Stamp Duty Land Tax Changes
By Amy Cornelius Stamp Duty Land Tax: Important changes to timescales for filing returns From 1 March 2019 the period of time to file a Stamp Duty Land Tax (“SDLT”) return, and pay any SDLT due, will reduce from 30…
Planning Application Restricted to Preserve View
On our densely populated island, there is a pressing need for available land to be put to sensible use and, where restrictive covenants lurking in title deeds prevent that happening, they can be modified. In a case on point, a…
Amendments to the higher rate of SDLT for additional dwellings
In the Autumn 2017 Budget, the government announced that it was granting relief from the higher rate in certain cases. The changes apply to transactions with an effective date (normally completion) of 22 November 2017 or later. In short, the…
Stamp Duty Land Tax: relief for first time buyers
From 22 November 2017 first time buyers paying £300,000 or less for a residential property will pay no Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT). First time buyers paying between £300,000 and £500,000 will pay SDLT at 5% on the amount of…
Court Unwilling to Force Family Home Sale
Taking legal advice when borrowing for any purpose is important, as a recent case in which a wife faced the possibility of the sale of her home when her husband was made bankrupt shows. When he faced financial difficulties in…
Neighbours’ Row Over Garden Shed Costs £140,000
Disagreements between neighbours can usually be resolved with a little legal advice and goodwill on both sides. However, in one case where that sadly did not happen, a homeowner was left facing a six-figure legal costs bill after an abortive…
Homeowner Overturns Gypsy Encampment Planning Permission
It is sometimes said that objectors’ opinions are not given enough weight in planning decisions. However, in one case, a determined homeowner obtained specialist legal advice and succeeded in overturning planning permission for a gypsy encampment that spoilt his views.…
Claiming for Dilapidations
When a lease come to an end, the 'dilapidations clause' makes the tenant liable to restore the let premises to the same state they were in when the tenant first occupied them. It is established law that when a…
Property Investor Must Pay £120,400 Estate Agency Commission
It may come as a surprise to some property owners that estate agency fees are often payable regardless of whether a buyer is introduced by the agency concerned. A property investor found that out the hard way after the…
Extending Your Home? Do You Need Planning Permission?
Planning rules relating to home extensions are complex but a householder's victory in a High Court test case is expected to make it significantly easier for some people to enlarge their homes without the need for planning permission. The man…