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Developers will have an easier time building on the Grey Belt
Planning policies exist to regulate development and ensure building is carried out in line with other national and local objectives. To prevent the expansion of cities into neighbouring countryside, Green Belt areas restrict development; however, in recent years, questions have been raised about th....
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Great Ormond Street Hospital apologises to children harmed by orthopaedic surgeon
Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) has issued an apology after an independent review found that 94 children came to harm under the care of Mr Yaser Jabber, a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon. This substandard practice involved incorrect diagnoses, inappropriate surgical strategies and missed identif....
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Ground rents to be capped in major leasehold change
The government has announced a major leasehold reform package, including capping ground rents in England and Wales at £250 a year. The reforms, published in a draft Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill, could bring significant savings to millions. In this blog, we explain the changes and look a....
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How the rules for commercial leases are set to change
After decades without change, the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 is under review. The Law Commission is looking closely at the process of excluding a tenant from having the benefit of security of tenure by its commercial lease of premises at the end of its contractual term. What is se....
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Attwaters’ staff stories – Frances Sullivan
We were proud to be named a Sunday Times Best Place to Work for two years in a row. In this blog series, we hear the stories of some of our talented staff, who share what it’s like working for a Top 10 medium-sized organisation. In this edition, we speak with Frances Sullivan, our Senior Finance ....
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Equity release: why trusted legal advice matters
When you need a large injection of cash, equity release can seem like a quick and easy win. Releasing capital from your family home, however, is a major decision and can come with some high risks. It’s therefore important to seek independent legal advice to protect your interests before signing o....
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Equity release can help retirees bridge the pension gap
Nobody wants to be scrimping on life’s essentials during retirement, but this is the financial reality facing many older adults. Research has revealed that 38%1 of future retirees are heading for an income below the recommended minimum living standard based on their pensions and savings alone.....
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Commercial debt recovery – how we can help
Recovering commercial debts can be a long and complex process, particularly if a debtor is determined to delay or obstruct payment. However, a recent High Court decision demonstrates that the law can offer powerful assistance to creditors. At Attwaters Solicitors, our Dispute Resolution team has be....
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We’ve refreshed our brand!
We are pleased to share that the Attwaters brand has been refreshed, and we have transitioned to LLP status. Our organisation has grown significantly since we started life as Attwater & Liell in 1901. We merged with respected Hertfordshire practice Jameson & Hill in 2012 and then acquire....
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The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024: Your guide to the reforms
The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act, which became law on 24 May 2024, is a long-awaited piece of legislation designed to make it easier and cheaper for leaseholders to extend their lease or purchase the freehold of their building. Despite the Act already being law, no commencement date has yet be....
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Labour government releases policy statement on “a generation of new towns”
In 1946, as Great Britain emerged from World War II, the New Towns Act came into force, giving the government the legal right to designate areas of land for new town development. The new towns programme was an ambitious planning project designed to alleviate overcrowding and poor living conditions ....
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The Renters’ Rights Bill – Labour’s plans to end no-fault eviction
As many of our readers will know, we have been following with interest the previous Conservative government’s pledges to introduce landmark protections for renters. Unfortunately, the advancement of the Renters’ (Reform) Bill through parliament came to a screeching halt after former Prime Minis....
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Leasehold reform becomes law
The Leasehold and Freehold Reform bill has become law – one of the last pieces of legislation to make it through Parliament before it was dissolved in preparation for July’s general election. The reforms, which have been the subject of a great deal of scrutiny over the past few years, aim to ma....
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How to tell your children you’re getting a divorce
Making the decision to separate from your spouse can be absolutely heartbreaking. You are facing the prospect of breaking up your family and of moving forward into an uncertain future. Now, you might also be wondering how on Earth to tell your children you are splitting up without adding to their i....
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The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill 2023 – what’s in it for freeholders?
If you are the owner of a leasehold property, you may be following the progress of the much-awaited Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill 2023. The proposed legislation, which is making its way through Parliament and is expected to receive Royal Assent this year, has been touted as “part of the most....
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The highest-earning neighbourhoods near you
In 2022, the average salary for full-time employees in Hertfordshire and Essex was £41,423 (3.27% up on 2021) and £38,021 (4.8% up), respectively. This is according to data from statistics provider Varbes. Whilst these figures hover just above or around the average mark for the United Kingdom,....
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Protecting yourself legally as an unmarried couple
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the number of marriages taking place in England and Wales decreased by 36.6% in the 30 years to 2019. Firstly, there is simply less societal pressure to get married these days. People are also less willing to shell out thousands of pounds for a....
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The places where house prices just keep on rising
Buying a property is the most expensive purchase that most people will ever make. For most homeowners, however, it’s been well worth it. Over the last few decades, property buyers have seen an excellent return on investment, with the price of an average home increasing by a staggering 207% in the....
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Why you need a cohabitation agreement
The number of couples who are living together without being married or entering into a civil partnership has massively increased in recent decades. According to a Commons Library briefing paper, the number of cohabiting couples rose from around 1.5 million in 1996 to around 3.6 million in 2021 – ....
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Wealth in the age of social media
The ways in which people can accumulate and grow their wealth are forever expanding and evolving. In our Private Wealth Guide for 2022-23, for example, we featured a number of social media stars across Hertfordshire and Essex who had risen to fame – and fortune – on social media websites such a....
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