mosshaselhurst Solicitors

04/09/2026

Right to Buy Scheme
The number of Council Tenants buying their home from their Local Authority under the Right to Buy Scheme went up 90% this financial year compared with the previous year.
Earlier this year the Government released plans to overhaul Right to Buy following a consultation. The spike in purchases is thought to have been caused by ending of the high discounts.
The Government intends to support Local Authorities to better protect and rebuild depleted housing stock whilst maintaining a route into homeownership for tenants.
The intended reforms are to include:
• increasing the minimum eligibility period from three to ten years before tenants can apply to buy their home
• new discount rules so that discounts start at 5% of the property value and increase by 1% each year up to the maximum discount of 15% of the property value
The plans also include a 35-year new-build exemption period so new social homes cannot be sold under Right to Buy for 35 years after they are built.

If you are purchasing your home under the Right to Buy Scheme and would like a quote for our legal costs, please call our helpful and friendly team at Mosshaselhurst Solicitors on 01606 74301.

26/08/2026

Help with Probate…

Handling the affairs of someone who has recently passed away can be extremely stressful. It’s at times like these that expert guidance and impartial advice can be invaluable.

mosshaselhurst Solicitors has a dedicated Probate team, who, beyond offering a sympathetic ear, are here to provide you with the support and information you need to ensure the estate is dealt with smoothly and in line with requirements.

There is no legal requirement to appoint a solicitor upon someone’s death, but at what is often an emotionally fraught time, many people find it both reassuring and a relief to be able to pass all matters relating to the administration of an estate into expert hands.

mosshaselhurst Solicitors has built a dedicated probate team, trained in a variety of technical and administrative tasks and well qualified to act on your behalf if you have been appointed as an Executor in someone’s Will or if a relative has died without leaving a Will at all.

We offer the following Probate packages:

Grant of Probate only

Where you provide us with the details of the estate
We liaise with HMRC on your behalf and obtain Grant of Representation
Grant of Probate and Estate Administration

We make initial enquiries to establish estate value
Liaise with HMRC on your behalf and obtain Grant of Representation
Collect in all assets, settle any liabilities and distribute estate
Grant of Probate and Complete Estate Administration

With this package we take the full burden off you. Services include but are not limited to:

Obtaining the death certificate
Planning the funeral
Making initial enquiries to establish estate value
Liaising with HMRC on your behalf and obtaining Grant of Representation
Dealing with utility providers, arranging plumbing and electrician servicing, house insurance, regular property inspections, arrangements for property clearance and gardening
Collecting in all assets, settle any liabilities and distributing estate
Please contact our dedicated Probate team on 01606 74301 to arrange an initial discussion.

18/08/2026

BARBECUE OFFENCES

It only takes one single spark or ember landing on dry grass to start a wildfire. Barbecues can stay hot for hours after they are extinguished and can pose an ongoing risk.

Last week, due to the ongoing heatwave, drought (in some areas) and the continued risk of wildfires, the government imposed a temporary ban on the sale of disposable barbecues.

However, some supermarkets such as Aldi and Waitrose stopped selling disposable barbecues in 2022, due to the detrimental impact they have on the environment.

Many retailers already had a policy in place to suspend the sale of disposable barbecues when requested by the local council or the fire brigade.

Shops now face prosecution for offences relating to the sale of disposable barbecues. Under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 (GPSR), these relate to the unlawful supply, distribution, and commercial facilitation of these products during the active statutory ban.

Selling or offering to sell a disposable barbecue in-store or online constitutes an offence. Distributors supplying them to other businesses are also liable under the GPSR.

If Trading Standards issues a Withdrawal or Suspension Notice and a business continues to display or keep stock for sale then criminal prosecution may follow.

Using a barbecue can lead to prosecution. This does not necessarily have to be in relation to the risk of wildfires.

Possible offences relating to the use of a disposable barbecue by the general public include:

Littering- Leaving it behind can count as littering in a public place which can carry a fine of up to £2,500. Those who are authorised to do so, can also issue someone littering with a fixed penalty notice of £150 as an alternative to prosecution.

Breaching a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO)- by lighting a barbecue in a local council park, on a beach, or on moorland where there are prohibitory signs.

Arson and criminal damage- If a barbecue ignites land or structures, or if it leaves damage (even if this is temporary) then individuals can be prosecuted for criminal damage.

The location of a fire or barbecue could also leave you liable to prosecution for nuisance, black smoke offences and other road traffic offences.

For free initial advice please contact 01606 592129 - Mark Evans or Sarah Hamblett

12/08/2026

Changes to Unfair Dismissal

Changes to unfair dismissal rights will be effective from 1 January 2027

Key changes are:-

the qualifying period to claim ordinary unfair dismissal will be reduced from 2 years to 6 months.
the qualifying period for employees’ right to request written reasons for dismissal will be reduced from 2 years to 6 months
Employees with a minimum of 6 months’ service will therefore gain immediate protection.

The Employment Rights Act 2025 does not change the current existing day one protections against discrimination.

The Government will also remove the existing cap on compensatory awards for unfair dismissal

If you are an employer or employee and you need help on any employment issue contact us now on 01606 74301 or email [email protected] or [email protected]

11/08/2026

Happy 25th Birthday to our Paralegal Wills Executive, Kyla.

We hope you have a lovely day :)

04/08/2026

Buying a Retirement flat with confidence

In many ways, buying a retirement flat isn’t too different to buying any leasehold flat. You will be responsible for the payment of ground rent and service charges, for example. However there are some key distinctions which you should be aware of.

In this article, we guide you through some of the frequently asked questions regarding a retirement flat purchase.

Is there are age requirement for buying a retirement flat?

Yes, and the age restriction will be set out in the property’s Lease. Where there are two occupiers, the Lease usually provides that one person has to meet the primary age limit and the second occupier can meet a slightly lower age limit. For example, the age limit may be 60 for the first occupier but 55 for the second occupier.

Do I need permission from anyone before I buy the property?

The Lease will typically require the Landlord to provide written consent for you to buy the property. This may involve a meeting with the House Manager so they can assess your suitability for the property, and, in some cases, you may be required to provide a letter from your GP which confirms mental capacity or any issues with mobility which may affect your ability to live independently.

Your solicitor will send a copy of your identification documentation (e.g. passport, driving licence, birth certificate) to the Landlord to evidence that you meet the age requirement as part of the conveyancing process.

Are there any fees or service charges to pay?

Yes, you will pay a service charge. This is an annual contribution towards the communal areas of the building and gardens. This may be collected in monthly or half yearly instalments. You may find that the service charges are higher for retirement flats than standard leasehold flats and this is depending on the services provided - such as communal living areas, house manager accommodation and guest suites.

The Lease may also require you to pay an annual ground rent. Details of the ground rent (and how frequently the rent is reviewed) will be contained in the property’s Lease.

Finally, a lot of retirement flats require you to pay exit fees – these are called contingency and transfer fees and are usually around 1% of sale price or market value. These are paid by the Seller when the property is sold to the new Buyer - but do bear in mind that you will have to pay these when you come to sell the property in the future.

Exit fees will usually go towards building a contingency fund (or ‘sinking fund’) for the development for funding any works which are required.



What is a House Manager?

A house manager is someone employed to be the main point of contact for any questions or concerns the residents have. They are also responsible for overseeing any onsite facilities, managing any communal areas and arranging social events.

There are a number of rules and regulations which you need to be aware of when buying a retirement flat. It is important that you receive the correct advice from a firm who are familiar with retirement property Leases and can guide you through the process with confidence.

If you are buying a retirement flat, please get in touch with our helpful and experienced Property Specialists at mosshaselhurst on 01606 74301 and we will be happy to provide a quote.

01/08/2026

Happy 8 years work anniversary to our private client Solicitor Rob!

29/07/2026

Happy birthday to our Criminal Solicitor Sarah! We hope you have the best day! 🎉🎁

28/07/2026

26/07/2026

Happy 26 years work anniversary to our Conveyancing Executive Janet! 💼