Receiving your Personal Identification Number (PIN) from the MOD is a major milestone, but it doesn't automatically trigger the legal transfer of funds. To avoid delays, your lawyer must submit a formal Claim Form to the MOD at least two weeks before completion—a window that often clashes with the fast-paced nature of modern property chains. If your lawyer doesn't understand the specific sequence of the FHTB loan agreement versus the standard mortgage deed, you risk missing y

If you're buying or selling a property, your conveyancer may raise something called a rentcharge. While rentcharges are relatively uncommon, they can have significant implications for homeowners, buyers, and mortgage lenders. In this article, we explain what rentcharges are, the risks they can create, and what options are available if your property is affected.

Buying a property with someone else? Learn the difference between Joint Tenants and Tenants in Common, and discover which ownership structure may be right for you.

A posting doesn't wait politely for a conveyancing chain. A deployment doesn't disappear because documents need signing. A BFPO address doesn't always fit neatly into systems designed around civilian life. Forces Help to Buy comes with its own processes and requirements. Service Family Accommodation brings its own deadlines, pressures and that uniquely military experience known as March-Out. Sometimes one partner is buying a home while the other is hundreds or thousands of mi

If you are selling a second home, a buy-to-let property, inherited property, or certain other residential assets, there may be an important tax deadline you need to be aware of.

Property auctions can offer exciting opportunities for buyers. It is not uncommon to find properties selling below market value, properties with development potential or opportunities that may not be available through traditional estate agency channels. However, buying at auction is very different from purchasing a property through the usual conveyancing process. Once the hammer falls, buyers are legally committed to the purchase and must complete within a strict timeframe.

For members of the Armed Forces, moving home is rarely a straightforward transaction. It is shaped by operational demands, sudden relocations, deployments overseas, and the need to make major financial decisions often under time pressure and limited access to legal or financial support.

If a property is not connected to the public sewer network, it will usually rely on a private drainage system. Understanding how these systems work, and the legal obligations associated with them, is important when buying or selling a property.

Bridging finance has become increasingly popular in recent years, particularly in competitive property markets and among buyers purchasing at auction. However, while bridging loans can be extremely useful, they are not suitable for every situation and come with additional costs, risks, and legal requirements that buyers should fully understand before proceeding.

Most military personnel assume the Forces Help to Buy (FHTB) scheme works like a standard deposit, but the legal reality is closer to a complex bridging loan managed by the MoD. Because the funds are drawn from your future salary and secured against your property, the timeline for 'Notice to Draw' requires a level of coordination that standard high-street lawyers often miss. Missing a single deadline for paperwork can push your completion back & potentially jeopardising your

The Building Safety Act 2022 represents one of the most significant reforms to property law in the UK in recent decades. Introduced in response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the Act aims to improve building safety standards, increase accountability, and provide greater protection for leaseholders. For firms like JB Property Law, the Act has reshaped the legal landscape surrounding leasehold properties, introducing both new challenges and opportunities.

This is where our passion runs deepest. Too often, when people talk about Armed Forces conveyancing, the focus is placed solely on actively

Buying a New-Build Home: What You Need to Know About Warranties, Snagging and Risks

From 1st May, significant legal changes are coming into force that will directly affect landlords across the private rented sector. One issue in particular is being brought sharply into focus: black mould. For many landlords, mould has historically been treated as a minor maintenance issue or, in some cases, attributed to tenant lifestyle. That approach is no longer sustainable. Under the forthcoming Renters’ Rights legislation, expectations are rising and the consequences of

A Forces Help to Buy (FHTB) application isn't a guarantee of mortgage approval because lenders and the MOD look at your pay packet through two completely different lenses. While the MOD might agree to lend you up to £25,000, a high-street lender will often reduce your maximum borrowing amount because that FHTB loan is treated as a monthly debt commitment. If your total monthly credit repayments—including the new mortgage and the FHTB repayment exceed 55% of your gross househo

Permitted development rights (PDR) allow property owners in the UK to make certain changes to their homes without needing to apply for full planning permission. These rights can save time and money, but they come with specific rules and limits. Understanding what you can and cannot do under permitted development is essential before starting any work on your property. What Are Permitted Development Rights? Permitted development rights are a set of government rules that allow h

Can an unmarried couple buy a property together using Forces Help to Buy when only one partner is in the military? JB Property Law explains the legal considerations and protections available.

Buying a new-build property while serving in the armed forces isn't the 'chain-free doddle' that site agents often pitch. While you don't have a seller moving out on the same day, you have a rigid developer deadline on one side and the MOD’s administrative timeline on the other. In 2026, the success of these transactions hinges on the precise alignment of the Forces Help To Buy (FHTB) drawdown with the developer’s 28-day exchange expectation.

Buying a property with a partner, friend, family member, or investment partner is an exciting milestone. However, before you collect the keys and start planning your future, there is one important legal document that many co-owners overlook: a Trust Deed. A properly drafted Trust Deed can provide clarity, protect everyone's financial interests, and help prevent costly disputes further down the line.

Most lenders will reject a mortgage application if they spot an undisclosed debt on a payslip, but for many service personnel, the 'debt' is actually an old Long Service Advance of Pay (LSAP) balance that hasn't been properly cleared or converted. Understanding how the Ministry of Defence transitioned from LSAP to the Forces Help to Buy (FHTB) scheme is essential because even in 2026, legacy administrative errors during this switch can stall a property purchase at the elevent