Do you know how you hold your property with your co-owners? Rebecca Johnstone, Solicitor at Spire Solicitors LLP, discusses. All legal co-owners are joint tenants, and are separate from the…
Category: News
BREXIT – ARTICLE 50 & what the result means for the UK
I am not sure that the whole Chinese proverb about living in interesting times has ever been more relevant than over the last couple of weeks. The immediate impact of…
When talking the talk may mean walking the walk
Negotiating contracts looks set to be tougher in future, with the news that clauses that require any changes to be made in writing and agreed by all the parties may…
The devilish detail on inheritance tax
When Chancellor George Osborne announced significant changes to inheritance tax (IHT) in last summer’s Budget speech, the move had been much anticipated. But rather than simply raising the tax-free threshold for…
How companies get caught in the slave trade
The recent conviction of a UK business owner for a human trafficking offence has been a wake-up call to big businesses to carefully monitor their supply chain, if they are…
The Stamp Duty surcharge – Q&A
Since April 1 2016, anybody paying more than £40,000 for a second property will be paying a higher rate of stamp duty land tax (SDLT) than somebody buying a property…
Panama Papers fall-out will impact every business
Media reporting on the so-called Panama Papers has focused on the tax affairs of wealthy individuals and international organisations, but the hacking of client files at Panamanian law firm Mossack…
Higher rates of SDLT on purchases of additional residential properties
In a drive to supposedly support home ownership and assist first time buyers, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has imposed stamp duty changes that levy a 3% penalty on those…
Online Courts Proposed
Proposals have been put forward for online paperless courts that would enable people to settle civil disputes of up to £25,000. The government sponsored report said that most cases would…
Rising costs of divorce encourage couples to ‘nest’ together
Splitting couples are facing a further rise in the cost of divorce with a big increase in court fees, and many are facing up to the challenge of asset-sharing and…
Early access for commercial tenants
Prospective tenants who want early possession of commercial premises often want to know if they can take possession as a matter of urgency under an agreement for lease. The usual…
Employers must gear up for April living wage deadline
The National Living Wage has been catching headlines since Chancellor George Osborne announced it last summer, but the Government’s target of £9 per hour by 2020 has overshadowed the detail,…
