A new tax relief came into force in Scotland on 30th June that will help first-time buyers purchase their first home. The commitment to introduce a first-time buyer Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) relief was announced in the 18/19 draft budget. According to Scottish Government figures, around 80% of first-time buyers will pay no…
The Department for Work and Pensions recently published a report which gives an interesting insight into the workload of the Child Maintenance Service during the first quarter of 2018. The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) was introduced in December 2012 as part of the Government’s Child Maintenance Reforms. It replaced the Child Support Agency (CSA) and…
New research from M&S Bank has found that buying with multiple friends or siblings is becoming an increasingly popular option for young, aspiring homeowners. Around 60% of those aged 18-35 said they would consider taking out a mortgage as a group to make home ownership a reality, compared to 26% of people aged over 36….
The Court of Justice of the European Union has given its judgment in a case involving ‘rights of access’ to children. The case involved Ms Neli Valcheva, who is a Bulgarian national and the maternal grandmother of a child born in 2002. Since his parents’ divorce, the child has been habitually resident in Greece with…
Suzi Ralston Suzi Ralston – Enquiries Co-Ordinator Inspiring Quote “I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” Mission statement: To do the best I can in life to be as honest and open as possible … Be honest to yourself that’s what counts. How…
There has been a significant rise in the average price of flats in the UK over the last five years, with average prices rising from £157,061 in 2013 to £232,135 in 2018. This is equivalent to £1,252 per month, research by Halifax has revealed. Flats currently account for around 15% of all home sales, while…
A joint review of British surrogacy law is now underway to ensure the legislation remains fit for purpose. Surrogacy is where a woman bears a child on behalf of someone else or a couple who then intend to become the child’s parents. The review is being conducted by the Scottish Law Commission and the Law…
Many people today depend on devices to stay connected with their friends and family, and the same is true for those in relationships. However, new research has highlighted that this reliance on devices can cause trouble within a relationship. According to the study by Kaspersky Lab, couples today frequently use devices and online messaging services…
Contrary to popular belief, marital happiness actually increases over time rather than deteriorates, new research from the US has revealed. Paul R. Amato from Pennsylvania State University and James Spencer from Brigham Young University looked at data collected from 1,617 married individuals between the ages of 18 and 55. Their analysis focused on three different…
A new study has found evidence of a continued slowdown in the UK housing market, with buyer demand falling for the twelfth month in a row. According to the RICS UK Residential Market Survey for March 2018, interest from would-be buyers has continued to wane, with 17% more respondents seeing a fall rather than rise…
