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 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 …
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 …
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 …
Sometimes the generosity of a friend or relative leaving you a gift in their will can backfire if it turns out your estate will need to pay tax on it or if there is a chance that it could be swallowed up in future care costs or in satisfying some other type of claim. It …
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 …
If a developer wants to buy your land you will want them to sign on the dotted line as soon as possible. But what if planning permission is required before the development can go ahead or you need the agreement of your neighbour to release you from a restrictive covenant? A well-drafted conditional contract can …
When you buy a flat you will usually buy it via a lease rather than buying it outright. This is because, when you own a flat, there needs to be a mechanism in place to ensure that everyone in the building occupies their space responsibly and contributes to the cost of maintaining and insuring shared …
