UK House Prices rose by more than 12.4% over the last year
July 5th 2022House prices across the UK increased by an average of 12.4% in the year to April 2022, according to the latest figures from the Land Registry. Abby White, Residential Conveyancer reports. It means the average property in the UK is now valued at £281,161. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, house prices increased by 1.1% between March and April 2022. The UK Property Transactions Statistics showed that in April 2022, on a seasonally…
Kate Garraway inheritance case highlights value of powers of attorney
July 1st 2022The heart-breaking experience of TV presenter Kate Garraway’s inheritance case highlights the value of drawing up Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) to protect your future. Jane Oakley, Private Client Legal Executive in our Wills, Probate & Inheritance team reports. Kates’s husband Derek Draper suffered a terrible reaction to Covid and still has a long way to go in his recovery. The Good Morning Britain star said that the two of…
Renters Reform Bill ‘will make some evictions easier for landlords’
June 27th 2022The Renters Reform Bill is designed to drive up standards in the private and socially rented sector, but it will also make evictions easier for landlords in certain circumstances. Natalie Tatton, Solicitor in our dispute team provides an update. The Bill is designed to help the 4.4 million households privately renting across England by extending the Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector for the first time. It’s hoped these reforms will…
Ban on employment exclusivity clauses to be widened to help low paid
June 21st 2022The government is to widen the ban on employment exclusivity clauses, which restrict staff from working for multiple employers. Joanne Stronach Director and Head of Employment and HR provides an update. In 2015, exclusivity clauses were banned for workers on zero hours contracts, where employers are not obliged to provide any minimum working hours and the worker is not obliged to accept any work offered. The change provided more workers with…
Managing Economic Uncertainty
June 20th 2022“As we continue to emerge from the pandemic, the local, national and global economies are facing a challenging future with rising inflation and interest rates. Global stock markets are in decline after having done well since the pandemic first began. Closer to home, households are facing significant price rises in pretty much everything from fuel to tomatoes. This has inevitably started to impact businesses, many of which have little, if…
Surge in divorce cases as new No-Fault law takes effect
June 16th 2022There has been a surge in the number of divorce applications since the new No-Fault law came into effect in April. Julian Nelson, Director in our Family Law Team provides an update. The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 aims to reduce the potential for conflict amongst divorcing couples by removing the ability to make allegations about the conduct of a spouse and allowing couples to end their marriage jointly. Under previous…
Lake District Mighty Hike for Macmillan Cancer
June 14th 2022Our very own Carly Davies is taking on a mighty hike in aid of Macmillan Cancer on Sunday 19th June 2022. The route is just over 13 miles and has an approximate total elevation gain of 3,274 feet around the picturesque Lake Ullswater. The walk starting in the beautiful grounds at Dalemain House follows the Ullswater Way and will finish at Lowther Castle, near Penrith. Carly, Debt Recovery Manager at…
Seller of land should have pointed out defect in title
June 13th 2022A woman who bought land at auction has successfully appealed a High Court ruling that she must make up a seller’s shortfall after she refused to complete the purchase. Mark Aspin Director and Head of Dispute Resolution reports on this recent case. The issue arose after the buyer, Ms Mahil, had purchased the land from SPS Groundworks & Building Ltd. The catalogue had described the land as having “excellent scope for development”.…
LPAs can help protect your interests as dementia figures rise in UK
June 9th 2022The government is to launch a 10-Year Plan to tackle dementia following estimates that one million people will be living with the disease in the UK by 2025 and 1.6 million by 2040. Sharon Crisp, Probate Executive in our Wills, Probate & Inheritance provides an update. Speaking at the Alzheimer’s Society Conference 2022, Health Secretary Sajid Javid confirmed the plan will focus on how new medicines and emerging science and…
Court rules it’s unsafe to return child to violent father
June 6th 2022The High Court has ruled that a nine-year-old girl should be allowed to stay with her mother and not be returned to her violent father. Amy Fallows Senior Associate Solicitor & Head of our family law team reports on this recent case. The mother alleged that the relationship was significantly blighted by physical, emotional and sexual domestic abuse. The case involved a couple who had lived together with their daughter in…
