You could be forgiven for being confused as to the array of conflicting information coming out of the media, with headlines such as “House prices slip for third consecutive month” and “House prices gain 4.7% in the year to May”. So which is correct? The short answer is both.
As announced by Revenue Scotland this week, the Land and Building Transaction Tax (Additional Amount – Second Homes Main Residence Relief) (Scotland) Order 2017 came into effect on 30 June 2017. The new Order acts as an amendment to the existing Additional Dwelling Supplement (ADS) rules which concerns replacing main residences and the position regarding family units as detailed in Schedule 2A of the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (Scotland) Act 2013. The amendment incorporates Paragraphs 8A and 9A in to the 2013 Act and will apply to all contracts entered into on or after 20 May 2017 and transactions completed on or after 30 June 2017.
Most landlords of commercial premises want to let their premises on leases that are very much in the landlords’ favour most specifically as regards the upkeep, repair and renewal of same.
The first six months of 2017 saw a 3% increase in the number of first-time buyers, taking the total to an estimated 162,704 compared to 154,200 in the same period of 2016.
Average house prices in Scotland are increasing at a higher rate than the UK average, according to the latest UK House Price Index (UK HPI).
Transport Scotland has recently published figures giving an insight into the number of deaths and injuries that occurred on Scotland’s roads during 2016.
Holyrood’s Justice Committee has begun its scrutiny of the Civil Litigation Bill and has launched a call for evidence seeking views on the cost of going to court.
The town of Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire has seen average house prices rise by more than any other seaside town in Scotland over the past ten years, according to new research from Bank of Scotland.
A nurse who slipped and fell on a wet hospital floor has been awarded compensation of just under £50,000.
Given that we are in the midst of Dementia Awareness Week Scotland, which runs from 29th May until the 4th of June 2017, it seems a good time to discuss Powers of Attorney and to reflect on the benefits of having a valid Power of Attorney in place.
UK insurers have attacked the UK Government over their changes to the Discount Rate, a move that will cost the industry millions of pounds, and will see price increases in premiums for individual and business customers. This is the first time the rate has changed since 2001, and has been calculated based on the decline in strength of low risk investment schemes such as Investment-Linked Gilks.
New research into recent trends in the housing and mortgage lending markets has revealed that borrowing into older age is likely to be much more common over the next ten years.
A Scottish construction company has appeared in Dundee Sheriff Court on health and safety charges after a worker was injured in a trench collapse.
New research from Halifax has revealed that confidence in the UK housing market has stabilised following a record decline.
Friday 28th April was Workers’ Memorial Day, which is an annual international event that provides an opportunity to reflect on the many people who are killed, seriously injured or made ill while simply doing their jobs.
A recent BBC report highlighted the number of people who are continuing to suffer serious, and often, fatal illnesses as a result of exposure to asbestos.
March this year saw the issue of rates re-valuation notices for commercial premises, the first since 2010 from which new rateable values will have come into effect on 1 April 2017. These are likely to have come as a shock to many business occupiers, particularly those who operate licensed premises.
April has been a busy month in the employment world with a few material changes emerging from it, one being, employers of larger work forces (250 or more) being obliged to provide the Government with information regarding gender pay gap.
Due to the success of the British Property Federation’s Model Commercial Lease (MCL) introduced in England in 2014, the Scottish Property Standardisation Group (SPSG) have recently produced a similar style lease as a drafting aid for practitioners north of the border. The SPSG’s version forms the basis of a lease for multiple occupancy buildings and includes helpful guidance notes to assist drafting.
In a move that aims to help more families onto the housing ladder, the Scottish Government has announced that the price cap on properties eligible for the Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme will remain at £200,000 in 2018/19.
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