Legal News and Comment
The capital gains tax (CGT) laws on the sale of residential property are getting tighter in 2020.
First, buy-to-let landlords will lose out on letting relief, which historically has been a valuable relief. This is probably unlikely to impact on many of our clients, but it will hurt some.
Perhaps…
Read more: Government set to grab an extra £5 billion tax on residential sales in 20/21
It is especially important for separated families to plan ahead where arrangements need to be made in respect of children over holiday periods.
Consideration needs to be given to any foreign holidays planned and whether this is agreed with the other parent or whether an order from the court will be required before you can remove your child from the jurisdiction of England and Wales. The last thing you want is to get to border control and be refused permission to board your flight. If the other parent has parental responsibility for your child and you do not have a “Child Arrangements” (“Live With”) order, then you need their permission to remove your child from the jurisdiction of England and Wales, even for a holiday.
If it is envisaged that a dispute might arise between you and the other parent in respect of the arrangements for the summer holiday, then the best piece of advice is to PLAN AHEAD in an attempt to avoid any unnecessary distress and conflict. Any delay in resolving the arrangements is likely to exacerbate any dispute by putting unnecessary pressure on you due to the impending holiday. If you are unable to resolve matters via direct discussion, then there are a number of alternative options including solicitor-led negotiation, mediation, collaborative law, arbitration and, ultimately, a court application.…
Cohabiting families are the fastest growing type of family in the UK. Couples who are neither married nor in a civil partnership, but who live together are called ‘cohabitants’. Cohabitants have fewer legal rights than married couples and it may therefore be important to seek a cohabitation agreement which is…
A letting agency has been successfully prosecuted under consumer protection legislation for granting “sham licences” to tenants.
The letting agency in Islington had told two tenants that each had a licence rather than an assured shorthold tenancy and their deposits were not protected in a tenancy deposit scheme. …
Read more: Letting Agent prosecuted for giving tenants “sham licences”
The Tenant Fees Act 2019 restricts the ability of landlords and letting agents to charge certain fees to tenants and prospective tenants of assured shorthold tenancies (excluding social housing and long leases) and student accommodation in England. It also applies to residential licences (with limited exceptions).
The provisions of…
Following the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower and subsequent large-scale testing of aluminium composite material cladding from similar buildings across the country, the government has announced an independent review of building regulations and fire safety.
The Grenfell Tower fire raised serious questions about the fire safety of high-rise residential blocks…
Read more: Government announces independent review of building regulations and fire safety
A recent ruling by the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) has held that a lease of a student unit which included the right to use communal space was not a separate dwelling for the purposes of section 38 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985.
The unit was intended to be…
Read more: Service charge legislation does not apply to student units