We are thrilled to announce that we have been named Conveyancing Firm of the Year – South at this years British Conveyancing Awards. This is a tremendous honour and a testament to the dedication and hard work of our team. At Thomas Legal, we understand that buying or selling a property can be one of the most important and stressful decisions our clients make in their lives. That’s why we are committed to providing a personalized, efficient and transparent service that ensures our clients feel confident and informed throughout the conveyancing process. Our team of expert conveyancers takes a pr ..read more

As National Conveyancing Week approaches, we at Thomas Legal are proud to participate in this annual event. As a law firm specializing in property conveyancing, we understand the importance of raising awareness about the legal processes involved in buying and selling property. National Conveyancing Week offers a unique opportunity to educate the public about the crucial role conveyancing plays in property transactions. At Thomas Legal, we have a team of experienced conveyancers who work diligently to ensure that our clients’ property transactions run smoothly. We believe in providing personali ..read more

Property surveys and property searches are two crucial processes in a property transaction. Both serve different purposes and have distinct differences. In this article, we will explore the differences between property surveys and property searches and their significance. What is a Property Survey? A property survey is an inspection of a property carried out by a qualified surveyor. The purpose of a property survey is to identify any defects or issues with the property that could impact its value or safety. A property survey can include a variety of inspections, such as a structural survey, a ..read more

We at Thomas Legal are thrilled to announce that we have been shortlisted for the ‘Conveyancing Firm of the year – South’ award at this year’s British Conveyancing Awards. We are incredibly proud to receive this nomination, and it is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team. At Thomas Legal, we are committed to providing our clients with an exceptional conveyancing service. We understand that buying or selling a property can be a stressful and complicated process, and we strive to make it as smooth and straightforward as possible for our clients. We would also like to take this ..read more

The Japanese knotweed growing season ends in late autumn and, like many perennial plants, its above-ground growth dies back. But despite looking dead, knotweed is replenished with new energy reserves from the summer growth which are drawn down and stored in its powerful underground rhizome system, ready to re-emerge stronger next spring. After the first frost, knotweed’s heart-shaped leaves turn yellow and fall to the ground. Its bamboo-like canes lose their green appearance and start to turn brown and brittle – although most will remain standing. The distinctive crown will still be visible, b ..read more

Thomas Legal managed to bag 5 awards at the prestigious ESTAS Customer Service Awards 2022, the biggest awards in the UK property industry. An entire years worth of client feedback was considered and reviewed by the judges panel, with Thomas Legal coming out on top to receive the prestigious ‘Conveyancing Firm of the Year 2022’ award. We also received Gold for the Southern Region, Best in County (Gloucester), Silver for London and Silver for the Best National Local Group. The winners were announced at the largest event in the property industry held at the Grosvenor House in London ..read more

Long-awaited reforms to law surrounding leasehold property will start to take effect in 2022 as the government seeks to make matters fairer for leaseholders. Problems for those owning leasehold property have increased over recent years, with the some newbuild companies imposing unfair ground rents that regularly doubled over time, leaving some homeowners unable to sell. Leaseholders also want the option of extending a lease for more than 90 years, which is currently the maximum available when a lease is increased using the formal statutory process (as opposed to a negotiated agreement). The Le ..read more

If you are buying or selling a property, you probably want to avoid unnecessary delays. As well as dragging a transaction out, delays can risk a chain collapsing. We take a look at the best way to keep your sale or purchase moving. A slow start Once you have a buyer or seller lined up, ideally your solicitor should be able to start work at once. For this to happen, it is helpful if you instruct them beforehand. This will give them the opportunity to open a file and do some of the preliminary work such as verifying your identity and giving you property information and fixtures and fittings form ..read more

If the roof has been extended in some way outside of its original structure or there has been an installation of a dormer window, generally speaking planning permission will be required. If you are in doubt it is always best contact a planning officer and obtain written confirmation from them as to whether or not planning permission is required. Having this written confirmation is useful whilst you are the owner of the Property as well as on resale. Building control sign off will however, always be required if you are converting the space into a habitable room. The Issue of Habitability When a ..read more

Property fraud continues to cause problems for homeowners, with scammers registering homes into their own names before selling them on. Once a property has been sold, the buyer generally obtains good legal title, leaving the original homeowner to make a legal claim for compensation. In a recent case, a vicar working away from home came back to find a buyer had cleared his house of all of his belongings and a builder was at work renovating it. His only recourse was to bring a claim against the Land Registry. Registering a restriction against the title of your property To try and help combat thi ..read more