Category: Re-Mortgage
Tips for first-time buyers who will be applying for a mortgage
Applying for a mortgage as a first-time buyer can be daunting, particularly when coupled with a fast-moving property market. We take a look at how to successfully deal with the mortgage aspect of taking on your first home. It is always recommended that you start looking at mortgage options before you find somewhere to buy....
Who is responsible for the damage when trees and fences blow down in a storm?
With UK weather becoming more extreme, homeowners are having to deal with an increase in damage caused by trees and fences being blown down. We take a look at who is responsible and how to deal with a storm damage insurance claim. The UK has seen an increase in extreme weather events, with storms and...
NEW Japanese knotweed guidance published
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has published new advice for professional valuers and surveyors aimed at helping them understand and evaluate difficulties caused by Japanese knotweed. The guidance note, entitled ‘Japanese knotweed and Residential Property’ sets out how to recognise the presence of the invasive plant, explains the challenges in detecting and identifying...
Sharp increase in properties on market in January
Research conducted by Propertymark has revealed that the number of homes put on the market in January rose dramatically after three months of declining figures. Looking at its own branches, Propertymark said that new instructions per branch were up from 5 to 9. The number of potential buyers registering was double that in December, after...
What do searches reveal and why are they needed in a house purchase?
If you are buying a property, your conveyancer will carry out a number of searches on your behalf. We take a look at the searches you will be advised to have and why they are necessary. A property is a big investment and it is important to ensure that there will not be any nasty...
Tax loophole on second homes to close
The government plans to introduce new rules preventing second homeowners from falsely claiming that their property is a holiday let. Secretary of State for Levelling Up Michael Gove has said that holiday lets will need to be rented out for at least 70 days per year to qualify for business rates. Otherwise, they will be...
Landlord safety obligations
Landlords are required by law to carry out certain safety checks and ensure that their properties comply with health and safety regulations. Failure to do this is not only a breach of the law, it could invalidate landlord insurance. Full details of a landlord’s responsibilities are set out in the government’s Housing Health and Safety...
Understanding cyber security risks in conveyancing transactions
The government has announced that it is consulting on ways of improving cyber security for British business after a number of high-profile attacks. The conveyancing industry has long been wary of cyber attacks and cyber fraud in an area of law where large sums of money are routinely transferred. We take a look at how...
Government tells developers to fund unsafe cladding removal
The minister for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove, has written to the residential property developer industry setting out the government’s approach to building safety. In a letter intended to resolve the cladding crisis, he offers a window of opportunity to the industry to work with his department in negotiating a settlement that will...
