News

Transferring your beneficial interest in property is common between spouses and civil partners, especially when looking to utilise each other's income tax free allowance (read our other article on Capital Gains Tax on Property for Married Couples). The stamp duty on transfer of property...

We are often asked “Can I pull out after exchange of contracts?” and the answer is yes, however if you do pull out then be prepared to bear the costs. The reason for this is that under the standard conditions of sale (click to view a specimen of these), there are forfeit clauses that...

It's not uncommon to find out, during the legal enquiries stage of your conveyancing process that there's no FENSA certificate for windows (double glazed windows and/or doors) of a property you're looking to buy. Either the seller has lost their FENSA certificate or they installed double glazing...

The 10% deposit payable on exchange is what you'd most likely think of first regarding deposits and buying houses but there's quite a few other deposits you'll need to budget for (and know when to pay) during your conveyancing process. Read on and we'll explain what needs to be paid and when so...

Nowadays buying a first home can be difficult and it is understandable that parents who can help want to gift their property to their children to get them onto the property ladder. Whether you are gifting property in full or part, the legal process involved in gifting property to a family member is...

How long between exchange and completion can be any time which is mutually agreed between all parties in the chain, (although 2 weeks is the most frequent time period). A Property Chain is the term used for all of the buyers and sellers connected via various sale and purchase...

If you're a freeholder and considering selling a freehold interest in flats, you'll firstly want to get a RICS freehold valuer to give you an up-to-date valuation of what your interest is worth. Then, you must - with a few exceptions discussed below - serve a Section 5 Notice on qualifying...

The joint mortgage sole proprietor mortgage product is aimed at mortgage applicants who do not have the affordability to get a mortgage on their own but can do so with the help of a joint applicant. This means an applicant with a lower salary can get support from a family member, partner or friend...

A Joint Mortgage Sole Proprietor arrangement can have second home stamp duty implications even if some of the joint owners aren't named on the legal title. The following article examines scenarios that could give rise to stamp duty land tax, however in your own case you are advised to speak to the...

A Restrictive Covenant Indemnity Insurance Policy is most commonly taken out by the buyer of a property where the seller, or a previous owner, has breached a restrictive covenant over the land. This type of policy is also called 'breach of leasehold covenant indemnity policy'. Download a...