Title Indemnity Policies – a practical solution to ‘title defects’
When a property is being sold, the Title Deeds (the documents setting out legal ownership, boundaries, rights of access etc) will be examined by the purchaser’s solicitor. The purchaser’s solicitor will want to be satisfied that the seller can transfer valid title to the purchaser at settlement and that there are no defects with […]
New Builds: the pros and cons of buying a new build property in today’s market
Some like shiny new homes. Some don’t. While everyone’s taste differs, demand for properties is so high at present that many potential buyers cannot afford to be overly picky and perhaps require to use their heads more than their hearts. If we leave all predilections at the door, what are the pros and cons […]
Fire and Smoke Alarms
Since February 2022, all homes in Scotland are required by law to have installed interlinked smoke alarms as well as adequate Carbon Monoxide protection. The legislation was introduced in response to the Grenfell Tower disaster and applies to all homeowners and landlords. The legislation was due to come into force in 2021 but was […]
Land ownership transparency register
One of the key purposes of the Registration Act 1617 was to increase transparency in the ownership of land and to allow members of the public to easily access land titles. Parliament have sought to increase transparency beyond mere ownership to cover anyone who stands behind the owner and has ‘beneficial ownership’ or a […]
The Tolerable Standard: New Alarm for Homeowners?
Some homeowners (landlords and owner occupiers) may be surprised to learn that from 1 February 2022 the requirements relating to smoke alarms within the home are changing. Following the 2017 Grenfell disaster, the Scottish Government have amended the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 by way of The Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 (Tolerable Standard) (Extension of […]
Real Estate and the Carbon Challenge: Operational v Embodied Carbon
Last month Glasgow hosted COP26, where leaders from all around the world gathered to take decisive action to tackle the climate crisis. This conference forced all sectors to examine their actions and consider how these affect our environment. Recent figures have revealed that the Real Estate Sector is responsible for 38% of global carbon […]
UK Government to introduce new Residential Property Developer Tax
Following the tragedy at Grenfell Tower in London, the UK government have made it a priority to address the issue of unsafe cladding on residential units. In response, the government have announced that it would introduce a new tax levy in 2022 on the profits which large residential property developers make from UK residential […]