020 8221 8000 Enquire now

Property Market News

Electronic Wills

The Biggest Changes to Wills in Nearly 200 Years: What Could Be Coming?

The law that governs Wills in England and Wales is based largely on the Wills Act 1837. That's right, the main legislation dealing with Wills was introduced during the reign of Queen Victoria and has remained largely unchanged ever since. The Law Commission has recently recommended a series of reforms designed to bring Will-making into the modern age. While these are currently proposals rather than law, they could represent the biggest changes to Wills in almost 200 years. Why Is Reform Being Proposed? Life today is very different from 1837…

Inheritance Tax Changes for Family Businesses and Farms

Inheritance Tax Changes for Family Businesses and Farms: What You Need to Know

For many years, family businesses and farms have benefited from generous Inheritance Tax reliefs that helped them pass from one generation to the next without a large tax bill. However, the rules have changed, and some families may now face an Inheritance Tax charge where previously none would have been payable. What Are APR and BPR? You may have heard professionals talk about: Agricultural Property Relief (APR), which applies to qualifying farming assets. Business Property Relief (BPR), which applies to certain business assets and shares. These reliefs were designed to…

Office-to-Residential Conversions and Changing Planning Rules

Office-to-Residential Conversions and Changing Planning Rules

Many town and city centres now have more office space than they need, while demand for housing remains high. Converting offices into homes has become a familiar response, and the planning system has been shaped to encourage it. The national planning policy behind these conversions changed again in August 2026, however. Anyone involved in a conversion, whether as a property owner, a business tenant or a buyer, should understand where they now stand. This article covers the position in England. Wales has its own planning rules, and the permitted development…

World Alzheimer's Month

World Alzheimer’s Month: A Reminder to Plan Ahead with a Will and Lasting Power of Attorney

Every September, World Alzheimer's Month asks us to think about the millions of people living with dementia and the families supporting them. This year, World Alzheimer's Day fell on 21 September, and it prompted a great many quiet conversations across the country about a subject most families would rather not dwell on. An estimated 982,000 people in the UK are living with dementia, and that number is expected to keep rising as we all live longer. Behind each of those figures is a family working out what they are allowed…

Japanese Knotweed and Property Sales: Legal Risks for Sellers

Since 30 March 2026, solicitors accredited under the Law Society's Conveyancing Quality Scheme have had to use the sixth edition of the TA6 Property Information Form on every new residential sale. Earlier versions have been withdrawn. The new form is shorter and plainer than the ill-fated fifth edition, and it gives sellers more scope to say "not known" where they honestly do not know. Japanese knotweed survives the redesign and sits in the environmental section of the form. And for sellers, it remains one of the most reliable ways to…

Repair Obligations

Repair Obligations in Residential Tenancies

When something goes wrong in a rented home, the first question is usually the simplest one to ask and the hardest to answer: whose job is it to fix it? The answer depends on what has broken, what the tenancy agreement says, and, increasingly, on which side of the England and Wales border the property sits. The two nations now run noticeably different systems. This article looks at how repair obligations work for ordinary residential lettings in England and in Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own separate rules…

Property and Wills

What Happens to a Property After Someone Dies?

Losing a loved one is difficult enough without having to navigate unfamiliar legal and administrative processes. One of the most common questions families ask is what happens to a property after someone dies and whether it can be sold or transferred immediately. The answer depends on a number of factors, including how the property was owned, whether there is a valid Will and whether probate is required. Our private client and lifetime planning team advises families across each of these stages, from applying for probate through to the sale or…

Conveyancing Searches

Conveyancing searches: what are they, and do you need them?

Buying a property is a large financial commitment which most people will make, and much of the work that protects that commitment happens out of sight. Among the least understood parts of the process are "searches". The results of a search can determine whether a purchase proceeds. This article explains what conveyancing searches are, what they cover, and whether you really need them. It applies to property in England and Wales. What are searches? Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring ownership of property from seller to buyer. As part…

For Sale

Homeowners urged to get ‘move ready’ as pressure grows

In a housing market where mortgage rates can shift on global headlines and property chains remain painfully fragile, homeowners are being urged to get “move ready” before putting their property on the market or starting their property search. The call comes as the property sector pushes for faster and more streamlined conveyancing amid wider economic uncertainty. Major lenders and property businesses are investing in digital systems designed to reduce delays, cut fall-through rates and speed up transactions. A government-backed open property coalition is working to accelerate the digitisation of homebuying,…

New Build Contract

What to Check in a New Build Contract

Buying a new build property is an exciting prospect. The appeal of a brand-new home, untouched by previous owners and often built to modern energy efficiency standards, is entirely understandable. But beneath the show-home finish lies a legal process that carries real risk if approached without care. Unlike a standard resale purchase, new build contracts are typically drafted by the developer’s solicitors and, unsurprisingly, they tend to favour the developer. Completion timelines, specification details, and financial obligations can all be defined in ways that protect the builder rather than the…

Back To Top
Search

Powered by How to backup and restore wordpress site

error: Content is protected !!