Take a look at our blogs

Second Home Owners in Gwynedd - Changes to the Council Tax in April 2018

In April 2018 Gwynedd Council are planning to increase the Council Tax due for second homes and empty properties. This increase will represent in some cases a dramatic change in the amount of Council Tax second home or holiday home owners will have to pay. The changes come into effect on the 1st April 2018.

Landlords - New Energy Performance Certificate Rules

All rented properties should have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) from the 1st April 2018. Any new lets and renewals of tenancies can only take place if the property has a minimum energy performance rating of E on the property’s EPC. On all existing tenancies that are in place at the moment this minimum E standard of energy performance will come in to effect on the 1st April 2020.

New Homes - A guide to Help To Buy Wales

The Welsh Government has set up a shared equity loan scheme which provides loans of up to 20% of the purchase price of a new build property. Here is a useful guide to help you understand whether you qualify and how much loan you could obtain to assist with the purchase of a new property.

Japanese Knotweed

Japanese Knotweed has become a hot topic in property purchasing recently. Commonly associated with rivers and railways there was a time a few years ago when having Japanese Knotweed on or in the vicinity of your property meant that some Mortgage Lenders were refusing to provide lending. Greater awareness surrounding the issues concerning Japanese Knotweed has meant that Lenders nowadays are considerably more educated as to the pitfalls and effects of this invasive plant but despite it being such a topic of debate in property purchasing most people do not know what Japanese Knotweed is and how it can affect a property. We have put together a Guide which summarises the sort of issues that can be caused by Japanese Knotweed and how to overcome them. It will be useful for anybody looking to sell a property who has Japanese Knotweed in or around their property or prospective purchasers.

300% Council tax hike in Wales - Is this the way of resolving the second home problem?

The Welsh Government recently announced further changes to the laws to enable local authorities to increase the premiums on Council Tax for second home owners. At present, the legislation states that they can charge up to 100% premium on top of the standard Council Tax rates for second home owners. Counties such as Gwynedd initially introduced a 50% hike increase into 100% for the 2021 – 2022 tax year. That is now changing to enable councils to charge up to 300% second home premium from April 2023.

Reform of The Inheritance Tax

Energy Performance Regulations

Energy Performance Regulations now effect not only obtaining certificates for energy efficiency before properties are sold but they also effect planning policy. This is a brief guide setting out the basic Energy Performance Regulations.

New planning rules for second homes in Wales

The Welsh Government have already announced well publicised changes to Council Tax premiums for second homes in Wales. Legislation will come into affect in April 2023, that will allow Councils to charge an additional 300% Council Tax Premium on second homes and long term empty properties. Each individual Council will be able to decide the level which they feel is appropriate to their locality.

Housing Act 1988 and how it affects your Lease

If you have a long leasehold property, for example if you are not a tenant on a short lease like a 6- or 12-month lease but actually have a long leasehold such as 99 years, 125 years or even 999 years of term then it is very likely that your lease will contain what is known as a forfeiture clause. The Housing Act 1988 has a significant impact on this, and this blog looks to explore how it could affect your lease. The Housing Act 1988 has a significant impact if the ground rent in your lease exceeds £250 per annum or has the potential to exceed this amount (£1000 for the Greater London area).

Why is my house sale taking so long? A seller’s perspective

Buying and selling a house can be a frustrating process. It is our job as solicitors to explain each step of the way to our clients so that they can manage their expectations and fully appreciate the process that needs to take place before a property can be sold. The purpose of this blog is to look at it from a seller’s perspective and to try and give an explanation as solicitors as to why sellers sometimes get frustrated with the conveyancing process and hopefully it will go someway to alleviate that frustration.