The new 5 pence for a bag rule in the supermarkets and shops across South Wales is a well thought out initiative which we welcome with open arms. It is crucial we look after the environment in every way we can, and reducing the amount of waste caused by plastic bags is an important step on the ladder. However, it’s not just the environment that benefits: the 5 pence charge for plastic bags goes straight to charity, so good causes across Wales will reap the rewards too.
It’s not until such a scheme comes along which really makes you think about your habits, you realise just how wasteful we are with plastic bags. Hopefully this timely reminder will really make a difference.
The trouble with plastic bags is they never fully decompose as there are no bacteria able to break down plastic. Rather than biodegrade they are left to photodegrade. Photodegradation is a much lengthier process which can take anywhere from 500-1000 years to remove all trace of the bag.
In response to this initiative, here at Howells Solicitors we have given each of our team a bag for life, so they can do their bit for the environment too
In the first report published as Chief Ombudsman for England and Wales, Adam Sampson, said that thousands of people are being ripped off by businesses that provide unregulated legal services, such as the writing of wills.
The Legal Ombudsman said that most complaints heading his way were to do with property law (conveyancing), family law and wills.
As only some legal services have to be provided by qualified solicitors, many will-writers and unregulated conveyancing firms have recently emerged, some offering a very poor service to consumers.
Commenting on the report, Mr Sampson said "One service which crops up a lot is will writing. It's a service carried out often by will-writing firms who aren't regulated. Because of this, customers are left with little means of redress when things go wrong.
"We've seen similar confusion about claims management companies, with lots of consumers believing they're getting a legal service even though most of the work is carried out by a non-authorised person. Again, we can't help."
In late 2010 the Legal Ombudsman was appointed, with the responsibility of acting on complaints from consumers. Unfortunately, complaints that can be brought to the Ombudsman have to be about qualified solicitors, so many unqualified advisors are escaping scrutiny.
In a recent article on the BBC, Des Hudson, chief executive of the Law Society for England and Wales, said: "The gap in regulation which allows unregulated cowboys to operate in areas like will writing does not just cause unfair competition to solicitors, who provide a regulated, professional service.
"It is also damaging to consumers because the unregulated providers are not insured, do not provide a compensation fund and are not covered by the Legal Ombudsman's scheme for consumer redress."
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice said that it welcomed the report ant that will writing was “an important issue”.
If you would like to speak to someone with regards making or amending a Will, our approachable and measured team of solicitors will make the best use of your assets, planning carefully so you pay the minimum amount of Inheritance and Capital Gains Tax ensuring your loved ones receive as much of the money as possible. We pride ourselves on the time we spend with our clients listening to their wishes, views, fears and desires before crafting the Will to meet each individuals particular needs.With years of experience and full qualifications in this area, we can make sure your will is a legally binding document.
This article is taken from the Western Mail New Homes supplement:
Galliard Homes has written off more than £4m from the existing price list at its luxury development Hayes Point, at Hayes Road in Sully.
This superb gated development set in some 45 acres and with the majority of apartments enjoying stunning sea views will be offered for sale at vastly reduced prices on July 9 and 10.
Galliard Homes is intent on disposing of all remaining stock at Hayes Point on this weekend and to prove its intent a two-bedroom two bathroom apartment offering more than 1,000 square feet of living space is on offer at the phenomenal price of £129,995.
Hayes Point has been designed to provide the ultimate living environment for those that seek a truly unique lifestyle.
The development has something special for first time buyers to seniors alike – whether it is rural seclusion, privacy and security, recreation and fitness, or a combination of them all, amid a glorious stretch of private coastline boasting spectacular views from dawn to dusk.
The lifestyle that could be yours will include an indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, tennis courts and beautifully landscaped gardens.
This is surely an opportunity not to be missed. Galliard Homes is well known throughout the industry for delivering good quality at sensible prices in great locations.
Hayes Point will prove to be a truly unique opportunity to acquire a superb apartment at a phenomenal price in view of the massive reductions on offer.
Howells Solicitors have been appointed as the preferred solicitor to act for potential purchasers on the development, due to our experience with conditional exchanges at previous launches for other national property developers.
If you are interested in an apartment at Hayes Point then call Howells' conveyancing solicitors in Cardiff on 02920 404020.
The property market’s been in the doldrums for a while, but reports of its demise have been greatly exaggerated.
Figures out this week have shown that the number of mortgages approved for house purchase rose to an eight-month high during March, and there’s evidence of these green shoots in Wales, too.
According to the British Bankers’ Association, activity in the property market showed signs of picking up, with a total of 31,660 loans approved for people buying a new home, 5% more than during the previous month and the highest level since July last year.
Tristan Lewis of Howells Solicitors says that business from their offices in Cardiff, Swansea and Newport corroborates the latest findings. “We have seen a substantial increase in instructions over the last eight weeks which is a trend which appears to be continuing as we progress further into the spring.
“The number of instructions we received for sales and purchases in March was 30% higher than our usual monthly figures. We believe from speaking to clients and agents that people are at last becoming more realistic about selling prices in order to get the market moving,” he reveals.
As a mortgage lender, Principality have also seen an upsurge in activity, as explained by Principality’s Product Manager, Paul Straiton. “The pattern is similar at Principality, with both house purchase completions and total mortgage completions increasing slightly during March,” he says. But he does warn that the market’s not out of the woods. “The overall position remains down on levels reported this time last year, pointing to the fact that activity in the housing market remains at levels that are subdued relative to previous periods,” he says.
Buyer confidence is still being cited as a possible impediment in the improvement of the market, Paul believes. “The market still has a long way to go and with increased pressures on banks and building societies to hold more capital, the availability of mortgage finance will remain restricted.
“Concerns about the economic outlook and the ability to raise a deposit may deter potential buyers. Remortgage activity on the other hand is likely to continue to increase this year as borrowers look for fixed rate deals to combat any potential rate rise,” he adds.
Here our trained solicitors share help and guidance on the topic of gifting a family home and the legal repurcussions of doing so:
Contents Summary
- Introduction
- For and Against Outright Gifts of the Family Home
- Reasons for Caution About Making Outright Gifts of the Family Home
- Other Issues When Considering Gifting
- Transferring the Family Home into a 'Flexible Life Interets Trust': A Family Trust
- Standard Guidance on the Cost of Long Term Care More...
