Hundreds of new homes next door to City Hall
Hundreds of private apartments and a selection of affordable homes have been unveiled next to London's centre of government in SE1 - with views of London's iconic Tower Bridge.
Guarantee scheme for first time buyers
New government schemes will offer a big leg-up for those struggling to find deposits. Our property expert finds the best on offer.
Spotlight on Wood Green
Affordable, with good Tube links and acres of sports fields and conservation-area homes, Wood Green and Bounds Green are family favourites.
Spotlight on Rickmansworth
This wealthy suburban town is famous for its watery setting and has spacious homes and good schools within a 30-minute commute to London. No wonder it's in high demand.
Be a master chef at home
The stars of TV’s MasterChef, John Torode and Gregg Wallace, are making it easier to create speedy suppers at home based on the show’s favourite recipes. Do try this at home.
Find a rated tradesman
Want to add value to your property, make your house a home, or sell your place fast? With 1,000s of tradesmen nationwide, rated and recommended by previous customers, this is the smart way to find a reputable tradesman.
Buy of the week: Balham beauty
A sharp new makeover has been applied to this four-bedroom Victorian house. Polished wood floors, high ceilings and big bay windows give space and light to the reception rooms while glossy cabinetry features in the kitchen/dining room. Price: £875,000.
Swap of the week: Wartling, East Sussex
Take £800,000 to this Grade II-listed corker where you can gaze over Pevensey Marshes towards the South Downs. There’s bags of family space, with six bedrooms and four reception rooms, while tennis courts and a cottage are found in the large gardens.
Life-changer: Gravesend, Kent
This oast by the coast comes with open farmland and a church for neighbours. Yours for £850,000 it has all the ingredients for a great B&B: six bedrooms, four reception rooms, a huge attic and a farmhouse kitchen, plus three acres of stables and paddocks.
Spotlight on Wood Green
Affordable, with good Tube links and acres of sports fields and conservation-area homes, Wood Green and Bounds Green are family favourites.
Property search
Persuade your ex to help you out of a stamp duty trap
Our lawyer, Fiona McNulty, advises on the issue of stamp duty
© Merrily Harpur
Answer: Stamp duty land tax is a tax on the purchase of land. It is potentially payable every time you buy property, whether you take out a mortgage or not.The amount of tax depends on the value of the property. At present, there is no duty payable on purchases up to £125,000.
Above £125,000 the rate is one per cent and this gradually increases to five per cent for property purchases of £1million or more. It appears you propose buying 50 per cent of the property for £130,000, which will be caught by the one per cent rate.
As with most taxes there are some exemptions, including purchases between husbands and wives, but this exemption does not apply to unmarried couples. So your solicitor is right.
If you and your girlfriend can’t agree on the house’s value, hire a valuer because it could be that the property is not worth quite as much as you think.
What's your problem?
If you have a question for Fiona McNulty, email legalsolutions@standard.co.uk. We regret that questions cannot be answered individually.
Fiona is a partner in the residential real estate team at Thring LLP www.thrings.com.
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