Redevelopment and excessive user of a right of way

In the recent case of Stanning v Baldwin the Court was asked to consider a number of issues one of which as to whether the redevelopment of the Claimant’s property and construction of 4 houses would lead to an intensification of use of a right of way over a land owned by the Defendants. The Claimant, Glynis Stanning, owned The Coach House, access to which was over an unsurfaced and unadopted track over Gerrards Cross Common near Slough, a local beauty spot registered as common land. The track was the sole means of vehicular access and the right of way arose by prescription. In 2017 the Claimant obtained planning permission to demolish the Coach House and to erect four terraced houses, with underground parking for nine cars and with access to continue over the…

Selling your home in a flat market, some top tips

Experts predict that the housing market will face some challenging times in the months ahead as the number of sales continue to fall. With the average house now taking over 19 weeks to sell, the outlook may appear disheartening if you want to sell. There are still buyers out there, searching for their next home from a smaller pool of properties, and our residential conveyancing team offers some advice on selling your home in a flat market. Be realistic on price Market data suggests that overall house prices are slipping. There are strong regional and local variations, so it pays to research the sale price your home may realistically expect to achieve. Local estate agents should have a good idea of how much your property is likely to fetch, and it is a good idea to speak…

St. Gemma's Hospice Make a Will month October

Have your Will written in exchange for a donation to St Gemma's Hospice. 

When to use Nuptial agreements

As so many farming businesses have been passed down from generation to generation, representing decades of hard work and family history, it is vital to consider any potential threats that might prevent the farm staying in the family and being passed down to future family members. While farming couples may have enjoyed living together on the family farm during their marriage, a divorce can mean that the family farm has to be sold to raise funds in the divorce settlement unless legal steps are taken to stave off such a devastating threat. A nuptial agreement is a legal agreement between a married couple or civil partners that lays down in writing how any future divorce financial settlement will be dealt with. Such agreements can be drawn up before the marriage or civil partnership (prenuptial) or after it (postnuptial…