A house in multiple occupation (HMO) is a property that is rented by at least 3 people who are not from the same household. They must share facilities such as the bathroom and/or the kitchen. There are both standard and large HMOs. Large HMOs consist of 5 or more tenants who form more than 1
On 30th January 2023, a new pilot scheme was launched in Cardiff, Carlisle and Leeds family courts. The scheme is set to last 12 months, concluding on 30th January 2024 and applies only to children cases. The scheme follows a 2021 report written by Sir Andrew McFarlane which followed an extensive review, focused on improving
The Housing Act 2004 gives Councils the power to designate areas to be subject to discretionary licensing in a bid to tackle problems in their areas, or any part or parts of them, caused by low housing demand and/or significant anti-social behaviour, subject to certain evidential criteria, public consultation, and approval from central Government. A
When taking instructions for the preparation or amendment of a Will, a Solicitor may ask the accompanying party to leave the room. The reasons for this are practical in nature. When a person has died a Will may be challenged if there is any suspicion that the Testator (the person making the Will) was coerced
Brief History Chancel repair dates to the 16th century when Henry the VIII was the ruler of England. After the sale of the monasteries, the liability of repairing the chancel passed from the monks to the new owner of the land. The repairs that take place are inside the church architecture, so the choir, the
Before buying a leasehold property, buyers should ensure they understand the main clauses in their lease and it’s very important to find out what the current and future service charges are likely to be. The lease is a contract between the tenant or leaseholder and the landlord, that among other things includes the landlord’s power
Divorce can be a financial burden at any time but in the current climate of rising inflation, spouses are finding it increasingly difficult to finance their separation. Below are some tips on how divorce costs can be kept to a minimum in a cost-of-living crisis. Avoiding Court Proceedings A key objective when trying to limit
A person who possesses land which is not their own for an extended period of time can claim what is known as adverse possession over the land. The person who does this is known as a ‘squatter’. In England and Wales there are two adverse possession regimes: To claim adverse possession over land, the following
On death, Inheritance Tax (“IHT”) is payable on assets such as property, cash, investments and personal possessions, in an estate over the value of £325,000. Any assets above this threshold will be taxed at the present rate of 40%. An additional tax-free allowance of £175,000 can be also claimed where a family home is left
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