Most houses in England and Wales are freehold. This means that the owner has a right to remain on the land and in the house in perpetuity (forever) or until he sells or transfers it, at which point the new owner takes over the right. Although technically the land (and therefore the house) actually belongs to the Crown, for all practical purposes it is owned by the home owner. There are some houses however that rather than being freehold are let on long leases. These are known as leasehold houses.
Acquiring the Freehold of a Leasehold House
October 13th, 2011 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Land Registry, Landlords, Legal | Comments Off on Acquiring the Freehold of a Leasehold House
High Street Solicitor or Specialist Conveyancer?
October 5th, 2011 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Land Registry, Property Conveyancing | 2 Comments »
When you are looking for a lawyer to carry out your conveyancing you basically have two options. You can either choose a traditional high street solicitor’s firm or a specialist conveyancing company. There are advantages and disadvantages to both and which you choose should depend on a number of factors such as cost, your personal circumstances and perhaps how quickly you need the transaction to proceed.
What You Need to Know About Conveyancing Contracts
September 27th, 2011 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Land Registry, Legal, Property Conveyancing | 2 Comments »
The conveyancing contract (sometimes referred to as the agreement) is a document which contains all of the terms and conditions to which a conveyancing transaction is subject. Once contracts are exchanged those terms become legally binding on all parties.
What Next for the UK Housing Market?
September 15th, 2011 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Estate Agents, Mortgages, Property Market | 3 Comments »
You would need to have been living on Mars for the past ten years not to know about the rise and fall of the UK Housing Market. From the incredible price inflation of the early 2000s to the near collapse following the 2008 banking crisis, house prices regularly make for headline news. So what’s next?
Brits now prefer ‘making do’ over buying new
September 8th, 2011 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Home Improvements | 3 Comments »
We’re now in an era of ‘making do’ where two thirds of Brits (66%) say they would fix broken items rather than buy brand new replacements. Saving for the future and paying off debts also take precedence over having the most up-to-date gadgets and keeping up with the latest fashions.
Will Green Deal Code protect Green Deal Scheme Consumers
September 7th, 2011 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Energy Saving, Green Deal | 1 Comment »
In readiness for the launch of the much anticipated Green Deal, the Government’s flagship environmental project aimed at making up to 14 million homes more energy efficient through loans to home owners for the purchase of energy saving improvements to the properties, the Department of Energy and Climate Change is busy drafting a Code of Practice, aimed at ensuring a proper level of protection for consumers.
Top Tips to Save Energy and Reduce Your Utility Bills
September 2nd, 2011 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Energy Saving, Guest Articles | 2 Comments »
In today’s society, using up a great deal of energy is considered common and even expected. However, the more energy we use, the more expensive the utility bill is. Some consumers choose to save money by finding the cheapest utility supplier they can. While signing on with the cheapest utility company is a good start, this is not enough to change things if the homeowner continues to use a great deal of energy.
Four Reasons to Move into a New Home
August 31st, 2011 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Property Developers, Property Market | 4 Comments »
The continued fall in property prices over the past couple of years has left many people feeling like now may be the ideal time to buy a new property. Whether you are a first-time buyer or an existing homeowner, the reduced prices, coupled with the money being invested by developers into producing the best quality properties, means that more and more people are opting to buy new.
Estate Agents and the Conveyancing Process
August 30th, 2011 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Estate Agents, Property Conveyancing | 5 Comments »
Estate agents have a notoriously bad reputation and unfortunately, it is sometimes with good reason! Nonetheless, like most professions, the majority are decent and honest. Finding a good estate agent can be a real asset when it comes to selling your property, not just in terms of finding a buyer but in helping to ensure that the matter proceeds to completion.
How to Master the Art of Property Negotiation
August 25th, 2011 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Estate Agents, Property Market | Comments Off on How to Master the Art of Property Negotiation
Now is a great time to buy, with the majority of surveyors reporting a drop in house prices. If you are looking to take advantage of this market then you must first master the art of property negotiation.
Who Can Certify That Works Comply With Building Regulations?
August 22nd, 2011 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Home Improvements | Comments Off on Who Can Certify That Works Comply With Building Regulations?
The Building Regulations 2000, and the many subsequent revisions, set out what work to a building does and does not need to comply with building regulations. Extensions, internal structural alterations or works to the foundations of a building need to be signed of by the local authority’s build control officer. The local authority can sign of any work for the purposes of building regulations however there are now a number of independent regulatory bodies whose members are able to certify their own work.