Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me? – Beware of the Property Misdescriptions Act 1991
When is a garage not a garage? A garage is described as ‘a building or shed for housing a motor vehicle’. So, what is a motor vehicle? Can this include a motorbike? A moped? Anything with an internal engine? These are the kinds of questions solicitors and estate agents will have to consider asking themselves. […]
12 Penalty Points On Your Driving Licence – Automatic Disqualification? – Think Again!
Introduction As most of the Top Gear fans amongst you will know if you accumulate 12 points or more on your driving licence you can be disqualified from driving. However, this is not by any means a foregone conclusion. Statutory Basis The relevant piece of legislation is Section 35 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act […]
Safeguarding Tenants’ Deposits – Tenancy Deposit Schemes
A tenancy deposit scheme is a scheme – approved by the Scottish Government – provided and operated by an independent third party to hold and protect tenants’ deposits until they fall to be repaid at the end of the tenancy. These schemes will come into operation very soon, advises John Sinclair. Concerns that some private […]
Family Law
A matter which is becoming increasingly prevalent, particularly in the North East of Scotland which houses a fairly transient population, is the situation whereby after a couple have separated, one of them requires to move either to another part of the United Kingdom or possibly with more profound consequences, to another Continent. Clearly, this is […]
Energy Act 2011 and The Green Deal
It is now less than 6 months to go until the “Green Deal” launch which is set to revolutionise the energy efficiency of all UK homes and businesses. The Green Deal stems from the Energy Act 2011 and is designed to enable private firms to offer consumers energy efficiency improvements. The benefit to consumers and […]
Cohabitee’s Rights
In a recent landmark decision by five Justices of the Supreme Court, some clarity has been brought to the issue of cohabitee’s rights. Whilst it has always been accepted that the terms of The Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006 did not seek to provide couples, who chose to co-habit rather than to marry or enter […]
Stamp Duty Changes
One of the more unpleasant aspects of any house purchase is paying Stamp Duty Land Tax (“SDLT”). It is usually far and away the biggest outlay in any house purchase. According to statistics released by Aberdeen Solicitors Property Centre, the average house price in Aberdeen in 2011 was £208,398. This would attract SDLT of £2,083. […]
Long Leases (Scotland) Act 2012
The Long Leases (Scotland) Act received Royal Assent on 7 August 2012. The Act will on the “Appointed Day” (the first Martinmas (28th November) falling 2 years after the relevant sections of the Act come into force) convert the tenant’s interest in long leases into outright ownership and extinguish the existing rights of land owners […]
NEW SALES AND LEASING OFFICES
James & George Collie are pleased to announce the opening of two new offices in Aberdeen, one dedicated to the sale of residential properties and the other to residential property leasing. Our dedicated property sales office has recently opened at 450 Union Street, in the heart of Aberdeen city centre. Located between Rose Street and […]
Reflections of a Lady President
Wow, the first woman President of the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen – who would have thought it! The Society has been in existence for well over 400 years and yet it was not until the mid 1960s that the first woman was admitted as a member of the Society – another Elizabeth – this […]