Property

New Renters’ Rights Act 2025 – What landlords need to know

The balance between the rights of tenants and the rights of landlords has been a focus of both the current Labour government and the former Conservative government. Solicitor Rachel Macwilliam discusses the forthcoming Renters’ Rights Act and what the changes mean for you as a landlord. Renters’ Reform v Renters’ Rights Bill Before their loss…

Myth busting: The red line shows the exact boundary of my property

No, this is not true.  The red line represents the general boundary line which is not a precise legal boundary and only an approximation which cannot be relied upon as referred to by the general boundary rule. What is the General Boundary Rule? The general boundary rule, as defined by the Land Registration Act 2002,…

BBC Panorama investigation into conditional selling by Estate Agents

Woman looking at properties for sale in estate agent window.

A recent BBC Panorama undercover investigation has shone a spotlight on some disturbing dubious sales tactics being used by some estate agents.  The investigation focused on the practice of conditional selling and of overvaluing properties to attract clients. Solicitor Demelza Dunstan from Penderlaw’s Property team explains these terms and outlines their implications on your purchase.…

Helping your kids to buy a house

With the average house price now at almost £380k, the dream of buying a first home feels ever more out of reach for Generation Z.  As a result, many young people are understandably turning to their parents to help them out.  If you are a parent considering helping your kids to buy a house, there…

WHAT TO DO IF YOU MISSED THE STAMP DUTY LAND TAX DEADLINE

History of Stamp Duty Stamp duty land tax was introduced in England in 1694 and is one of this country’s oldest taxes. Since then, it has been updated to reflect changing times and sometimes used as a tool to boost the property market at times of economic stress. When is Stamp Duty payable? Stamp Duty…

Building an extension?  7 fundamentals to get right.

Whether you’re buying a house with lots of potential that you want to make the most of, or have decided against moving in favour of extending your existing home, there is a lot to consider when building an extension.  Solicitor Demelza Dunstan highlights the legal pitfalls to avoid when extending your property. Building an extension…

3 things first time buyers need to consider

We have seen a recent surge in enquiries from first time buyers, perhaps due to the recent cut in interest rates, the first drop in rates since March 2020 when the UK first entered lockdown.    So, we thought some top tips for first time buyers would be useful. Samantha Bellamy, Chartered Legal Executive at Penderlaw…

Meet Demelza from our Property Team

two women sat around a circular table

Our friendly and knowledgeable team at Penderlaw Solicitors are at the heart of our firm, what we do and the service we provide. In the third of our Meet the Team series of blog posts we introduce Demelza Dunstan, a solicitor in our Property team.  Demelza joined Penderlaw in September 2016, prior to which she had…