Blogs

Buying a listed property – what do I need to know?

We feel very privileged to have offices located in Hertfordshire and Essex, two counties absolutely packed full of heritage properties with origins often dating back centuries. Many of these properties are ‘listed’, meaning that they “may not be demolished, extended or altered without special....

Million-pound homes – part 2 – how to own one

Our expert Residential Property team has seen a relentless increase in the volume of homes in Essex and Herts changing hands for £1m-plus. We’d never blog about clients’ financial affairs, but can still offer some general points on buying in that price range. For instance, help often comes fro....

Million-pound homes – part 1 – where to find one

Property market coverage in the recent first edition of our Private Wealth Guide looked at some locations in Essex and Hertfordshire where homes worth over £1.5 million aren’t unusual. Places like Loughton, Brentwood and Chigwell in Essex, or Rickmansworth, Harpenden and Radlett in Herts, certai....

Simplifying IHT – mission impossible?

Some 18 months ago the Chancellor as was, Philip Hammond, asked the Office of Tax Simplification to review the Inheritance Tax regime and suggest ways to simplify it. Earlier hopes that he’d completely abolish the unpopular levy on inherited wealth soon faded. It was too much to expect that a tax....

Can my landlord legally forfeit my commercial lease?

A commercial lease usually includes the right for your landlord to peacefully re-enter the property and change the locks if you, as the tenant, have breached any conditions of the lease. Most usually this is due to failure to pay rent. Once your landlord has secured access, the lease is terminated.....

As a commercial landlord are you aware of the procedures that need to be followed to terminate or renew a commercial lease?

If, as a landlord, you wish to terminate a lease, you need to consider the security of tenure granted to your business tenants by Part II of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1945, as this affects how you can deal with the future of your premises. What is security of tenure? The Landlord and....

Why better screening is needed to help detect Group B streptococcal infections in babies

Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a bacterium that can cause serious illness, particularly in new-borns. It is responsible for many cases of meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, as well as some cases of blood infections (sepsis) and pneumonia. W....

Making a claim for paediatric medical negligence on behalf of a child – what you need to know

Paediatrics is the branch of medicine that involves the medical care of new-born babies, infants, children and adolescents. Instances of medical negligence affecting children can be complicated and diverse. But however large or small your child's injury is, if it is the result of negligent or inapp....

How trusts can help blended families plan and pass on their wealth

Families brought together by new relationships can face a range of unique stresses and strains when it comes to dealing with their wealth. If, for instance, a parent has children with more than one partner, then the difficulties of managing their finances can multiply, sometimes giving rise to rela....

Remortgaging: Transfer of Equity, what it is and how it works

Remortgaging, or taking out a new mortgage on your existing property (either to replace the one you already have or to borrow a sizeable amount against your home) can be appropriate for a variety of reasons. Your current deal may be coming to an end, you might want a better rate, the value of your ....

How remortgaging works and the benefits it brings

With the mortgage market remaining competitive, it pays to shop around from time to time as there may be a cheaper deal available that could be more cost-efficient and better suited to your needs. The process of getting a new loan put in place is referred to as remortgaging. Mortgage deals are u....

How trusts provide a straightforward way for families to protect and pass on their wealth

For many, the word ‘trust’ can have a slightly Dickensian ring to it; people often assume that a trust is rather old-fashioned, difficult to set up and complex to run. In addition, there is a common misconception that they are established purely for tax purposes and don’t have any other role ....