The Building Safety Act 2022 is a new legislation that aims to improve the safety of high-rise buildings in the UK. It can be said that the main cause for the introduction of Act was in response to the tragic Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, which claimed the lives of 72 people and raised serious concerns about the safety of buildings in the country.  The Building Safety Act 2022 represents a significant overhaul of the building safety regulations in the UK. The act also introduces new requirements for building owners and developers to assess and manage the risks associated with high-rise bui ..read more

During a conveyancing transaction, it is sometimes the case where you, your conveyancing solicitor or any mortgage lenders might not agree with certain provisions within a Deed affecting the property. In our experience, the need to vary the original provisions of an original deed is becoming more and more common, especially when purchasing a Leasehold property. Under English Law, when such a need arise, any changes to an original Deed can only be made by another Deed. As such, the Deed which varies the original terms of another Deed is simply known as a Deed of Variation. Deeds of Variation ar ..read more

Selling a house can be a complex and challenging process, but it becomes even more complicated when one partner refuses to sell. Whether you are going through a divorce, separation, or simply cannot agree on the sale of your home, it can be a frustrating and emotional experience. In this blog post, we will provide you with some practical advice on how to sell a house if one partner refuses. We will cover the legal options available to you, how to negotiate with your partner, and what to do if you cannot reach an agreement. So, whether you are looking to move on or simply want to resolve a diff ..read more

Wood burning stoves are a great way to keep your home warm and cosy during the winter months. They provide a low cost and highly efficient form of heating, but they must be installed and used in accordance with regulations in order to ensure that they are safe to use and also meet current legislation. In the United Kingdom, there are several regulations which must be followed in order to ensure the safety of your home and the environment when using a wood burning stove. As of the 1st January 2022, new rules governing the design and manufacture of log burners came in to force under Eco Design 2 ..read more

It is no secret that property prices general rise over time and that taking that first step onto the property ladder is a challenge for most. For some time now, the Government has been utilising a number of different schemes all with the aim of helping people take that first step onto the property ladder. With the regular housing shortage especially in England and Wales, compounded by the fact that property prices are becoming ever so unaffordable, The Government’s Rent to Buy Scheme could be seen as a welcome break to most. With significant changes taking place with what government help ..read more

The Tyneside Lease was originally granted to flat owners in the late 1800s to accommodate a growing work force in the North East of England. These were (and continue to be seen) in areas particularly around Sunderland, Newcastle, and Gateshead. Since its inception, Tyneside Leases have been adopted to use in other part’s of the Country too, where a maisonette maybe converted to two flats. We will look in detail now as to what Tyneside Leases are, how they operate, what are the considerations for a mortgage lender and also, if a Tyneside Lease suitability for a residential development scheme. W ..read more

In almost every property conveyancing transaction you deal with, a key milestone before Exchange of Contracts and importantly, Completion can take place, is the Title Enquiry Stage. Whether you are the seller or the buyer, both you and your respective conveyancers will have a role to play during this stage. Enquiries are simply, questions that buyers and their conveyancer, ask the sellers (through their solicitor) to establish important aspects of the property before committing to buy the property. Background. Typically, your house buying journey begins with you viewing a property (through an ..read more

When buying a house, depending on how you intend on financing the purchase, you will need to consider having property searches carried out. All mortgage lenders require a basic set of searches carried out for all properties they lend on. Then depending on the geographic location of a property and the results of basic searches, some additional property searches may be required. If you are buying in cash, although not compulsory, it is important to consider searches before dismissing the idea out of hand. Having searches carried out before exchanging contracts with your seller allows you to rais ..read more

With cost of energy rising significantly recently, energy efficiency has become a hot topic for discussion throughout all walks of life. From switching off electrical appliances on standby to reducing the frequency and time of operating your washing machine, the recommendations and suggestions are endless. Tenants of commercial leases are no different and with the ever-looming prospect of an economic recession, many business clients are concerned about the compounded effect on outgoings as a result of their business premises being not as energy efficient as it could be. Fear not, as help may b ..read more

When purchasing a property, it is important to consider carrying out property searches. Depending on how you are financing your purchase, will determine whether or not you require Property Searches and the type of searches needed. Common examples of different property searches include Local Authority, drainage and water search, environmental, flood risk and coal searches. If you are a cash purchaser, the decision as to whether you wish for such searches to be carried out is down to you. Your conveyancer however would usually advise against proceeding without these searches. This article in our ..read more