020 8221 8000 Enquire now

Residential

Covid-19: Residential properties – Update

The current situation with the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has created a lot of unknowns and concerns throughout the property market. The Government has made several assurances in the recent news conferences in the past few weeks aimed at both Landlords and Tenants, outlining how both will be afforded assurance and protection in such turbulent times over the coming months. On the 26th of March the Coronavirus Act 2020 was passed, this gave royal assent to many of the measures which were promised. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2020/7/contents/enacted/data.htm Residential tenants now have protection from eviction…

Moving home during the coronavirus crisis

We are living in difficult times but as a community we will get through it together. As a firm we recognise the difficulties and the challenges that are being faced by us all in simply going about our day to day business and living our ordinary lives. We have a very busy and thriving property department and it is our wish to keep all our clients informed as to the latest developments in this regard and the advice given by the Government. Firstly, there is no need to withdraw from…

Indoor Radon levels dangerously increasing

Following the recent sequence of protests at Heathrow Airport and Central London, we have witnessed the rise of the Extinction Rebellion movement. Social media and news coverage has very much brought the debate on the unprecedented global climate emergency and the government’s inaction to implement changes to the forefront. However and ironically so, maybe we should be looking closer to home or should I say within our homes. Recent research into the amount of indoor radon concentrations in our homes suggests that the planet’s need to create more energy efficient…

Feathering new nests for fledglings

Exam results have been released and new students know where they will be heading for university.  Following the relief of results day, the next big headache for parents is often the search for accommodation, whether for first-timers or returning students. Faced with high rental costs, shortages and sometimes poor-quality student digs in many cities, increasing numbers of parents are investigating the option of buying property instead of renting, but the different options can make it a minefield.  Explained Property legal expert, Jeremy Lewis of Bowling & Co Solicitors: “For parents…

Old Fees New Rules

The Tenant Fees Act 2019 (“the Act”), is a new piece of legislation banning certain types of fees in relation to the private rental sector, and came into force from 1st June 2019. This is part of a series of reforms to increase transparency within the private rental sector for residential tenants. We explain below who the ban applies to and which fees are banned. WHO THE BAN APPLIES TO? Currently the ban will only affect landlords, agents and tenants in England, in relation to the following types of tenancies: Assured shorthold…

Stepping up to the challenge of the sale board

Homeowners, estate agents and solicitors up and down the country are wondering whether to expect the traditional upsurge in the property market in April and May. It’s not looking very rosy, according to recent figures from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, whose members reported that they expected sales to fall in the next three months. Overall, their outlook for the housing market was the worst for 20 years, and the lack of clarity around Brexit has shouldered the blame for that, with lack of supply and affordability also affecting…

Top Tips for Landlords: Complying with the new Energy efficiency legislation (EPC tests)

As if landlords didn’t have enough paperwork to worry about, as of the 1st April 2018, things got even more complicated. The minimum ratings for Energy Performance Certificates (which have been mandatory for some time) got a lot tougher, and now any rental property must achieve at least an ‘E’ rating for it to be rented out. Whereas before this only applied to new tenancies, now, it covers existing rental agreements too. That means that even if your tenants have been in your property for years, the house or flat…

What is adverse possession? – an explanation of the reality behind ‘squatter’s rights’

If you’re a property owner, one of the biggest worries is that ‘squatters’ will move into a vacant property and take up residency. If they are not removed quickly then there is the possibility that they can acquire the ownership of a property or a piece of land, simply by staying there for a long time. This is known as ‘adverse possession’ or more commonly, ‘squatter’s rights’. Adverse possession is based on the principle that if the property owner does not evict squatters from their property or land within a…

Reservations over home buying reservation agreements

If there’s one thing that infuriates house sellers (other than being gazumped) it’s a buyer pulling out at the last moment without a good reason. However, the government have stepped in and announced that 2019 will see a trial for reservation agreements – which basically tells conveyancers that buyers who pull out of a transaction because they ‘didn’t like the colour of the bathroom’ will face consequences. And those consequences could be costly. Housing Minister Heather Wheeler informed the Council for Licenced Conveyancers annual conference that reservation agreements could be…

Bonus for shared ownership buyers

First-time buyers who bought a shared ownership property in the last twelve months should check if they are due a refund on any Stamp Duty paid That's because when Chancellor Hammond extended Stamp Duty Relief available to first time buyers of shared ownership property in his Autumn 2018 budget, he also applied the extension retrospectively to any qualifying transactions that took place between 22 November 2017 and 29 October 2018. Since November 2017, relief has been available to first time buyers of shared ownership property who opted for the full…

Back To Top
Search

Powered by How to backup and restore wordpress site

error: Content is protected !!