Experienced full time conveyancing secretary required

Experienced full time conveyancing secretary

We are looking for an experienced conveyancing secretary for our bustling and happy conveyancing department. Our ideal candidate will have a good knowledge of conveyancing procedure, be capable and proactive and will have a commitment to being part of the conveyancing department give excellent client care. Our office is located in central Brighton.

Fraudsters Be Warned – Land Registry seeks to protect Landlords and Non Resident Home Owners.

The Land Registry have recently taken steps to introduce a 6 month initiative to aid property owners in protecting their empty or tenanted properties being sold or mortgaged fraudulently. Non resident or absent property owners are being encouraged to register a new Form LL restriction against the title to their property for which there is no land registry fee. The restriction requires a conveyancer’s certificate confirming that person selling or mortgaging the property is the true owner.  This will provide invaluable protection to Landlords and indeed owners living abroad or in care homes or where properties have been left empty as they are the amongst the most likely to fall victim to fraud.

The new procedure for safeguarding property is subject to a 6 month trial period but is not appropriate to use for owner occupiers, corporate Landlords, commercial premises or developments.

If you require any further information please contact Ms M Nagra in our property team. 

Stamp Duty Land Tax

Exemption for first time buyers

Chancellor George Osborne has advised that he will not be extending the Stamp Duty Land Tax holiday for first time buyers and as planned this will now end on the 24th March 2012.

First time buyers should be aware when planning their finances that unless the government change their decision before the 24th March  2012 any purchases which complete after this date will be subject to the usual stamp duty land tax payments.  Therefore careful consideration should be taken when agreeing completion dates and if you wish to rely on the relief for first time buyers please ensure that you inform the solicitors acting for you of the importance of your transaction being completed before the 24th March 2012.

The current stamp duty land tax brackets are :-

£0 - £125,000     No Stamp Duty Land Tax payable

£0 - £150,000     No Stamp Duty Land Tax payable if the property is in a "Disadvantaged Area"

£125,000 - £250,000     1% of actual purchase price

£250,000 - £500,000   3% of actual purchase price

£500,000 - £1m    4% of actual purchase price

over £1m    5% of actual purchase price

If you require any further information regarding Stamp Duty Land Tax please contact our residential conveyancing team