A recent survey by conveyancing software company InfoTrack shows that more of us are shopping around for legal services. If you are buying or selling a house, you may search for the ‘best’ conveyancing deal, just as you would for your car insurance or gas supply. Online conveyancers often appear to offer the cheapest option, …
The Help to Buy scheme was originally introduced in April 2013. Since then, it has helped nearly 170,000 households onto the property ladder. However, as with any such scheme, over time a few issues have started to emerge which buyers need to be aware of. Here Claire Wicks, Legal Executive in the Residential Property team …
The Government has removed the ‘no cost to the landlord’ exemption from the list of exemptions from the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards. What does this mean? Well, now landlords must pay to bring rental properties in line with EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) standards before they move people in. But does this affect you as a …
There can be great upheaval in a home over the festive period, with guests to stay, an influx of new gifts and things getting lost, then the snow arrives! Early spring is widely acknowledged by property experts to be the best time of year to sell a property, so if you’re looking to move in …
The United Kingdom’s population is aging rapidly and, fortunately, higher living standards mean most of us will enjoy a long and active retirement. As we grow older our housing needs often change and, if you are approaching retirement, you may have already started to think about your options. In this article, Claire Wicks, a Legal …
Research published recently by NFU Mutual reveals that that one in five farmers plan to diversify into other enterprises to support their farm business after Brexit, says a new report published by the The National Farmers Union (NFU). View the full Business Cornwall Magazine article here The NFU Diversification Report looks at the latest trends, insights and analysis …
From January 2019, Cornwall Council is introducing an additional charge on building developments that could have serious financial implications for landowners and developers with plans to build developments. Known as the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), this new charge is based on the floor area of the building being created and, whilst in Cornwall the charge per …
Top tips for first-time buyers The number of first-time buyers is at its highest for ten years, accounting for 51 per cent of the market despite rising prices and record deposits according to the Halifax. If you are thinking about taking that first step onto the property ladder, the legal aspects of ownership may be …
If you are buying a house or a flat your conveyancer will need to carry out many checks and searches as part of the conveyancing process to make sure everything goes smoothly and that you get the keys to your dream home as quickly as possible. One of the most important things they will need …
When many of us think about heritage properties, we think of buildings associated with our architectural past: a castle, stately home or elegant Georgian townhouse perhaps. But new developments, such as barn and warehouse conversions, may also be heritage properties if they are listed or in a conservation area. In this article, Louis Mathers, residential …
