Stamp duty surcharge ‘could reduce house price inflation’

The government is considering a stamp duty surcharge for non-UK resident homebuyers to reduce house price inflation and provide funds to help the homeless. The Treasury is conducting a study to consider how a new 1% increase to stamp duty costs for non-UK residents buying residential property in England and Northern Ireland would work. This…

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Homeowners and tenants to get new complaints service

The government is introducing a new Housing Complaints Resolution Service to cover the entire housing market. It means that dissatisfied homeowners and tenants will have simple and quick access to help when things go wrong. The new service will cover everything from broken boilers to cracks in the wall and will potentially help millions by…

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Court outlines the scope of lasting powers of attorney

People setting up Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) to protect their interest in case they lose mental capacity in the future should be given as much scope as possible to outline their wishes. However, an instruction that their attorney – the person they appoint to look after interests – should help them in an assisted…

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Homeowners and tenants to get new housing complaints service

The government is introducing a new Housing Complaints Resolution Service to cover the entire housing market. It means that dissatisfied homeowners and tenants will have simple and quick access to help when things go wrong. Communities Secretary James Brokenshire said the new service will cover everything from broken boilers to cracks in the wall and…

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Gold-Diggers are ‘marrying to exploit the elderly’

Campaigners have introduced a bill in parliament to prevent gold-diggers exploiting the elderly and the vulnerable by marrying them for the sole purpose of inheriting their estates. Under the law as it stands, a person’s will is automatically invalidated when they marry. This means that unless they make another will, when they die they are…

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New agreements to ‘reduce house sale failures’

The government is planning a new system for buying and selling homes that it hopes will reduce the number of failed transactions. Currently, house buyers can have an offer accepted for the purchase of a home but then pull out at the last minute causing then pull out at the last minute causing great inconvenience…

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