Shared Parental Leave and Shared Parental Pay: A Guide for New Parents
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Shared Parental Leave was introduced a decade ago to encourage greater paternal involvement in childcare. However, the scheme is facing increasing criticism for failing to meet its intended goals. Despite its aim of allowing parents to share leave and pay after the birth or adoption of a child, analysis reveals that the scheme suffers from […]
What are Building Regulations and what can happen if there is a breach?
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Building regulations are a set of legal requirements which control the methods and materials to be used in the construction or alteration of a property and impose minimum standards for carrying out specified works in or about buildings. For example, you might need building regulation approval for many alteration projects such as the installation of […]
The Budget and What Next for Farming Families? – Part 2
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To read part 1 of this article, press here For some farming families, the mantra of passing down assets well before death has been something that they have practised for years. That continues to be attractive – if one is faced with paying an Inheritance Tax bill of say £200,000 on the second million […]
Stamp Duty Land Tax – Changes are Coming Once Again
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Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) – a tax which falls due to HMRC when purchasing property in England and Northern Ireland. The Government’s Autumn Budget brought about changes for property acquisitions in England and Northern Ireland, which included the immediate increase of fees for investors and second homeowners. Has this had any impact for […]
Mediation Matters when Relationships Break Down
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When relationships break down it is often very difficult to know where to start in sorting things out. There are lots of things to think about as well as dealing with the emotional fallout. You may be worried about your income and how everything can be afforded, whether you might have to move home, the […]
The Budget and What Next for Farming Families? – Part 1
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The thunderbolt changes to Inheritance Tax for farmers announced in the Budget go live at the end of March 2026, if of course one takes the view that the government will not choose to backtrack in light of the reaction from farmers. But the very fact that the current system is in place until then […]
Commercial Property Leases and Security of Tenure – Part II of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954
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“My tenant mentioned ‘security of tenure’ so I thought I should check with my Solicitor what that means for me”. These were the words spoken to me by a landlord client recently who had just been told by an informed tenant, in no uncertain terms, that they had a right to remain in the property […]
Inheritance Tax and Equity Release – Part 2
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In part 1, we discussed what Equity Release is and how it can be teamed with Inheritance Tax planning to reduce the Inheritance Tax payable upon death. Click here to read part 1. Equity Release and Gifting Equity Release coupled with gifting can effectively decrease the amount of Inheritance Tax payable by beneficiaries. That […]
Inheritance Tax and Equity Release – Part 1
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How does Equity Release affect Inheritance Tax, particularly in light of the forecast changes to Inheritance Tax brining in the value of pensions after 6 April 2027? This article should not be considered as bespoke legal advice suitable to you and your circumstances. It also does not remove the need to seek appropriate financial advice […]
The Government’s Right to Buy Changes
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As part of the eagerly awaited Budget on the 30th of October 2024, much of the information regarding changes to Stamp Duty Land Tax was disclosed as well as changes to the surcharge for investment properties. That said, there was less information publicised as to the changes to the Government Right to Buy Scheme […]