Let the buyer beware - ‘Caveat Emptor’ It is crucial for a buyer to have a house or flat professionally surveyed before the exchange of contracts occurs. Conveyancers are not qualified to advise buyers on the value, structural integrity, or the physical condition of the property. Such advice should be obtained from a surveyor. Under English law, sellers are generally not obligated to ensure that the property is physically suitable for the buyer or that it meets planning, bui

What is a ‘Gifted Deposit’? The first kind of 'gifted deposit,' known as a 'Seller's gifted deposit,' occurs when the seller offers a portion of the purchase price back to the buyers, either as a discount or a deposit. This can happen when a seller, like a housebuilder, reduces or eliminates the deposit required from the buyers at the contract exchange, or when the seller contributes to or refunds part of the purchase price upon completion. The second kind, termed a 'Family g

While we cannot provide specific advice on whether to install panels on an existing property, the following insights may be helpful. If you are considering panel installation, it's crucial to conduct thorough research. Typically, it takes 10-20 years to reach a break-even point on the investment cost of the panels. Informative articles on this topic can be found at www.which.co.uk and www.moneysavingexpert.com. These sources suggest that if you plan to move within the next 10