The Help to Buy scheme has been extended to compensate for the delays in building work due to the coronavirus outbreak. Under the current scheme, work on new homes would have to be finished by the end of December – the extension will mean the deadline will now move to 28 February 2021. The deadline for the legal completion of the sale will remain the same – 31 March 2021.
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Gift or loan – father in dispute with son over house purchase
The High Court has settled a dispute between a father and son over whether money was ‘loaned or gifted’ to buy a home. The father had been a successful builder and property developer who owned numerous residential properties. He and his son had been directors of a building company which owned a commercial property; the son also owned several other properties transferred to him by the father at an undervalue.
Rishi Sunak announces exemption from Stamp Duty Land Tax
Rishi Sunak, chancellor of the exchequer, announced that residential property transactions costing up to £500,000 will be exempt from stamp duty land tax (SDLT) until 31 March 2021. The previous figure was £125,000.
Court corrects ‘unintended windfall’ error in man’s will
The High Court has corrected a clerical error in a man’s will that would have given his nephews and nieces an unintended windfall.
New building sites to help housing market recover after Covid-19
The government’s housing agency, Homes England, has acquired 19 sites across the country that will be used to build 5,000 new homes.
Widow in husband’s unlawful killing case wins right to inherit
A woman who caused her husband’s death through careless driving has won the right to inherit his estate.
1 in 4 pregnant women ‘facing discrimination at work’ during Covid
One in four pregnant women have faced discrimination at work during the coronavirus outbreak, according to a survey carried out by the TUC.
Homes England provides new guide to Help to Buy scheme
Homes England has issued a new updated guide to the Help to Buy equity loan scheme, which has helped thousands of people get on to the property ladder. These are some of the main points covered…
Company director’s dismissal ‘was due to marital discrimination’
A director who was dismissed from her job while divorcing her husband, a director at the same company, was a victim of marital discrimination. That was the decision of the Employment Tribunal in an unusual case