Property Matters Archives | Curtis Parkinson
House Buying Process

Understanding The Process of Buying a House

Understanding the process of buying a house, especially when it’s your first time, is far from easy. It can seem long-winded and shrouded in legal jargon. So, if you can get your head around buying a house, you’re less likely to be surprised. It might even become a pleasurable experience. So, what’s first? 1. Mortgage […]

continue reading

Buying a house – leasehold or freehold?

Buying a house – leasehold or freehold? There’s a lot to keep track of when buying a house, including understanding whether you own or rent the land you are buying sits on. In England and Wales, this will either be a freehold or a leasehold. Things got a little more complicated when the government proposed […]

continue reading

Know your boundaries

Most of the time relations with neighbours are harmonious, but it doesn’t take much for the situation to deteriorate to something far from friendly. Disputes between neighbours are a common occurrence. A recent survey from GoCompare found that 28% of Brits have fallen out with a neighbour and, of those asked, 11% come from maintenance […]

continue reading

Buying a house with your partner?

Buying a property with your partner is exciting but a big commitment. Moreover, it’s not usually a step you take if you don’t know each other well. After all, getting onto the property ladder isn’t always easy or cheap. So, once you’ve agreed on the area, type of house and your budget, it’s best to ensure […]

continue reading

Stopping a Property Chain from Collapsing

Everything is set, and you’re ready to move. But then, someone pulls out, and the whole property chain is at risk of collapsing. Moving into the house of your dreams seems to depend on other transactions running smoothly. Property chains are commonplace, even if you’re a first-time buyer. LIt’sikely, the person selling you their house […]

continue reading

Living Together & Owning a Property

Out of 19.1 million families in the UK in 2018, 3.3 million were living together. That’s an increase of over 25% in the last decade. Yet, from a legal standpoint, it can be confusing what your rights are when you live and buy a property together. So, what’s all the fuss about? According to the […]

continue reading

Help to Buy Equity Loan Schemes: Old & New

The government’s Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme has offered a helping hand to many during the COVID-19 crisis. However, they may have stepped in back in July to help those in need by extending the build deadline, but it’s clear that a further extension of this scheme isn’t on the cards. Instead, the government’s […]

continue reading

Energy Performance Certificates and Selling Your House

By law, if you’re building, renting out a property or selling your house, you’ll need a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). The Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015, introduced in phases from 2015, make it unlawful to sell, let or build properties with an energy performance rating of F or G. […]

continue reading

Impact of Stamp Duty Holiday on House Purchases

Confirmation of the much talked about ‘stamp duty holiday’ was announced on 8 July in Rishi Sunak’s ‘Summer Economic Update’ on all property sales in England and Northern Ireland. Along with temporary VAT cuts for pubs, restaurants and cafes, the measure is aimed at stimulating the UK housing market. And the changes are introduced with […]

continue reading

Impact of Coronavirus on Your House Purchase or Sale

The Government’s announcement last month, freeing-up the restrictions imposed in March on buying or selling a house, has helped to lift spirits and slow down the rate of transactions collapsing. But what impact will the new Coronavirus regulations have on your house sale or purchase? Essentially, as long as social distancing guidelines are followed, and […]

continue reading

Daughter Beats Stepsister in £300k Inheritance Dispute

John & Ann Scarle, who died at home from hypothermia in October 2016, have been at the centre of a bitter inheritance dispute which settled recently, in August 2019. The argument ended up in the High Court after their two step-daughters quibbled over which parent died first. The case revolved around a little-used 100-year law, not […]

continue reading

Reinvigorating commonhold – will it work?

In light of recent controversies and issues with the traditional leasehold ownership of properties, the Law Commission is pushing commonhold ownership as a viable alternative. Consultation paper In their Consultation Paper entitled Reinvigorating commonhold: the alternative to leasehold ownership the Commission outlines how commonhold ownership would work in practice. The paper closely examines what impact […]

continue reading

Government trial for Reservation Agreements

The government recently announced a trial of home-buying reservation agreements. So, what does this mean? Home sellers face a significant risk of buyers dropping out at the last minute, potentially derailing their own move. This is a common problem. Naturally, this risk and the fear of being gazumped (outbid after accepting an offer) make many […]

continue reading

Selling your house this year – how can you best prepare?

It’s a new year when many of us re-evaluate our lives and consider making changes, such as selling our homes. Whether you’re looking to cash in, downsize, relocate to a more desirable area, or move closer to a good school, January can be an advantageous time to sell. The market is typically less competitive, meaning […]

continue reading

How long will it take me to buy a house?

How long does it take to buy a house? Like most purchases, buying a house can be straightforward, but it often isn’t. Many factors can complicate the process. The timeline varies greatly, regardless of your circumstances or how prepared you are. The best answer to “How long?” is often, “It depends.” There are no official […]

continue reading

The Help to Buy scheme – is it for everyone?

Launched in April 2013, the government’s Help to Buy Scheme was introduced to help first-time buyers get a foot on to the property ladder. Heralded by many as an enormous success story, the value of properties sold in the first 4 years reached £39.28 billion. And, according to official government statistics, most of the home […]

continue reading

Partnerships & Accreditations
Member of the World Association of Notaries Certified Cyber Essentials