Philippa's EDP Homes24 Column
Principal Philippa Rudd has been writing a regular column for the Homes24 property supplement of the Eastern Daily Press for over seven years now. In that time she has covered a vast number of legal issues surrounding the buying and selling of houses.
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Buying A House In France
We have just returned from a wonderful holiday in France. The property prices are so low and we love the quality of life there so we are thinking of buying a house for holidays and maybe even settling in France permanently. Please can you explain the French house buying process to us?
May 3rd, 2013
Clawbacks
We are thinking of selling a meadow next to our home which we used in the past for grazing land for livestock. My wife is convinced that whoever buys the land will get planning permission for new houses and will make a fortune. I don’t think the land would ever be built on, but if it were, how could we claim a share in any profit?
April 5th, 2013
Solar Panels
A leaflet arrived on my doorstep this morning offering me solar panels, which could give me cheaper energy bills. The company is offering to lease the panels to me, rather than my having to buy them. What is your advice?
March 8th, 2013
Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)
I have just agreed to buy a property. I understand that it should have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). What is the significance of an EPC?
February 11th, 2013
We Are Delighted To Announce Our Sponsorship Of The Homes24 Supplement
I’ve had the pleasure of writing a regular Homes24column for the past seven years, covering a wide range of legal issues and topics that surround the buying and selling of houses. As new sponsors of this informative supplement, I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and my firm, Cozens-Hardy LLP, to those of you who may not be familiar with our services…
January 11th, 2013
Don’t Go Mad With The Inflatable Santa!
This Christmas I want to make our house look spectacular so my children have an unforgettable Christmas. A friend in the pub said he thought I would need a licence for the type of festive decorations I have in mind. Is he right?
December 7th, 2012
Know Your Legal Boundaries
I am buying a country cottage and I am anxious to ascertain which boundaries I will own as some of the hedges and a fence needs attention. How can I find out exactly what I will own?
November 2nd, 2012
Do you need planning permission?
We have wanted to build an extension for some time now. Our builder (who is a very skilled builder but poor with his paperwork) has always shrugged his shoulders when we asked him about planning permission. I understand that planning laws are being relaxed and we may be able to build an extension now without planning permission?
October 5th, 2012
Squatters & Unauthorised Occupants
I have heard that the law relating to squatters has recently changed, in favour of home owners. Can you tell me more please? Is squatting now a criminal offence?
A person squatting in a residential building is now committing a crime. If squatters have taken over your home, they are breaking the law.
September 7th, 2012
Rights of Way
I live in north Norfolk and have heard about 'the England Coast Path'. Can you tell me more please? The England Coast Path is a new long distance route that will eventually allow people to walk around the whole English Coast...
August 3rd, 2012
Enjoying the "good life" may be a problem
We live in the Golden Triangle. We are hoping to try out our own version of 'The Good Life' by gradually becoming self-sufficient. We want to start with a few chickens in our back garden, and if all goes well maybe a pig or a goat later with a vegetable patch too. A colleague told me that we might get in trouble if we went ahead with our plan. Whatever does he mean? I thought the government would encourage this sort of initiative?
June 1, 2012
Acquiring Land
My wife wants to 'acquire' some land from the meadow which borders our garden. She seems to think we can just move our fence so as to include some of this land within our garden. This extra land would be useful but would we get away with this?
May 4, 2012
A grave subject...
We are a family with many pets. We have lived in the same house for a long time now. When our furry or feathered friends pass away, we bury them in our garden. Is this legal? We are thinking of moving house and we do not know what to say to prospective buyers about the pet cemetery at the end of the garden.
April 6, 2012
What's the legal lowdown on loft conversions?
We live in a terraced house in Norwich. We can't afford to move house but we need more space for our expanding family. We are thinking of converting our loft into living accommodation. What do we need to know, please?
March 2, 2012
Just what is a flying freehold?
I am buying a terraced house in Norwich. My solicitor tells me that the house that I am buying has a 'flying freehold'.What does he mean?
Feb 3, 2012
Elderly person's capacity
My mother wishes to sell her house and move in with my sister. My mother is forgetful and confused sometimes, but she totally understands the need to sell the house and she totally trusts my sister and me. However, our family solicitor is being very difficult and insisting on a letter from her GP to confirm that my mother has the necessary capacity to instruct him. This seems to be going far too far. Is it really necessary?
January 6, 2012
> More EDP columns from Philippa (please note that the advice given was correct at the time of going to press but may no longer be relevant in law).
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