Old codes are now obsolete – ensure you are using the right code!
NCA issue revised Glossary Codes for SARs reporting
Avoid unavoidable requisitions
Land Registry have brought out new guidance this month relating to avoidable and unavoidable requisitions
Law Society’s reaction to SDLT reform
Whilst generally welcoming the reduced payment windows for stamp duty land tax (SDLT), the Law Society and City of London Law Society have warned that unless certain exemptions are permitted, errors may creep in. The change, proposed by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), suggests a reduction from 30 to 14 days for the SDLT filing […]
Confusion caused by new stamp duty rules vs capital gains
The new rules introduced on 1st April require buyers of multiple properties to pay a three percentage point increase on their level of stamp duty. Confusion surrounding the new rules may largely be a result of the law commonly referring to the duty in relation to “second homes” or buy-to-let properties. This misconception means other […]
The death of Right to Buy?
After more than 30 years, another part of the UK has confirmed it is to scrap the Right to Buy (RTB) scheme.
LegalinX-7Side report on the Conveyancing Association’s call to rethink housing tax
This week has seen the Conveyancing Association join the Society of Licensed Conveyancers in appealing to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, to reverse the housing market reforms that were planned an implemented under the previous Chancellor, George Osbourne. These included the Stamp Duty Land Tax 3% increase on second homes, which the association […]
Call for Chancellor to scrap Osborne’s reforms in Autumn statement
Government should be addressing real housing issues rather than consulting on changes to SDLT filing and payment processes, says SLC
Flooding risks and new build developments
Back in April this year, a planning bill was put forward by MPs which would require all new housing to have their own sustainable drainage systems, rather than allowing developers to simply connect the new housing onto existing systems [1]. The aim of this was to help prevent overburdening the existing systems and decrease the […]
Help to Buy to cease after 2016
It has been confirmed today (29 September 2016) that the Help to Buy scheme will not continue to operate after the end of the year. Chancellor Philip Hammond stated in a letter to the Bank of England (BoE) that the scheme, which has been accessible to home buyers since January 2014, will not be extended. […]
Only 2 weeks left to have your say on proposed changes to SDLT filing and payment processes
The Government are continuing to welcome comments on the Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) filing and payment process until Friday 7th October 2016. In honour of their Autumn Statement 2015 announcement, the Government are currently holding an open consultation on the proposed changes which aim to make SDLT filing and payment faster and easier. According […]
Land Registry privatisation falters in changing political environment
It was always likely there would be some fundamental changes after the EU referendum vote, although most of us were not anticipating them to be as far-reaching as they have been. With the resignation of David Cameron and the new PM, Theresa May, taking over we have the political equivalent of the phrase ‘a new […]
Housing and Planning Minister urged to apologise for Help to Buy
Housing and Planning Minister, Gavin Barwell, has received a letter from Labour MP David Lammy calling on him to apologise on behalf of the Government for “misleading thousands of people” who signed up for a Help to Buy ISA in the hope it would help them to get on the housing ladder. Last week, the […]
LSB calls for shake-up of legal services in England & Wales
The Legal Services Board (LSB) have called for the abolishment of all regulatory bodies, including themselves, and for a sole independent regulator to oversee the legal profession.
Wales to introduce replacement to SDLT
In the first bill introduced as part of the new legislative programme brought forward by the Welsh government a new tax will be introduced to replace the Stamp Duty Land Tax currently in place to home buyers. The Land Tax and Anti-avoidance of Devolved Taxes (Wales) Bill has been designed to reflect needs and priorities […]
Assembly bill paves the way for Wales to replace SDLT
Yesterday saw the announcement of the first new Welsh tax for almost 800 years by the Welsh Assembly. The bill for the Land Transaction Tax (LTT) in Wales was introduced into the National Assembly yesterday and it is expected to receive Royal Assent next year before being introduced in April 2018. Should it become law, […]
“Political uncertainty has distracted us from the underlying issue of housing supply”
Search Acumen comments on the latest DCLG Green Belt Statistics, England – 2015/16 “[The] data shows a minimal change in England’s Green Belt area over the past year, no doubt coming as good news to those seeking to protect our countryside and strive for urban regeneration. However the year-on-year drop in the number of local […]
Why technology should play a crucial role in the Government’s call for evidence
In this year’s Budget statement, the Government announced that it would be looking at ways to make the process of buying and selling a home “better value for money and more consumer-friendly” and has called for evidence as to how this can be achieved. The announcement has been met with a range of responses, from […]
Land Registry privatisation dropped from infrastructure bill
It was announced during the Queens speech, in May this year, that the outcome of a consultation relating to Land Registry privatisation would be considered as part of the Neighborhood Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Despite government sources insisting that privatisation is still to be considered, today saw the expected plans for the sell-off dropped. It […]
Conveyancing Association continues unabated with leasehold campaign
The Conveyancing Association (CA) has today confirmed it will continue unabated with its campaign to reform and amend the leasehold transaction process, despite recent developments. In August, the CA announced a number of recommendations it wished to see applied in order to cut back on what it sees as significant delays and overcharging taking place […]
“Private & confidential” applications will not be accepted
As of 30th August 2016, Land Registry will be changing the way they manage post labelled “Private & Confidential”.
