Latest LEGAL News and Information

Florida declares was on rescue fraud - (Legal)
A new law to protect Florida homeowners from fraud has been passed this week... ... more

Canada set for two lean years - (Legal)
The Bank of Canada has provided a bleak outlook on Canada's economic future... ... more

Brits mesmerised by Magic Murcia - (Legal)
Murcia is set to prosper in 2008 after tourism increased by 18% in 2007... ... more

Rogue agents rumbled in Spain - (Legal)
New laws have recently been passed in Spain to protect home-buyers from fraud... ... more

Buy-to-let investing in the Middle East - (Legal)
The Middle East's housing markets have been rapidly opening - and both opportunities and dangers await property investors, according to a new report by the Global Property Guide... ... more

Brits escaping in record numbers - (Legal)
The NAEA is advising homebuyers to think carefully when considering a move abroad... ... more

Cape Verdes tropical appeal - (Legal)
Santiago Island in Cape Verde is set to offer unrivalled investment returns... ... more

Call for new regulator to protect residents - (Legal)
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) has called for the role of a new regulator to ensure all residents in affordable housing are protected to the same degree... ... more

Good progress with new housing licensing laws - (Legal)
Landlords and councils are progressing well with new housing licensing laws according to a comprehensive survey released this week by LACORS, the Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services... ... more

Lenders cleaning up act on mortgage exit fees - (Legal)
The Financial Services Authority is working to ensure that borrowers don't receive any nasty surprises when they try to redeem their mortgage... ... more

Invest in Australias next growth cycle - (Legal)
Local investors are returning to the east coast markets of Australia as record vacancy rates continue to drive up rental returns, reports Home Port Property... ... more

Controversial HIPS defy critics doubts - (Legal)
Pack providers have defied the critics, turning around real-time orders for Home Information Packs (HIPs) in under 48 hours, reports the Association for Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPP)... ... more

UK missing out on £2.7 billion of pensions cash - (Legal)
UK pensioners are collectively throwing away £2.7 billion through not claiming pension credits and making unnecessary tax payments, reports Unbiased.co.uk... ... more

New law targets rogue agents - (Legal)
A new law forcing agents to succumb to further regulation has been welcomed by the NAEA... ... more

Homeowners should embrace wardens - (Legal)
Homeowners should welcome an increase in the number of traffic wardens and burglar alarms... ... more

EC action on `holiday scams - (Legal)
The European Commission has announced plans to crack down on bogus "Holiday Club" scams... ... more

OZ estate agent quoting scam - (Legal)
Illegal under-quoting of auction prices is rife in Sydney... ... more

Devious white paper slammed - (Legal)
Changes to the planning system could kill off loft conversions... ... more

Shut-out for nightmare neighbours - (Legal)
Persistent nuisance neighbours face having their homes closed and sealed under proposed new powers for police and councils... ... more

Spanish law to curb rip-off- prices - (Legal)
Come 1 July, Spain will have a new land law aimed at part in curbing ?exorbitant house prices', reports Fly2Let... ... more

Scam-busting site launched - (Legal)
A new website has been launched to help guide buyers and sellers through possible scams and other pitfalls of the property market in the UK... ... more

FSA warns of BTL fraud - (Legal)
The Financial Services Authority has revealed that it has uncovered several instances of buy-to-let property investors lying to bank lenders... ... more

Belfast slum scandal exposed - (Legal)
Belfast City Council has vowed to crack down on slum properties after the Belfast Telegraph revealed shocking widespread living conditions... ... more

Rogue estate agents targeted in Bulgaria - (Legal)
A campaign targeting rogue estate agents has been launched in Bulgaria... ... more

New Zealand declares war on rogue estate agents - (Legal)
After a number of recent incidents, the head of the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) has called for a dramatic increase in the penalties that can be imposed on rogue estate agents... ... more

Marbella corruption scandal explodes - (Legal)
The Spanish Government has taken the landmark decision to dissolve Marbella's town council a long investigation into a multi-billion property scandal. ... more

UK property buyers heading back to Valencia - (Legal)
After the amendment of the controversial "land grab law" last year, the many attractions of the Valencia province are pulling in UK property buyers once again, reports Kyero.com... ... more

New International Property Rights Index launched - (Legal)
Property Rights Alliance (PRA), in conjunction with 37 global partners, yesterday released the inaugural International Property Rights Index (IPRI) at an event at the National Press Club... ... more

Law set to allow legal break-in to your home - (Legal)
New laws will put debtors at greater risk from unscrupulous bailiffs, a consumer advice charity is warning... ... more

Years biggest property show this weekend - (Legal)
With only three days to go until the launch of this year's Homebuyer Show (2-4 March) at ExCel London, the property industry is gearing up for a weekend of superb property deals, exciting investment opportunities and invaluable knowledge gathering... ... more

Dubai property market stabilised by rent cap - (Legal)
The Dubai Government's decision to place a cap on rent increases in order to stabilise the emirate's property market has been praised by industry figures, reports Khaleej Times... ... more

Cyprus applies to join the euro - (Legal)
The Cypriot government applied to join the euro last week; if successful this move would deliver a significant boost to the Cypriot economy and good news to property investors... ... more

Mallorca to be hot in 2007 - (Legal)
Mallorca looks set for great things this year after accounting for 80% of Spanish sales at UK giant Chesterton's in 2006... ... more

Italy to introduce REITS by July - (Legal)
The Italian finance ministry's decision to introduce REITs by July 2007 has given Italy's property market a much needed boost, reports Property Investor News... ... more

Third of over-50s planning to buy abroad - (Legal)
A third of people aged over 50 are considering buying a holiday home abroad according to a report by over 50s specialists Saga... ... more

New tax policy to affect tourists to Italy - (Legal)
Italy is planning to allow its towns to tax tourists up to EURO 5 ($6.30; £3.40) per day, reports Jet-to-Let Magazine... ... more

Home info packs get crucial changes - (Legal)
Timescale relaxations to home info packs have been announced by the government in the light of trials taking place, but estate agents will get heavier fines if they fail to meet criteria... ... more

Bangkok property outlook dented by surprises - (Legal)
The prospects for the Bangkok property market are not looking quite so rosy after several recent "surprises" including bombings in the capital on New Year's Eve and government proposals to tighten up the Foreign Business Act, Jones Lang LaSalle reports... ... more

NAEAs top tips for people moving abroad - (Legal)
The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) is offering advice to homebuyers to ensure that dream of moving abroad doesn't turn into a nightmare... ... more

Code of practice for home info packs launched - (Legal)
Consumer confidence in home info packs is to be supported by a code of practice and regulatory body... ... more

South Africa acts to limit coastal construction - (Legal)
South Africa's government has recently passed a draft bill limiting property development and ownership in coastal areas which many are interpreting as a step to restrict foreign investment in these areas, reports www.fly-2let.co.uk... ... more

Public under-informed about housing market - (Legal)
A new poll reveals the house buying public are unaware of basic facts about the buying and selling process... ... more

NLA wins deposit protection contract - (Legal)
The National Landlords Association wins a contract to run tenancy deposit protection scheme... ... more

Careful planning can save 114000 in IH tax - (Legal)
By putting the correct legal documents in place, up to £114,000 in potential inheritance tax can be saved... ... more

Rogue estate agent bill announced - (Legal)
Rogue estate agents that give the industry a bad name are to be collared in plans that will give homebuyers better protection... ... more

Edinburgh homeowners to get wind turbine right - (Legal)
Green city planners are set to remove the planning permission requirement for home wind turbines in Edinburgh... ... more

Lawyers slammed in homebuyer survey - (Legal)
Lawyers are the most-hated industry villains a new homebuyer survey found... ... more

Italy introduces yet more taxes - (Legal)
Italian Prime Minister Romani Prodi has reintroduced succession tax and altered the tax rules for gifts, reports The Italian magazine... ... more

EU warns over energy efficient buildings - (Legal)
Last week nine member states received warnings over their failure to inform the European Commission about what activity they are taking to boost energy efficiency in buildings... ... more

Swindon sisters take IHT battle to Strasbourg - (Legal)
Two elderly sisters who live near Swindon are taking the government to the European courts in a bid to overturn inheritance tax laws... ... more

More join home info pack group ahead of trials - (Legal)
As the November roll-out of voluntary trials approaches, the pack providers' body sees a further increase in membership... ... more

Court victory boost for N Cyprus owners - (Legal)
Last week, a UK Court refused to enforce a judgment which threatened to demolish the villa of a UK couple in Northern Cyprus, giving hope to thousands of Britons who have already bought in this region... ... more

Broken chains will be mended quicker with Hips - (Legal)
A complete home information pack in place in a broken chain will enable a new buyer to hit the ground running, in many cases allowing the seller to also continue with their purchase, said industry body... ... more

Clampdown on Ayia Napa antics - (Legal)
With Cypriot authorities clamping down on loud music and typical '18-30s' antics, Ayia Napa is fast becoming an upmarket holiday destination and a serious hotspot for property investors, says Assetz... ... more

Property fund managers sitting on timebomb - (Legal)
The introduction of building certificates will shorten the lifespan of commercial buildings constructed before new EU regulations on wasted energy... ... more

10 top tips for buying property in Greece - (Legal)
Claire May of R & C Property Management Services offers her 10 top tips for buying property in Greece... ... more

Quick-fix DIY improvements wont do anymore - (Legal)
New research reveals that using image to sell could soon cost homeowners dearly... ... more

Warning over East European markets - (Legal)
Britain's largest property investment specialist sees the current optimism surrounding Eastern European property markets as misplaced... ... more

A To Z of Spanish property jargon - (Legal)
As Britons look for their ideal home across the villages, towns and cities of Spain, ranging from Abalario to Zurgena, it is easy to get lost in Spanish 'home buying' words and phrases... ... more

Rental issues spurs landlords group growth - (Legal)
Investors are turning to a Landlords' association to obtain help with a range of new issues... ... more

Pro-Hip estate agent plans to boycott scheme - (Legal)
A large estate agent group who supported the government's home information pack scheme is calling for all estate agents to boycott the remaining ?shambles'... ... more

Half-Hip is no brainer for home sellers - (Legal)
It's likely that many home sellers will see that paying for an energy report and not taking the home condition report at the same time will not make value for money, say home inspectors looking for a silver lining in the home information pack fiasco... ... more

Preventing a philanthropic faux pas - (Legal)
Easier registration of village greens could lead to problems for landowners... ... more

Home info pack U-turn fiasco - (Legal)
A useless ?half-Hip' will be a waste of time and money claim campaigners, angry that the government ?house made of straw' has backed down on mandatory introduction of home inspection reports next June... ... more

Hip up hiccup promised - (Legal)
Home information packs (Hips) are top of the Tory agenda today as they attempt to derail the government's plans to save homebuyers the strife and cost of property chain breakdown... ... more

Slow uptake of automated valuations expected - (Legal)
Five years on from Hips introduction, 40% of valuations are likely to be automated, lenders predict... ... more

No-Hip loophole closed - (Legal)
Companies intending to make a quick buck out of potential home sellers concerned about getting a satisfactory home information pack were dealt a swift blow this week... ... more

Green crusaders welcome home energy rating - (Legal)
Green campaigners Friends of the Earth and the World Wildlife Fund have welcomed the home energy rating system to be part if the sale of any home next year... ... more

Town green ruling safeguards other open spaces - (Legal)
A Law Lords ruling on town and village green registration in Oxford will protect recreation areas under threat in other towns... ... more

Hips may not stop failed transactions - (Legal)
Results from a survey of over 1,800 home sales in England and Wales show Home Information Packs may not prevent all deals from falling through... ... more

New guide to buying property in Portugal - (Legal)
The Portuguese Chamber in London will launch their latest publication, 'Portugal - The Property Buyers' Guide' on Portugal Day, June 10th, reports Portugal magazine... ... more

Landlords set to take licensing in their stride - (Legal)
Landlords look to grow portfolios over the next 12 months, undeterred by HMO licensing... ... more

Light pollution law enacted but is it enough - (Legal)
Light pollution became a Statutory Nuisance this month. Even so, countryside campaigners are calling on the government to prevent future pollution through strong planning policy... ... more

Hips trial radically cut property time-wasters - (Legal)
A continuation of the Bristol trial of home information packs has cut the fall-through rate from 26% to just 1.3%... ... more

Marbella in multi-billion property scandal - (Legal)
The Spanish government last week took the unprecedented decision to dissolve Marbella's town council after a long-running planning dispute erupted into a multi-billion euro corruption scandal... ... more

Good landlords have nothing to fear from HMOs - (Legal)
Landlords and property managing agents letting reasonable/good quality houses in multiple occupation have nothing to fear from HMO licensing says ODPM minister, Baroness Andrews... ... more

SIPPs to include residential property - (Legal)
In another extraordinary u-turn, the Chancellor is now proposing that SIPP holders can invest directly in student halls of residence and indirectly in other residential property within a syndicate of just eleven or more members, reports Assetz... ... more

Ontarios tax system unjust oppressive - (Legal)
Ontario Ombudsman Andre Marin issued a damning report into the province's property valuation system yesterday, describing its practices as "unreasonable, unjust, oppressive and wrong", reports the Ottawa Citizen... ... more

Consumer protection on overseas credit - (Legal)
A ruling by the Court of Appeal last week has confirmed that important protection is available to Uk consumers when using credit cards overseas... ... more