cost of their own residential care only if they have assets of more than £50,000. Welsh ministers increased the capital limit by £10,000 only 12 months after it rose from £30,000 to £40,000. The capital limit determines whether a person […]
House of Lords Committee brand probate fee hike a ‘misuse of power’
Government plans to increase probate fees have been branded by the House of Lords Committee as a ‘misuse of power’. The fee increases have been proposed to address the £1.2 billion annual deficit for running the courts. The cost of applying for probate is currently £215 (or £155 if a solicitor is used) regardless of […]
Son disinherited in favour of younger lover
An Oxford don who has been left out of his mother’s estate in favour of her younger lover has embarked on a court battle against a firm of solicitors. Distinguished physician Jean Weddell left the majority of her estate to her civil partner Wendy Cook, excluding her son Christopher Gosden altogether. Mr Gosden who is […]
Architect’s friends fight over her £67m fortune
When Dame Zaha Hadid died in March 2016, she left generous financial gifts to her friends, family and even her employees – but her benevolence has been overshadowed by a fierce squabble between the executors. Dame Zaha was one of Britain’s best known architects with her prestigious portfolio including the Riverside Museum in Glasgow and […]
April 2019: Controversial probate fee rises
Bereaved families will face soaring probate fees from April 2019 under new plans revealed by the Ministry of Justice. Reforms to probate fees have been the subject of consultation since 2016 and a year later the first proposals, which included a charge of £20,000 for estates worth £2 million or more, were met with outcry. […]
Property hijacking – and how you can reduce the risk
A woman who put her parents’ flat on the market while her father was temporarily in a care home and her stepmother was in the Caribbean visiting a sick relative has been handed a three year prison sentence. 52 year old Valerie Edwards put the property, valued at £340,000, on the market during Spring last year […]
Inheritance disputes on the rise
The number of inheritance disputes is soaring thanks to inflated property prices, complex family structures, a challenging financial climate and an ageing population. According to Ministry of Justice figures, the High Court considered 145 inheritance claims last year – three times more than a decade earlier. These figures do not represent the true number of cases as […]
How Not To Be A Victim Of Conveyancing Fraud
8-May-2018 The Times recently reported on the story of Zara Pawley who was left £40,000 short after her solicitors were tricked into sending the balance from a house sale to fraudsters. According to Zara, although she had previously provided her bank details in person to the solicitor, the firm was later fooled by a message […]
Help With Inheritance Tax
7-May-2018 The complexities of Inheritance tax: and where to get help Last week the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) launched a review of inheritance tax, asking both professionals and taxpayers themselves to submit views by June 8th. The Scoping Document can be found here. A record £5.2 billion of inheritance tax was paid to the […]
Choose The Right Lawyer and Avoid The Cost of Delays
1-May-2018 With a myriad of conveyancing services to choose from, it can be confusing to know which to choose and whether there is really much difference between them all. With cheap deals and incentives to lure them in, too many people are tempted by bargain basement prices rather than choosing an experienced, trusted advisor for […]
Breens Secures Top Accolade From Law Society
20-April-2018 Breens Solicitors Ltd in Southport, and Waterloo has secured the Law Society’s legal practice quality mark for practice management and client care, Lexcel, for the 20th consecutive year. The Law Society developed the Lexcel standard to award those firms which demonstrate high client care and business management standards an additional accreditation. To gain and […]
Landlords Face Fines For Substandard Properties
11-April-2018 From 1st April, Landlords renting energy inefficient properties have been liable for large fines, thanks to new legislation. In addition, they may have to pay thousands towards the cost of implementing energy saving measures. Rented property that cannot meet a minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of E or higher will need to be […]
Are You Due a Refund on Your Power of Attorney?
14-February-2018 If you made a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) or an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) application in the last five years, you may be due a partial refund. Why am I due a refund? The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) charged £110 for making a LPA. The Ministry of Justice – which […]
Stamp Duty For First Time Buyers Scrapped
22-November-2017 The Chancellor, Philip Hammond has abolished Stamp duty for first-time buyers in today’s budget. First-time buyers purchasing a property up to £300k will no Stamp Duty. Those buying properties worth up to £500k will only pay duty on the amount above £300k. It is a move estimated to take 80% of first-time buyers out […]
Could a Text Message Be a Valid Will
18-October-2017 Currently UK law requires that for a Will to be valid, it must be in writing, signed by the person making the Will and witnessed by two people. Until 2006 the law in Queensland, Australia mirrored these requirements – but at that point a change was made, allowing less formal types of documents to […]
Greener Homes Could Get Stamp Duty Break
17-October-2017 The Government is considering whether people could pay less stamp duty on purchases of energy efficient homes, as part of its ‘Clean Growth Strategy’ published last week. When questioned, Claire Perry, Minister of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, made a statement in the House of Commons on Thursday 12th in which she […]