Should I Buy A Property With A Restrictive Covenant?
The property-buying process is one of the most stressful things you can go through in life. It can also be full of complexity and potential pitfalls. The key is to get the very best advice and ensure you are aware of the details of everything you are considering. A great example of this is restrictive…
The Desirability of Living In Harrogate
Harrogate was once described as offering all the fun and fresh air of Yorkshire, without any of the gritty bits, and it is true that you can enjoy all the very best elements of God’s Own County in the North Yorkshire spa town of Harrogate, and that has been independently verified on several occasions. Last…
How Does Part Exchange Work On A Property?
Perhaps the biggest factor in why house-moving is one of the most stressful things you can ever do, is the uncertainty and delays that you will inevitably encounter. Part-exchanging a property is one solution to help alleviate that, but it is not necessarily a brand new concept. Part exchange on a property has been around…
Is 2023 A Good Year To Buy And Sell A House?
While the pandemic was a time of unprecedented change and struggle for many, it provided an unexpected boost for the UK property market. Amid global turmoil the UK housing market saw an upturn as the Government introduced stamp duty relief, interest rates lowered and people stuck indoors took the plunge with a new home. The…
A Post-COVID Property Boom?
Property experts are reporting an unexpected post-COVID property boom, as the effects of weeks and months of lockdown have made people re-evaluate their lifestyles and priorities and kick-start a market analysts expected to flounder throughout the rest of 2020. Pre-Brexit uncertainty does not seem to have put people off as a definite seller’s market has…
The Conveyancing Industry Bands Together In The Face Of Unprecedented Challenges
Almost every industry has faced challenges due to the global Coronavirus pandemic, and the conveyancing and home buying markets are no exception. In fact, due to the halt on home sales during the pandemic and the backlog now facing the industry, the home buying market has faced even more challenges than most. The backlog is…
How To Minimise The Risk Of Gazumping
Gazumping is a relatively modern phenomenon and yet for a number of years there has been talk of laws being changed to crackdown on the practice, which can be devastating for innocent people. In all likelihood, however, there will always be legal loopholes which allow the practice to continue, and certainly it is still a…
A Guide To Buying A Property In Leeds
The History of Leeds Leeds became a major textile city in the 17th & 18th centuries. Whilst wool was still the main industry, flax, engineering, iron foundries and print works became major industries. The Leeds-Liverpool canal meant that goods could be produced, taken to port and exported globally. Agriculture also played a large role in…
How Japanese Knotweed Damages Property Value
Japanese Knotweed is an invasive plant species that can grow up to 7 feet high. It has been known to wind its way around property foundations, causing structural damage to property and bringing thousands of pounds from property value and making property difficult to sell. It’s a huge concern for surveyors and therefore mortgage lenders….
Making Reasonable Adjustments In The Home For The Elderly
Ashley Mallett is a Conveyancing Solicitor in the York office, and one of our Dementia Friends. Here, he provides 10 tips on how to make your home dementia friendly and also reasonable adjustments that you can take if you care for or regularly have elderly visitors. 1. Install a key safe outside your home This will…
Right To Buy: A £6.2 Billion Public Loss
A prominent feature of Thatcher’s 1979 Conservative manifesto, Right to Buy launched in 1980 as a way to springboard hard working people who before had only been able to rent from the Local Authority. Overnight, the dream of home-ownership which for some seemed so far away became a reality. That has continued throughout the decades…
Guide To Buying a Property In Ilkley
The history of Ilkley Since the findings of carvings in rock in the local area, historians believe that Ilkley has been inhabited since the early Bronze age. The remains of a Roman Fort occupy a site near the town centre believed to be from 79AD. The Domesday book shows the 1st Baron Percy as the…
Guide To Buying A Property In York
Property expert Ashley Mallett is based at our York office and explains what he loves about the area: In York, it seems that every building has a story to tell with history behind it. Add to that the museums and tours it’s a history lover’s heaven! I love the quirky Tudor/Medieval shops and boutiques, along The…
10 Bizarre Things That Can Affect Property Value
Is something holding you back during the purchase of a house sale? Is it mentioned in the list below? Here are 10 bizarre things that can affect a property’s value: 1. Is it a Road, Street, Avenue or something else? It sounds crazy but the name of your street can affect your home’s value and desirability!…
Things to consider when buying a Property in Crossgates
The history of Crossgates Until 1912, Crossgates wasn’t part of Leeds, having historically formed part of the district of Selby. 1800’s Crossgates was very different to the bustling area we see today, being a dirt track between Seacroft and Whitkirk, albeit a well trodden one. There are several stories as to how the village took…
10 Property Laws You May Be Breaking Without Realising
England and Wales are jam-packed with ‘off-the-wall’ Laws which probably all of us have fallen foul of at some time. Although some of the below are unlikely to be enforced, take a look at some of these strange items from our statute books which you may fall foul of in or around your own home….
A Positive Outlook for York
Chris Brierley comments on the future of the York property market looking at a very common question: Is there a property crash coming? There is always a possibility, especially with the risk of a hard Brexit vote. A hard Brexit might see prices fall in some areas of London and the south-east where property prices…
Buying a Property in Morley
The History of Morley Once an agricultural village, Morley is now a 19th century industrial town, originally powered by textile manufacture, coal mining and stone quarrying. The Morley Town Hall is a distinctive landmark and is Grade 1 Listed. Built in 1885, the shovel which acts as a pendulum in the Grandfather clock is said to be…
Mining Searches
Mining Searches are largely something we take for granted in the Yorkshire area, but they’re extremely important for both you, the mortgage lender and indeed the current occupiers of the property. It’s estimated that around 18% of residential property in Yorkshire is impacted by the mining legacy. That’s a substantial amount of homes so it…
How To Get On The Property Ladder If You’re A First Time Buyer
There are several schemes available to first time buyers wanting to buy their first property. Shared Ownership These schemes are provided through local housing associations. In a shared ownership, you buy a percentage share of your home, ranging from 25-75% with a mortgage and pay a reduced rent on the remaining share. This reduces the…
Things to consider when buying a property at auction
Buying property at auction is an exciting method of a purchase but it comes with its own unique risks. Here are five matters to consider but remember, this list is not exhaustive! This blog looks at buying at a traditional auction. A further piece on buying through a modern auction method will follow. 1. Do…
Help to Buy ISA Scheme – What’s It All About?
Since 1st December 2015, first-time buyers have been able to save up to £200 a month in a Help to Buy: ISA, which many banks and building societies are now routinely offering. An individual can only open one Help to buy ISA. They are not available to couples although, more than one government bonus can…