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The places where house prices just keep on rising
Buying a property is the most expensive purchase that most people will ever make. For most homeowners, however, it’s been well worth it. Over the last few decades, property buyers have seen an excellent return on investment, with the price of an average home increasing by a staggering 207% in the....
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Why you need a cohabitation agreement
The number of couples who are living together without being married or entering into a civil partnership has massively increased in recent decades. According to a Commons Library briefing paper, the number of cohabiting couples rose from around 1.5 million in 1996 to around 3.6 million in 2021 – ....
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Renters Reform Bill enters parliament
Since our previous update on imminent reforms to the private rented sector, events have moved apace. The Renters Reform Bill – touted by the government as the biggest shakeup of renters’ rights in a generation – has now been introduced to parliament. It has now been through its first reading ....
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Assured shorthold tenancies – what’s changing?
In June 2022, the government announced the introduction of the Renters Reform Bill, which would result in sweeping changes across the private rented sector to level the long-perceived power imbalance between landlords and tenants. The bill is finally due to be published and introduced into Parli....
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Wealth in the age of social media
The ways in which people can accumulate and grow their wealth are forever expanding and evolving. In our Private Wealth Guide for 2022-23, for example, we featured a number of social media stars across Hertfordshire and Essex who had risen to fame – and fortune – on social media websites such a....
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How to stay on the right side of IHT
Inheritance Tax (IHT) – the British public’s most hated tax – is levied on the value of a deceased person’s estate. From April 2022 to December 2022, the amount raised by IHT was £5.3 billion, £700 million higher than a year previously. As the frozen threshold forces more and more people ....
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Who are the South East’s richest people?
In our Private Wealth Guide for 2022/23, we featured celebrities hailing from Hertfordshire and Essex who have used their fame to amass significant fortunes. In this article, we decided to go one step further and focus on the wealthy heirs and businesspeople who have reached the very highest echelo....
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How long does an online divorce take?
Submitting a divorce application is not many people’s idea of a good time; it is, though, a necessary road to travel to arrive at your new life. Thankfully, you can improve the journey by enlisting an experienced Family Law specialist to act as your guide. Time for a change Since April ....
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The contribution of private schools to the UK’s scientific and economic wealth
In our Private Wealth Guide to Hertfordshire and Essex for 2022/23, we featured some of the UK’s best private schools for excellence in sport and the dramatic arts. One of the characteristics that sets independent schools apart from their state counterparts is the facilities available to the stud....
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Section 106 and 278 Agreements – what you need to know
If you’re a developer or anybody who has to deal with planning law in their line of work, you’ll likely have heard of Section 106 and 278 Agreements. These two types of legal agreement are made between developers and local planning authorities. Both are key components in any successful devel....
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Ending your lease with a break clause: a guide
A break clause is a clause within a tenancy agreement that gives either the landlord or the tenant (or both) the right to end the tenancy before the expiry of the contract term. The break clause will, among other things, usually set out who has the right to exercise the break, any conditions that m....
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Tax changes for divorcing couples coming in 2023
For separating couples, tax is likely to be the last thing on either party’s mind. Even so, consideration should be given to any potential tax implications at the outset of the relationship breakdown to minimise any financial impact. Different tax rules apply to married couples, who benefit from ....
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Trustees – don’t miss your trust registration deadline
In 2017, the Trust Registration Service (TRS) was established to register trusts for both tax and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) purposes. At first, trusts only needed to be registered if they were liable to pay tax – for example, Capital Gains Tax, Stamp Duty Land Tax, Income Tax or any other kind ....
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Building Safety Bill receives Royal Assent to become the Building Safety Act
The team at Attwaters were very pleased to hear that the Building Safety Bill has now received Royal Assent to become the Building Safety Act. Safety and Health Practitioner (SHP) have reported that following the draft bill first announced in July 2020, on the 28th of Ap....
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A day in the life of… a Dispute Resolution lawyer
Our Partner and Head of Dispute Resolution, Leanne Philp, is a highly experienced and skilled lawyer specialising in contentious probate, breach of contract claims and building disputes – not to mention a busy mum! In her years as a lawyer, she has found that many people struggle to understand wh....
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A useful guide for employees and employers on the changes to PPE regulations at work
Here at Attwaters Jameson Hill we want to help employers and employees to remain safe and compliant, when it comes to PPE regulations. AND with World Day for Safety and Health at Work being celebrated on 28 April, the recent changes to PPE regulations are particularly pertinent. It’s so import....
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New divorce rules to come into force in April
The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 will bring in fundamental changes to divorce law for the first time in 50 years. The Act will introduce ‘no fault divorce’ from 6 April 2022, and the new process will be entirely online. Couples whose marriage has irretrievably broken down will b....
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New BBC report makes alarming revelations about UK lung disease
A report from new charity Asthma and Lung UK (ALUK) has revealed the shocking extent of lung disease in the UK. Previously known as Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation, the charity’s research found that 500,000 people had died from pneumonia, asthma and other respiratory conditions over ....
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Getting better with age – fine wine investment in Hertfordshire and Essex
In our Private Wealth Guide for 2021-22, we looked into some of the top luxury items the world’s wealthy are investing in to diversify their traditional investment portfolios. At the time of writing, Hermès designer handbags topped the Knight Frank Luxury Investment Index (KFLII) – but a recen....
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Which pre-contract searches do I need when buying a commercial property?
When buying a commercial property, it is vital to ensure all mandatory searches are carried out, aswell as any additional checks needed for the specific property. The required searches will vary depending on the property’s location and whether it is bought with cash or a mortgage. Why are ....
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