We want to help keep you up-to-date with important legal topics that can affect your life.
Our news page is updated with the latest developments and we offer useful advice and commentary on the issues of the day. We hope that this will build into a useful resource.
New Alfreton Office 03/08/2010
We have opened a new office at 5 HIgh Street, Alfreton.The new premises are situated among other related businesses and has a reception and two interview rooms on the ground floor.
Clients are now able to see specialist staff either at the new office in Alfreton or at the head office at Shane House in Somercotes, whichever suits them best.
The new premises are open week days 9am to 5pm, and Saturday mornings 9.30am to 12.30pm.
Government abandon Home Information Packs 21/05/2010
The Government have suspended HIPS (from the 21st May 2010) pending further legislation to abolish them altogether.
The swift action by the Government is to avoid uncertainty and to prevent a slump in the housing market. As a result, the cost of selling your home will be reduced and it is hoped will provide a much needed boost to the housing market by encouraging sellers back.
There is however, a new duty on Sellers; they must ensure that an energy performance certificate (EPC) has been commissioned before their property can be placed on the market if no certificate is readily available.
If an EPC is not available a seller must make reasonable efforts to ensure an EPC is available within 28 days.
There is a fixed penalty where somebody fails to provide an EPC.
For a purchaser this means you will need a local authority, drainage, mining and chancel searches, which was the procedure prior to HIPS being introduced.
House Condition Surveys a must 15/03/2010
Many purchasers decide to “save” money by declining to obtain a proper survey on their property before purchase, deciding to rely on the lender’s valuation report. This can be a costly mistake as the valuation report is not a report on the condition of the property and only confirms that the property has a value to support the proposed lending.
All purchasers should obtain a detailed report on the condition of their property. Only approximately 18% of buyers obtain proper surveys according to the consumer watchdog ‘Which?’ (2008). Approximately one quarter of home buyers find problems with their homes after moving in and ‘Which?’ found that purchasers spent an average of £2,500 sorting out the problems with one in ten spending more than £10,000.
Declining to obtain a full detailed report on the condition of your property before moving in could be a very costly mistake.
Child Maintenance Defaulters 12/02/2009
Possible new powers for child maintenance defaulters announced
Consumer protection against unfair trading - New legislation24/06/2008
From 26th May 2008 the businesses you deal with must comply with new Consumer Protection Unfair Trading Regulations
DIY Divorce - Why it can be a disaster 30/05/2008
Following the high profile Mills/McCartney’s recent divorce the Law Society is advising anyone considering divorce to seek good legal advice from a solicitor.
Inheritance Tax - Government Announcement01/10/2007
From the 9th October 2007 the inheritance tax-free allowance of your partner may be available to your own estate, potentially doubling the amount of your own estate that can be passed on without inheritance tax becoming due.