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Keeping you abreast of important everyday legal issues
This is where you can find some useful background information on a range of legal areas covered by KWW’s specialists. Please remember, the law has a habit of changing, so always check with us for the very latest legal position.
How to deal with cracks and subsidence in a property
If you are a homeowner, or looking to buy, the very word ‘subsidence’ may fill you with dread or visions of sinkholes which hit the newspaper headlines. According to the British Insurance Brokers Association, subsidence is a common issue affecting an estimated 20 per cent of homes in some way. But what exactly is it,
Break clauses in leases – what do they do?
In leases, break clauses serve as crucial provisions that provide flexibility for both landlords and tenants. These clauses allow either party to terminate the lease before the expiration of the fixed term, subject to certain conditions and notice requirements. Break clauses are regulated by specific laws and have implications that both parties should carefully consider.
Inheritance disputes and how to reduce the risk
Any fans of the hit TV series Succession, which follows the fortunes of the dysfunctional Roy siblings, will know how fraught inheritance issues can be when there’s no clear inheritance plan in place, especially when multiple spouses and step-families are involved. But it’s a story that’s not restricted to the super rich like the Roys,
Cost of living looms over divorce thinking
The cost of living crisis is having an impact on the way couples, especially those with children, are managing their relationships, with potentially damaging consequences. A survey of 2,000 adults in England and Wales considering divorce or dissolution reveals 60% of them view their situation today differently to how they saw it a year ago,
Buying a home for your retirement
The United Kingdom’s population is aging rapidly and, fortunately, higher living standards mean most of us will enjoy a long and active retirement. As we grow older our housing needs often change, and if you are approaching retirement you may have already started to think about your options. In this article, Enza Sole, a residential
Property, planning and paying for care
A common concern for our clients and their families is the prospect of having to sell the family home to meet care costs. Jack Haskew, head of the wills and probate team with KWW Solicitors in East Molesey, says: “There are many articles and schemes online which seem to indicate that selling a home can
Buying a home off plan: Key questions answered
Does the idea of a brand new home appeal to you? If so, you are not alone as the past two years have seen a dramatic rise in the number of people buying off plan. Whether you are looking for your forever home, a retirement property, or a holiday hideaway, buying a home off plan
Transferring property to your children
Nearly every other first-time buyer receives some financial assistance from their parents. And the scale of that helping hand from the ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ is staggering: something like £15 billion a year in the UK, according to the Institute of Fiscal Studies. But cash gifts or mortgage support are not the only ways
Property fraud: Steps to protect yourself
A solid building, made of bricks and mortar, seems an unlikely target for thieves. For most of us our homes evoke a powerful sense of security; ‘safe as houses’ as the old saying goes. But the facts tell a different story, as there has been an exponential growth in property fraud which now accounts for
The knotty subject of Japanese knotweed
Furniture designer Jonathan Downing this week successfully sued the former owner of his house after discovering a large amount of Japanese knotweed in his garden. The previous owner of the property, not far from us over in Raynes Park, Surrey, was ordered by Central London County Court to pay damages plus Mr Downing’s legal costs.
Q&A: Local land charges
It takes between eight and 12 weeks on average to complete the purchase of a new home. Many factors determine how long the conveyancing process will take. However, solicitors frequently cite the local land charges search as a cause of delay. But what are local land charges, and why do they matter? Leanne Reid, a
When can a power of attorney take effect?
If you have been asked to act as an attorney for someone you may wonder when it will come into effect, especially if the power of attorney was made some time ago when your friend or relative was in good health. “There was an important change in 2007, and so the way that a power
