Blogs

Don’t miss out on the ‘Stamp Duty holiday’

Following on the heels of his £160bn coronavirus support package in March, Rishi Sunak stood up once again in the House of Commons on 8 July to unveil the second phase in the government’s economic response to the COVID-19 pandemic – “a plan for jobs”. As well as plans to get young people i....

How collaborative law can protect your children’s wellbeing

Divorce is extremely emotional and stressful for everybody involved. But for your children, it can be particularly tough. The dissolution of a marriage can be hard for adults to understand, let alone young children, who often experience feelings of shock, uncertainty, anger, and even guilt. If your....

Landmark Court of Appeal decision welcomed by landlords

On 18 June 2020, the Court of Appeal handed down its long-awaited decision on the Trecarrell House Ltd v Rouncefield case, offering hope for landlords regarding the contentious issue of whether failing to provide a gas safety record to a tenant, before they take occupation of a property, prevents t....

Cancelled a holiday due to coronavirus? Know your rights

Millions of people have had their holiday plans disrupted over the last few months as coronavirus has halted both international and domestic travel. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is now advising against all non-essential travel until further notice, meaning that would-be holidaymakers are des....

Eviction ban extended for a further two months

On 5 June, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick announced that the current ban on evicting tenants from both social and privately rented accommodation would be extended for a further two months. Originally due to end on 25 June, the ban was first put in place in March to protect vulnerable renters from....

How making an LPA can save your loved ones time, money and stress

Many people believe that if a family member was unable to manage their affairs, they would automatically be allowed to step in and make decisions in their loved one’s place. Unfortunately, this is not the case. This misconception can mean that families are faced with time-consuming and expensive ....

LPAs – a lifeline in uncertain times

The coronavirus pandemic has shown us that unexpected events can have a serious and lasting impact on our lives. In particular, it has left thousands of people stranded at home and unable to manage their affairs. Yet, just 5% of specialist legal practitioners have seen a marked increase in clients ....

Want your own home office? Don’t forget these planning considerations

The coronavirus pandemic has caused a seismic shift in the way we live and work in just a few short months. Many businesses have realised that they can successfully work from home, while some are even thinking of shutting their offices permanently and asking their staff to work remotely full time. ....

Changes to rent collection methods

While the government says that most landlords and tenants are working well together to find mutually suitable solutions during the coronavirus lockdown, landlords have continued to exercise rent collection methods with a view to ensuring that rent continues to be paid. To help High Street busine....

Landlords, watch out for these legislative changes in 2020

Landlords, like most businesses and individuals across the country, have seen their income affected to various degrees by the current coronavirus pandemic. Many are experiencing cash flow problems as tenants struggle to make rental payments. However, landlords are also facing other changes this ....

Why remortgage?

Remortgaging, or switching to a new mortgage deal with either your current lender or a new provider, can be perceived as a time-consuming and daunting process by some. However, investing some time in shopping around for the best mortgage deal has the potential to pay off to the tune of thousands of....

What is Inheritance Tax and how can it be reduced?

Inheritance Tax (IHT) is a tax levied on the value of a deceased person’s estate. Any part of an estate that exceeds the £325,000 tax threshold (or Nil-Rate Band – NRB) is liable to IHT at 40%. Only a small percentage (4% to 5% of estates) are large enough to incur IHT, but as specialist pr....