
Dementia currently affects 1 in 14 people in the UK. Many people will either know someone with dementia, have had to support and care for someone with dementia or have been diagnosed themselves.
Lenders have long had the option of completing electronic discharges or e-DS1s, although this only applies to discharge of the whole of a registered title. Many lenders have chosen still not to do so; however, we may see practices changing under the current conditions.
The Land Registry helpfully confirmed last week that it will extend all current cancellation dates until 1 June 2020 (this relates to requisitions on applications) and it will not issue any warnings of cancellation in the interim.
Time for filing SDLT returns
The 14-day period for payment of SDLT is applicable as normal. However, HMRC has set up a helpline for those people who are struggling to make a payment due to Covid-19 and the restrictions that are currently in place, the helpline number is 0800 024 1222. If you receive a penalty due to non-payment of SDLT as a result of Covid-19 an appeal can be submitted in the usual manner explaining the reason for the delay. Appeals will be dealt with on a case by case basis.
Government guidance on buying or selling homes
The Government has issued guidance and has urged all parties involved in home moving “to adapt and be flexible to alter their usual process.”
The Government guidance states that home buyers can continue with their purchase if they are moving into empty properties.
If, however, the property is currently occupied, the guidance states parties are encouraged to do all they can to amicably agree alternative dates for a time when it is likely that the stay at home provisions will no longer be in place. If alternative dates cannot be agreed, this will be classed as a critical house move, which will be exempt from the emergency enforcement powers that the police have been given to respond to Covid-19. However, people must follow advice on staying away from others to minimise the spread of the virus.
To help ease the process, the Government has also agreed with banks that mortgage offers should be extended where the completion has been delayed in order to prioritise safety.
The Government has also worked with conveyancers to develop a standard legal process for moving completion dates. The Law Society in conjunction with other conveyancing bodies has issued a toolkit including a template agreement for varying the contract. All of this is designed to simplify the process of agreeing changes so that it is as standardised as possible.
If both parties agree that the completion date can be moved, it would be a good idea to agree a process which allows some flexibility to delay the move date further if the Government extends the current stay-at-home period.
There is much to consider during this whole process: what would happen if somebody in the chain passed away? What happens if property prices fluctuate? It should also be noted that the Land Registry still requires “wet” signatures on the transfer documents. Meaning that the transfer will need to be signed and witnessed in person. Special consideration will of course again need to be given to social distancing guidelines.
In line with the Government’s advice, protecting the health of individuals and the public must be the priority.
Please contact Sandy Munroe or Alex Tindall.
Dementia currently affects 1 in 14 people in the UK. Many people will either know someone with dementia, have had to support and care for someone with dementia or have been diagnosed themselves.
The 2022 Code replaces the NHF Code of Conduct 2012 (the 2012 Code) and sets out the baseline standards that the NHF expects of its member registered providers (RPs).
The High Court has dismissed a challenge by the Police Superintendents’ Association to the closure of legacy public sector pension schemes.
In my recent blog, I said that we would be issuing a series of ebriefings and blogs highlighting issues with the Procurement Bill. This is the first of these.
Contractors and delivery partners are facing a ‘perfect storm’ in many cases with a number of factors directly impacting upon the profitability of their work.
Worker status, like Piers Morgan, is one of those things that we think has gone away and then it pops up again!
We are seeing a steady trickle of decisions focused around the issue of flexible working requests or employer requirements for changes to working patterns (both pre and post the pandemic).
For those of us who have endured a choppy cross channel journey, the mention of P&O Ferries will invoke some nauseous memories.
Successive generations have witnessed seismic shifts in the workplace; post-war it was the return of the soldiers and the impact on working women who had to work in their place.
In this podcast, Puja Desai interviews Kimberley Foster and discusses her experience with counselling. This is a really helpful podcast for anyone who has thought about counselling.