An important case has recently been heard by the Court of Appeal which has overturned an earlier ruling by the High Court. This has implications for the duty of care expected by the courts on occupiers of land.
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Throughout history, explorers have brought strange and exotic plants back to the UK from foreign lands. Most of these grow happily and disturb no one. However, some grow so vigorously that they force back other plants, i.e. our native ones, and cause damage to buildings. If these invasive plants are allowed to proliferate, our native eco-systems are under threat, so they must be controlled. Developers and builders have strict regulations to follow to ensure that these plants are not present when building properties.
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A leasehold property, on a full repairing lease is, from the point of view of the survey, much the same as a freehold property. The main difference is that the need to keep the property in good repair does not just depend on what is prudent but is strictly governed by the terms of the repairing clauses in the lease.
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The newly published part J Approved Document (AD J) of the Building Regulations takes effect on 1st October in England and Wales.
The building regulations will require a CO alarm to be fitted in each room of a property or building as a new or replacement fixed solid fuel, gas or oil heating appliance.
To read this Building Regulations summary and download the documents click here.
New proposals by the Coalition Government will give local councils in England extra money for all new homes built.
Under the New Homes Bonus Scheme, announced by Housing Minister Grant Shapps, a grant equivalent to the council tax for each new home will be paid to the councils for the next 6 years. The councils will be able to decide how to spend the money.
Get healthy with your kids and create a Vegetable Patch in your Garden.
Research by such bodies as the National Trust encourages homeowners and others to get hold of an allotment or start a Vegetable Patch in the garden.
More than half the children in the poll would be more willing to eat vegetables if they had grown them themselves. Nearly ¾ of children would like to have their own growing space in the garden.
In times of drought, or if a house is on a water meter, it is possible to save water with the use of “Grey Water” in the garden.
Grey water is simply recycled water from the home that has already been used, but is not so contaminated that it will cause damage to plants and other areas of the garden if used as part of the garden watering process.
Can purchasers offset their losses on a furnished holiday let against other income?
Although the last Government intended to change this situation, this was never achieved before the General Election. The Coalition has decided for the time being to leave the current position alone.
The GDP figures released from the Office of National Statistics last Friday bode well for the economy. The mixed economic news suggests, however, that one swallow does not make a summer.
Wasps can easily create chaos around somebody’s property, house or home by setting up their nest too close or even inside the property. The usually unwelcome pests can make using parts of any property, house or garden unpleasant and even virtually impossible to use normally in some circumstances.
People are used to wasp nests in trees and roofs and outbuildings but they can even be found at ground level. They can also appear almost overnight.
