With the recession still in full swing many people are struggling to get onto the property ladder. People across the UK have found that they simply cannot afford to invest in the property market at the moment, yet, of course, they still need somewhere to live. So what is the answer? Simple, more and more people are choosing to rent properties instead of buying.
Property Ladders can be tricky to scale
July 15th, 2011 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Insurance, Landlords, Property Market | 2 Comments »
Guide to Equity Release Schemes
July 7th, 2011 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Financial Products, Property Market | Comments Off on Guide to Equity Release Schemes
Equity release schemes are a way for home owners to raise capital against the security of their homes without having to make any capital or interest repayments during their lifetime. Initially these schemes may seem too good to be true however as with any type of mortgage there are pros and cons.
What Can I Do About My Neighbour’s Nuisance Tree?
June 29th, 2011 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Land Registry, Legal, Local Authority Searches | 2 Comments »
Trees can be wonderful though they can also be a terrible nuisance in gardens, particularly small gardens and particularly if they are allowed to grow too large. If your enjoyment of your property is adversely affected by a tree belonging to a neighbour, is there anything you can do?
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Remortgaging my property – a quick guide
June 22nd, 2011 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Financial Products, Mortgages | 1 Comment »
Remortgaging your property is a big decision, but make the right move and you’ll be glad you put the time and effort into it.
Why remortgage?
Well, if you’re coming to the end of your current mortgage deal, you’ll have to make a decision between finding a brand new mortgage and reverting to your lender’s SVR (Standard Variable Rate) deal.
Protecting a Right to a View
June 21st, 2011 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Legal, Property Conveyancing | 1 Comment »
In English law there is no such thing as a legal right to a view. This was established in Aldred’s Case 1610, which showed that to qualify as an easement a right must be “sufficiently definite”, whereas a right to view is far too general in terms of the land which bears the burden.
Changes to Adoption of Private Drains and Sewers
June 14th, 2011 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Local Authority Searches, Property Conveyancing | Comments Off on Changes to Adoption of Private Drains and Sewers
There is some mixed news for home owners this week. New regulations, made under powers granted by the Water Act 2003, are being considered by Parliament which if approved will mean that any stretches of private sewer or drain which are shared with another property will be automatically adopted by the relevant water authority for the area.
Boundary Disputes – What you need to know
June 13th, 2011 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Land Registry, Legal, Property Conveyancing | 1 Comment »
Boundaries are one of the major causes of disputes between neighbours. Whether one neighbour is encroaching on another, there is an argument that the boundary line is in the wrong position or shared boundary is not properly maintained, issues that might start out as trivial can quickly escalate.
What you need to know about Rentcharges
June 6th, 2011 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Property Conveyancing | Comments Off on What you need to know about Rentcharges
A rentcharge is a type of legal interest in land. The owner of a rentcharge is entitled to collect a rent from the owner of the land affected by it and will usually have a “right of re-entry” if the rent is not paid. In addition to the obligation to pay rent there will generally be other covenants which, if breached, give rise to the right of re-entry. Rentcharges, like mortgages, can be bought and sold.
Homeowners paying £765 million too much in legal fees
May 31st, 2011 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Property Conveyancing, Property Market | 1 Comment »
The typical move for a homeowner will involve legal costs for both the sale of their old house and the purchase of their new one. And if they use a traditional high street conveyancing solicitor then, on average, they’ll pay almost twice what it would cost them if they went online.
Costs to Factor in When You Buy a Home
May 27th, 2011 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Property Market, Top Tips | 2 Comments »
There are many factors to consider when you wish to buy a home, some of which include survey fees, arrangement fees, stamp duty and lender valuations; and these are before you have picked up the keys. Once in, further costs can include reconnecting the electrics, gas and water.There are many costs to factor in.
Dealing With Rent and Service Charge Payments
May 25th, 2011 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Property Conveyancing, Property Market | 3 Comments »
Where a property is leasehold there will usually be a ground rent payable and if it is a flat, a service charge. They will usually be demanded annually or perhaps bi-annually or quarterly. When the property is sold the seller is responsible for amounts due up to and including the date of complete and the seller is responsible thereafter.