Interest rates have risen for five months in a row, and are expected to go up further in 2022, could this risk mortgage lenders down valuing properties Mortgage lenders are becoming more cautious as the cost of borrowing rises. High borrowing costs lead to lower house prices and lenders have a real concern that the […]
Right to Buy scheme extended
The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, announced plans to extend the right to buy to millions of people who rent from housing associations. In a speech this week, Mr Johnson said that he wants 2.5 million people who rent housing association properties to have the chance to buy their homes at a discount. The government, under Margaret […]
Rare calumny case sees man win £1m dispute against his sister
A judge has awarded a retired atomic energy engineer a £1 million pay out after he ruled the man’s sister had committed ‘fraudulent calumny’ in order to disinherit her brother from his father’s estate. David Whittle brought the case against his sibling accusing her of influencing their dying father by telling a series of lies, […]
Long overdue reform of ground rent comes into force in June
The Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022 comes into force on 30 June 2022 (except for retirement properties where it will not come into force before 1 April 2023). In one of the most significant changes to property law in recent years, the act will put an end to ground rents for new and qualifying […]
ITV Drama highlights perils of house hijacking
Anyone who watched the recent ITV drama, Our House, will know the perils of a fraud known as title or registration fraud. In which the fraudster impersonates a home-owner in order to sell their property. While the storyline of the ITV drama was far-fetched however registration fraud is a real crime and poses a real […]
From thin-air – the money maker above your home.
Freehold-owners of buildings are selling space above leasehold flat-owners’ heads for millions of pounds thanks to new rooftop extension rules. Permitted development rights Permitted development rights, that the government approved in August 2020, mean that up to two new storeys of flats can be built on top of existing residential blocks, or commercial buildings, without […]
House theft leads to 30,000 sign ups to HMLR service
HMLR’s Property Alert service tells you if anyone applies to make changes to your property’s details, including someone taking out a mortgage against it or making an application to change ownership.
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.
What next for Southport’s property market?
With the UK average house price now £258,000, the furlough scheme coming to an end, rising energy costs, and the end of the stamp duty holiday, many fear the housing market will go from boom to bust. Early signs suggest this is not the case. While house price growth slowed in September to 0.1 per cent, areas of the country, particularly the Northwest, still appear to be an active market.
Inheritance tax, can you beat it?
A deed of variation (DOV) – is a legal document usually drawn up by a solicitor that allows you (if you are the beneficiary of an estate) to make changes to a will, in the name of the deceased, after their death.
Setting up a trust to protect your child
When you set up the trust, you nominate trustees who will decide how to deal with the assets in the trust. The term ‘discretionary’ means that the trustees have no right to the assets until such time as they are appointed to them – in other words when the trust comes into effect on your death
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.
Lost will made more than thirty years ago found thanks to Certainty Will Search
It is not uncommon for clients that have written Wills with a firm to move house and relocate to other parts of the country. Due to these circumstances and the passage of time, clients may forget where their Will is stored or lose the copy of their Will, making it increasingly difficult for their loved […]
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 […]
Limited Company Buy-to-Let Boom
A record number of people have set up buy-to-let limited companies in 2020 despite problems with the housing market caused by the pandemic. Landlords created 41,700 buy-to-let firms last year, a 23 per cent increase from 2019. The number of buy-to-let companies has more than doubled since 2016 following the government’s introduction of tax changes […]
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 […]
What is the definition of a first time buyer?
Mortgage lenders may class you as a first time buyer if you have no property to sell and do not have a mortgage currently. While each mortgage lender may differ in their definition of a first time buyer, HMRC do not. When it comes to home much stamp duty land tax (SDLT) you will pay, […]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- …
- 15
- Next Page »