Posted by Peter Foskett, Partner
A question frequently asked by landowners is what is the difference between an option agreement and a promotion agreement? And which should they enter into?
Posted by Tim Bunting, Associate
The creation of online search portals for buying homes was a game changer for people looking to buy a house but it also changed the landscape for estate agents. But has this change marked an improvement in how we buy and sell houses?
Posted by Amardeep Bahra, Solicitor
There is no denying that in recent times the headlines relating to the London property market have been less than positive.
Headline after headline describe the capital’s property market as ‘fragile’ and ‘stagnant’ – and yet it’s housing market is often considered the envy of every other major city in the UK (and the world). So what exactly is going on with the London property market?
Posted by Zainab Dakhil, Partner
The rules surrounding chancel repair liability can be traced back hundreds of years – however the ancient liability remains just as relevant to homeowners and buyers today.
Posted by James McNeile, Partner
Philip Hammond’s budget speech this week confirmed proposals announced by the Prime Minister last month to introduce an additional stamp duty land tax (SDLT) surcharge on UK residential property bought by foreign buyers.
Posted by Zainab Dakhil, Partner
Exchanging contracts on a house sale can be a highly exciting, but also a stressful time. But what will happen if for whatever reason you fail to exchange? In this blog which originally appeared in The Financial Times, Zainab, our head of the London residential property team explains what this could mean for the house sale?
Posted by Lisa-Marie Keefe, Chartered Legal Executive (Fellow)
Owning a leasehold property can be a very complex and daunting venture both for the inexperienced and the most experienced of property owners. Failure to comply with any restrictive covenants contained within a lease can lead to avoidable and unfortunate repercussions due to the leaseholder not fulfilling their obligations.
Posted by Patrick Hart, Partner
A law graduate who lived with her partner won a legal fight yesterday that will leave her with half of a £1.7m home. The courts awarded Ms Ladwa half of the home despite arguments from her former partner, Ms Chapman, that she had funded the home and their lavish lifestyle entirely. The couple were engaged to be married but separated in 2016.
Posted by Megan Thorne, Solicitor
According to the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government Housing Statistical Release on 28 June 2018; there were 160,470 completions of new build properties from January 2018 to March 2018. This is an 8% increase from 2017.
There are clearly many people purchasing new build homes. However, do these prospective buyers understand the terminology frequently used by their solicitors and the developers?
Posted by Zainab Dakhil, Partner
Blockchain has been hailed the second generation of the internet and is better known for being the technology behind cryptocurrencies. The use of blockchain however, goes beyond cryptocurrencies and can be applied to a number of industries. A recent example being, Microsoft and Ernest & Young’s joint project which looks to find a more efficient way of managing royalty payments in the gaming industry. Blockchain is likely to transform a number of industries and property is no exception.
Posted by Megan Thorne, Solicitor
Many people find themselves in a position where they are financially comfortable with mortgage repayments, yet cannot save up the necessary deposit to purchase a home. The Help to Buy equity loan scheme offers the opportunity for purchasers to borrow up to 20% of their property purchase price (40% in London).
Posted by Charlotte Ebbutt, Associate
Whilst the GDPR and the new Data Protection Act are now in force it is not too late to look at your compliance. If the Information Commissioner’s Office does receive a complaint about your data procedures or a breach occurs you will be in a far better position if you are working towards compliance than you would be if you had not put any measures in place.