At Humble & Clark, we keep up to date with industry news and will report, here, on latest initiatives and important changes
Homebuyers are being targeted by criminals by exploiting the conveyancing process. While the overall number of cases is much lower than for other types of fraud, the average amount stolen was the highest per victim. Find out how to protect yourself from conveyancing scams ...
Stamp duty relief for people who purchase more than one dwelling in a single transaction, known as Multiple Dwellings Relief, is scrapped.
With Easter fast approacing please bear in mind the following when considering completion dates ...
No one knows for certain what lies ahead. Now is the time to make a Will to ensure your final arrangements will be made according to your wishes. Then you can focus on new opportunities and all that 2024 may bring.
We are closing on Thursday 21 December and will reopen 9 am Thursday 4th January, 2024.
With less than 5 weeks to go until Christmas it is worth bearing in mind our festive closure and how might this affect your transaction.
Our team will be taking some time off this holiday season to spend time with family and friends.
A codicil is an additional legal document that explains or alters your Will. But when, why and how should you use a codicil?
This Act is a new legislation that aims to improve the safety of high-rise buildings in the UK in response to the tragic Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, which claimed the lives of 72 people and raised serious concerns about the safety of buildings in the country. It represents a significant overhaul of the building safety regulations in the UK and is a positive step towards ensuring that the UK’s high-rise buildings are safe for residents and occupants.
Humble & Clark Legal offer fixed fee conveyancing that reflects the level and speed of service that we offer.
Criminals are actively targeting property purchases, with the aim of tricking you into transferring your house deposit and/or the balance of purchase monies to them. These schemes can be highly sophisticated ...
With only 13 weeks to go until Christmas it is worth bearing in mind our festive closure for the 2022 -2023 period. How might this affect my transaction?
The chancellor has announced increases to the Stamp Duty threshold. What impact does this have on your purchase?
Payment diversion fraud is increasing with criminals targeting home buyers, due to the high volume of transactions and the large sums of money being transferred. We can all play a part in making such crimes more difficult for the criminals by being vigilant ...
Listed properties are unique and full of character and period charm. If you want your own piece of English history, then a listed home may be at the top of your wish list. But there are a few things you should consider before buying…
Protect your property from fraud by signing up to HM Land Registry's free Property Alert Service. The email alert will tell you each time there is significant activity on the property.
Our festive closure has been extended this year. Please bear this in mind when considering completion dates particularly in early January.
Purchasers of residential property could save up to £2,500 Stamp Duty Land Tax.
What is Multiple Dwelling Relief (MDR) and why does everyone want to claim it?
Rishi Sunak has confirmed that the stamp duty holiday will be extended until the end of September and announces a new mortgage guarantee scheme designed to help first-time buyers onto the housing ladder.
The lead story in The Times this morning says the Chancellor Rishi Sunak WILL EXTEND the stamp duty holiday deadline until the end of June.
From 1st April this year, all non-UK residents buying residential property in the UK will need to pay a 2% stamp duty surcharge
Our industry is currently experiencing a large increase in residential conveyancing transactions across the UK, as buyers rush to take advantage of the ' stamp duty holiday'. Regardless of what you and the other parties in a chain hope and intend, there is no guarantee of any particular time frame.
The government has issued guidance on the new pandemic restrictions for England alongside this evening's announcement by the Prime Minister.
We will do everything we can to ensure your transaction completes before the Stamp Duty holiday deadline of 31 March, 2021. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees: but what reassurances are there?
Home owners in Alston, Cumbria tend to have issues when they sell, due to their legal titles being created out of the “Alston 1,000-year Lease”. As the title is leasehold, rather than freehold; the lease is unavailable and the landlord is unknown, this impacts the marketability of the property (ask any estate agent) and could affect the value.
The government’s announcement of a one-month lockdown in England and with Wales in a short ‘firebreak’ period, the pattern of restrictions across the two nations is becoming more complex. In England, the standard three tiers of restrictions do not affect home buying or selling. The government is committed to keeping the property industry moving wherever possible (read more)
It is a legal requirement that we obtain satisfactory evidence of your identity, address, and details regarding your source of funds, if you are purchasing, when we start work for you.
Simultaneous exchanges and completion (SIMs) are becoming more widely used following Government guidance in light of Coronavirus. But does the risk of failing to complete, far outweigh the potential risks of Coronavirus?
The recent announcement of a "Stamp Duty Holiday" seems simple in principle, but there are some considerations to bear in mind ...
Those looking to buy a new property will be pleased to hear that under the chancellor’s plans, the £125,000 threshold for stamp duty will increase to £500,000. Speaking from the House of Commons, Rishi Sunak said, “I have decided today to cut stamp duty. Right now, there is no stamp duty on transactions below £125,000. Today I am increasing the threshold to half a million pounds.”
As part of our Know Your Client and ID process, we now invite clients to complete and submit their personal information via our third party app ‘Thirdfort’.
Last night, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick announced new guidelines to kick-start the housing market, but what does this mean for our clients ....
In these unusual times we are taking some unusual measures. And sometimes, in the best interests of our clients, we need the think outside the box....
Government have made it clear that they will not interfere with established contract law, so there will be no Coronavirus "get out" clause inferred to enable parties to unilaterally withdraw from contracts. If both parties do not agree to delay, then the contractual completion date remains binding. Government has suggested...
There are special legal considerations for clients who are entering into contracts for the sale and purchase of properties that we want to make you aware of during these challenging times.
In these uncertain times, we wanted to let you know what we are doing here at Humble & Clark Legal. As responsible employers and business owners, we are committed to taking reasonable precautions within our control to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus while maintaining full business services.
Number 10 briefings to the national media suggest that the scrapping of Section 21 will be one of four key measures to be announced in Thursday’s Queen’s Speech.
A 4:30 pm finish isn't about slacking off, it's about being more productive. It's a day where we leave the office a little bit earlier so we can do more of the things that are important to us ...
During his campaign for the leadership of the Conservative Party, Johnson made several vague, but tantalising suggestions as to what he would do to reform Stamp Duty. What are they and how will this impact buyers and sellers?
The Humble and Clark quiz was arranged to get Northumberland law firms and estate agents who deal with each other on a daily basis, to meet up and see the face behind the name.
At Humble & Clark we want to retain our younger members of the team as they offer a fresh approach, allowing us to keep up to date in an ever changing market place.
All owners of homes served by a septic tank must have it checked to ascertain whether it requires replacing/upgrading, whether selling or not, although it really is a priority if delays in the sale are to be avoided.
According to recent research, around a third of first-time buyers either don’t know if they will benefit from the Government’s waiver of stamp duty for their first home or said that they didn’t know how much they would save if they bought their first home.
Much has been said and written which suggests that there is an absolute exemption from the need for an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for Listed Buildings.
From 1 April 2018, it will be unlawful for a landlord (of residential or commercial premises) to grant a new tenancy if the property has an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating lower than band "E".
With the government offering a boost of 25% to first-time buyer's savings, you'd be mad not to take advantage of this scheme to save your deposit for a home.
Under a new Government scheme, those who paid a registration fee for a Lasting Power of Attorney in England or Wales, between 1 April 2013 and 31 March 2017, can apply for a partial refund as they were charged more than was necessary.
From 1 April 2016, Stamp Duty Land Tax rates change to introduce an additional 3% duty on any property bought, where the buyer already owns a property in their own name or jointly with others.