Russia now stands as the most sanctioned country in the world, with an economy that is predicted to shrink by 10% this year, inflicting the greatest recession since the early 1990s. But while Western allies have shown a united front when it comes to sanctions, the humanitarian response has been more divided. The UNHCR estimates […]
UK’s policy on Ukraine marks a turning point Read More »
Receiving an inheritance can be a disappointment for a disabled person. Money from an inheritance or a gift will normally be counted as an asset for means-tested benefits or services. For a disabled person who receives benefits and services, this can mean that a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to lead a fuller or more comfortable life makes
On 1 March 2022, the UK government put forward the Economic Crime (Enforcement and Transparency) Bill to ‘crack down on dirty money in the UK and corrupt elites’. It is designed to target laundered Russian money in the UK, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. So how effective is the draft bill likely to be in
Economic Crime (Enforcement and Transparency) Bill: how effective will it be? Read More »
A conveyancing firm has told the Gazette it is struggling to manage client expectations due to Land Registry delays – as the agency claims that its output is higher now than before the pandemic. One frustrated conveyancer told the Gazette: ‘One of the most challenging aspects of the delays at Land Registry is the inconsistency between the estimated
Land Registry output ‘higher than before the pandemic’ Read More »
With the lockdown suppressing some areas of solicitor work, and the stamp duty land tax (SDLT) and land transaction tax holidays encouraging people to buy homes, the past 10 months have seen a significant increase in the volume of conveyancing transactions. This could affect the balance of firms’ areas of work, with implications for renewing
Conveyancing risks and indemnity insurance Read More »
A new customer care guide for mortgage brokers and lenders highlights the need for empathy and ‘active listening’ when dealing with borrowers. The guide, from communications provider Moneypenny, is based on its experience of handling customer interactions across the financial services industry. It has targeted this guide at the mortgage sector in a bid to
Mortgage brokers offered new customer care guide Read More »
As the Leasehold Reform Act received royal assent this February, the government proclaimed it had taken a big step in the UK’s levelling-up agenda. Aimed at bringing an official end to spiralling ground rent rates by abolishing ground rents for some residential leaseholds in the UK, the legislation has solid grounding. Yet, it also has
The Leasehold Reform Act: a misdirection of efforts Read More »
Swansea has become the first of 22 Welsh local authorities to move its local land charges data to a digital, central database designed to speed up the conveyancing process. HM Land Registry announced that the addition of City and County of Swansea Council, as well as Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, Isle of Wight Council, Portsmouth
First Welsh council joins Land Registry’s digital register Read More »
Few invasive plants capture attention and headlines like Japanese knotweed. While ecologically harmful, it was the real and perceived impacts on homes and property sales that captured the public’s imagination and fears. Recent research and changes to guidance issued by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Law Society’s Property Information Form (TA6)
Japanese knotweed: Disentangling fact from fiction Read More »
PLEASE FOLLOW THE BLUE LINKS FOR MORE INFO AND HELP There are many simple things you can do to spend less money on gas and electricity. You might be able to save a lot of money. If you think you’re paying too much for gas and electricity, check what to do if your bills are too
How to Save Money on your Gas and Electric Bills Read More »