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Jul 10
Love0
child home alone

Home alone

By Childcare and Nannying, houses and property, Legal, Relationships, Safety
by Hayley Garner
NSPCC Local Campaigns Manager

For parents and carers, the summer months can be a tricky time as they try to balance the school holidays with work and childcare commitments. Many might be wondering whether their child is ready to be left unsupervised, or may have concerns about someone else’s child being left alone.

While there is no legal age a child can be left home alone, it is against the law to leave a child alone if it puts them at risk. Every child matures differently, so it would be impossible to have a ‘one size fits all’ law.

As a general rule babies and toddlers should never be left alone. This applies not just to leaving them home alone but also in your car while you run into the shops.

A very young child or one who does not feel comfortable should never be left home alone.

We would also recommend against leaving children under 12 alone, particularly for long periods of time. Children aged six to 12 years are usually too young to walk home from school alone, babysit or cook for themselves without adult supervision. It is worth considering leaving them at a friend’s house, with family or finding suitable childcare.

Once your child is at secondary school you could talk to them about how they would feel if they were left alone at home. Whether they are 12 years old or almost 18, there might be reasons they don’t feel safe in the house alone, and it is vital they feel comfortable and safe being left unsupervised.

If your child feels ready to be left at home alone, there are some simple things you can do to help keep them safe.

Set some grounds rules Make sure they know what to do if the phone or doorbell rings. Write down all your contact numbers and the numbers of friends and family in case you can’t be reached. Agree in advance if friends are allowed over.

Practise what to do in an emergency
Even though it is unlikely it is best to prepare for anything that might go wrong while you are out. Come up with a safety plan for different scenarios, such as a fire or burglary.

Make sure they are really safe online
Consider if there are any games or sites they might have access to while you are out that might upset them or put them in danger. Discuss what they are allowed to do while you are out and remind them not to give out any personal details online. More information on staying safe online can be found on the NSPCC website – www.nspcc.org.uk

Be clear about when you will be back
Make sure they are clear about what time you will be back and how you will let them know if your plans change.

Check in with them
Give your child a call every so often. If it is the first time they have been left alone, try to check in regularly. Even if your child is older and has been left home alone before, you should still check in once every few hours, particularly if you are out late.

Build up slowly
Leave them for a short time at first, no more than 20 minutes, then build up over time and keep checking in to make sure they are comfortable. Being left home alone for an hour is very different to being alone for a whole afternoon or overnight. We would not recommend leaving your child home alone overnight if they are under 16 years old.

You can find more advice on how to keep your child safe on the NSPCC website – www.nspcc.org.uk. Children can find support at www.childline.org.uk or by calling 0800 1111 and speaking to a trained Childline counsellor.

Adults with concerns about a child can contact the NSPCC Helpline by calling 0808 800 5000 or by emailing help@NSPCC.org.uk

 

Jul 03
Love0
cute puppy

The rise of the ‘Pup-Nup’

By Finance, houses and property, Legal, Relationships

What will happen to your pet if your relationship breaks down?

For most pet owners, their companions are part of the family, so if a couple separates, what happens to them? In this article, Jon Whettingsteel, Partner and Family Law Specialist at Dutton Gregory Solicitors investigates.

According to a survey undertaken last year by Statista, 62% of households (approximately 17.8 million homes) own a pet, and with an average of two pets per household, that’s over 35 million domestic animals homed across the UK. Dogs proved the most popular pet (13 million), with cats coming in a close second (12 million) and just under 60% of pet owners were aged between 16 and 34 years old.

In law, pets are viewed as ‘chattels’ or property, and treated the same as the family car, furniture or artwork. Unlike children, there is no specific guidance in law or criteria on what the Court will consider when determining ownership of a pet.

Section 24 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 gives the Court the power to make a ‘Property Adjustment Order’ and even an ‘Order for Sale’, but these only apply if the parties are married. If a couple is in a relationship and/or living together, the issue of pet ownership is likely to be dealt with under Small Claims Court.

When determining which Order to make in relation to a pet, a Court may look at;
• Who bought the pet? Is there a name on any purchase documentation?
• Who is the registered owner? The contact listed on any microchip, for example?
• At what point in the relationship was the pet purchased?
• Whose name is registered on any insurance or at any veterinary practice?
• Who looks after the pet on a day-to-day basis?
• Who pays for the pet’s costs?
• Was the pet a gift from one party to the other, or from a friend or family member?

None of the above is determinative, and it will always be down to the discretion of the Court to decide who should retain ownership of any pets and what points to consider.

There is some, albeit limited, case law such as RK v RK in 2011 where the Judge stated they did “….. not consider it appropriate to make an order in respect of one of the dogs because, on the evidence I have heard, they would seem to be have been looked after principally by the husband.”

In another case, K vs K in 2005, the Judge commented, “The division of chattels must be accomplished prior to trial,” showing the court’s reluctance to make an order around pets.

In the event of a dispute, parties may wish to consider ‘mediation’, where a third party, preferably with experience in pet disputes, can help the parties reach an agreement. There is also ‘arbitration’ where it is agreed to give the third party the power to make a legally binding decision, but both methods often prove quicker and cheaper than a Court Application.

The best way to prevent this situation is for a couple to enter into a Pre-Nuptial or Cohabitation Agreement.

‘Pet-Nups’ or ‘Pup-Nups’ as they have become known, can set out not just who owns a pet, but also payments towards the costs of care, contact and effectively allow pets to have similar arrangements to children in the event of separation.

Although not automatically legally binding of enforcement, recent case law suggests that the Court are attaching more weighting to agreements between the parties where these are entered in to freely and willingly.

As with any agreement that is potentially legally binding, parties should obtain bespoke legal advice.

Disputes are demanding of time and finance, so parties should ensure they have in place a clear written agreement about arrangements for their pets when looking to get a new furry or feathered family member.

Jon Whettingsteel is a Partner and Family Law Specialist at Dutton Gregory – if you want advice then please contact Jon on 01483 755609 or j.whettingsteel@duttongregory.co.uk

 

 

Jul 02
Love0
conveyancing dean wilson

Thinking of buying or selling your house?

By Finance, houses and property, Legal

Dean Wilson LLP’s Head of Residential Conveyancing, Siobhan Cox, shares five top tips on conveyancing for those looking to buy or sell their home.

1. Choose the right conveyancer
Select an experienced conveyancer with a good reputation. If you are recommended a conveyancer by your estate agent, ask why they are recommending that conveyancer. Is it because they have an agreement with them where the estate agent benefits financially from the referral, or, are they recommending them because they are an expert in their field and the best person for the job? The amount that a conveyancer charges will vary but you should not base your choice solely on price. It is important to choose a qualified and experienced conveyancer with a good reputation and someone that you know will be available to speak to you throughout the transaction to explain the process and any issues that arise. It is a good idea to speak to the conveyancer who will be acting for you before you instruct them. Building a good relationship with your conveyancer is vital as buying and selling a home is a stressful time and having someone on your team who you trust is essential.

2. Understand the conveyancing process
Familiarise yourself with the steps involved, including property searches, contract reviews and the transfer of ownership so that you have an understanding of the various stages of the process. Discuss the process with your conveyancer and ask them to let you know realistic time scales for the transaction so that you can plan accordingly.

3. Instruct your conveyancer early
When you place your property on the market, it is also a good time to instruct your solicitor. This will enable you to complete all of the necessary compliance steps with the solicitor which will save time when a sale/purchase is agreed and will mean that you can move straight into the conveyancing process. As a seller, there are a number of forms that need to be completed and documents to be collated. Your conveyancer can send these to you so that you can start to complete the forms and pull all of the documents together or obtain duplicates for any that you discover cannot be located. Your conveyancer will also be able to obtain the title documents for the property to ensure that there are no discrepancies with names or addresses that need to be rectified before the sale can proceed.

4. Understand all of the costs involved
Make sure that your conveyancer provides details of all of the likely costs that will be involved at the outset so that there are no unexpected sums to pay which could lead to financial strain. You should ask about the Stamp Duty Land Tax, Land Registration Fees and any additional costs that may be involved, particularly if you are buying or selling a leasehold property.

5. Selling a leasehold property
Check the length of your lease and speak to your conveyancer about whether you should look at extending the term before you place the property on the market. The buyer will need to know what the current ground rent is and the current service charge payable, so make sure all of this information is to hand, as well as details of any major works that have recently been completed, or are due to be completed in the next 12 months. If there is a managing agent, pass these details to your conveyancer. On a sale your conveyancer will need to obtain a pack of information from the managing agent or freeholder. There is usually a charge for this and occasionally, it can take three to four weeks to obtain this information. It is therefore important to request this pack as early as possible in the transaction.

Dean Wilson LLP’s reputation has been built upon our ability to deliver and exceed our clients’ expectations. For over 100 years our success has been founded upon our client focused approach, backed by the knowledge and expertise of our lawyers. www.deanwilson.co.uk

Mar 02
Love0

How to benefit from the Green Homes Grant Scheme

By environment, Gardening, Green, houses and property

In the last five years, fuel bills for an average family home in the UK have soared by 40%. In fact, heating a property today costs approximately £1,800 per year compared to £1,290 in 2015. One of the problems lies in the thousands of properties across the UK which lack energy efficiency. Older homes with insufficient insulation can leak warm air. This means more energy is consumed to heat the property and consequentially heating bills will increase.

If you’re a homeowner or landlord, there are improvements you can undertake to mitigate the cost of your energy bills, making your property cheaper to run and more environmentally friendly. However, the initial outlay of such improvements can run into thousands of pounds.

The government’s Green Homes Grant Scheme is helping to address this issue by covering the costs of installing energy efficient updates to your home, which could result in significant annual savings on fuel bills. Here, Donna McCreadie, a property specialist at Perrys Chartered Accountants, explains how homeowners and landlords can ensure they are reaping the benefits.

What is the Green Homes Grant scheme?
The Green Homes Grant allows homeowners and landlords to apply for a voucher from the government towards the cost of qualifying energy efficiency and low carbon heating improvements to homes. The voucher will cover two thirds of this cost up to £5,000 or, for households on low incomes or receiving certain benefits, the entire cost up to £10,000. However, landlords can only apply for costs up to £5,000.

What work can be carried out on my property as part of the Green Homes Grant?
Work covered by the scheme is broken down into two parts – primary measures and secondary measures. Homeowners will need to undertake at least one primary measure in order to qualify.

Primary measures are classified as follows:
• Installing insulation in a solid wall, cavity wall, under the floor, in a loft, in a flat roof, in a room in roof or in a park home.
• Improving low carbon heat via the installation of an air source heat pump, ground source heat pump or solar thermal.
• ‘Top ups’ are allowed. For example, the installation of additional loft insulation to meet the minimum recommended level or the installation of solid wall insulation for other walls where a wall has been previously insulated. However, replacements are not included.

Secondary measures cannot be subsidised for more than the amount of cost to carry out the primary measures.

For example, if a household receives £1,000 for primary measures, they can only receive a maximum of £1,000 towards any secondary measures.

Second measures include the following:
• Draught proofing.
• Updating windows and doors: double/triple glazing (where replacing single glazing), secondary glazing (in addition to single glazing), upgrading to energy efficient doors (where replacing doors installed prior to 2002).
• Updating heating controls and insulation. These include appliance thermostats, hot water tank thermostats, hot water tank insulation, smart heating controls, zone controls, delayed start thermostat, thermostatic radiator valves.
• For low-carbon heating, households will need to have adequate wall insulation (cavity wall or solid wall insulation) and, where applicable, loft insulation. These can be installed as part of a package – they do not have to already be in situ.

Which companies accept the Green Homes Grant voucher?
Under the terms and conditions of the voucher, homeowners will need to use one of the TrustMark certified tradespeople listed on the government’s directory of approved installers.

How do I apply for a Green Homes Grant?
If you are a homeowner or landlord visit the Simple Energy Advice’s (SEA) website to find out if you’re eligible for a voucher. Here, you can also access further information and get advice about what improvements will be suitable for your property.

In order to carry out work under the scheme, all tradespeople and businesses will need to be certified to install energy efficiency or low carbon heat measures to relevant standards and must register their certification.

May 02
Love0

A kid’s guide to moving house

By family, houses and property, Relationships
by Emma Kenny
Psychologist

Moving to a new house is considered one of the most stressful experiences that a family can go through, and whilst to some degree even the smoothest of moves can pose a fair few challenges, the experience can be made easier when all family members feel involved.
Children, just like adults, feel a whole host of emotions when they contemplate what a move of home and area can bring. These range from elation and excitement to absolute terror, so it is absolutely paramount to understand how your kids feel throughout the relocation process.

Let’s face it, moving home is a big deal, and the more that you can prepare your kids emotionally, psychologically, socially and physically, the better it will be for the family.

Top tips for parents to help children through the moving process:

Communicate and help children verbalise fears
As soon as you firmly decide to move home it is time to begin communicating your decision to your children. Before you sit down with them to discuss the move, make sure that you have created a list of reasons as to why you have decided that moving to a new house will be brilliant. Remember, the more positive and prepared you are, the more convincing you will be, and this will help to reduce any anxiety that your children may have.

Get children to openly discuss and explain any fears or worries that are concerning them regarding the house move. Explain that it is totally normal to feel a bit scared when facing a big change.

Provide children with a sense of control
Children like thinking that they are in charge! It feels good for them to perceive that they have a say, and a certain amount of sway when it comes to what is happening in their life. Get them to sit down with you and list all the fantastic things about moving house. Making new friends, learning new activities or starting a completely new life can be hugely exciting. The most positive you think the most positive they’ll feel. Also take them along with you when doing viewings – this really helps them feel a sense of authority and that they have
a say in the process.

Be prepared for any questions that they have and above all, take their concerns seriously.

Use their imagination
Children love using their imagination to conjure all sorts of fantastical eventualities.
Get them to draw a picture
of their ‘Dream Home’. This could be totally wacky, princess-style castle or a country cottage – whatever they bring to life, will help them understand the concept of moving into a new home and living in a new place.

Do a trial run
As with many things – try before you buy! It can be really helpful for the whole family to spend some fun, laid-back days in the new area before you make the big move there. Knowing where the fun places are will make it seem all the more appealing. A nice welcoming cafe, a park, a library or museum are all good places to draw their attention to and get them looking forward to experiencing more time together in the new area.

Plan how to keep in touch with friends
Leaving friends behind is understandably one of the most upsetting aspects of moving to a new house and area. Don’t minimise your child’s feelings no matter how young they are, as whilst they will make new friends, it doesn’t stop saying goodbye being difficult or leave them feeling sad. Instead, acknowledge that it is tough to leave their friends behind, and discuss strategies that will make keeping in contact with friends really easy.

Encourage them to take a few mementos from your existing home which will remind them of all the happy times they spent there. These can be a few rocks from the garden, or a plant that they can dig up and replant at their new property. This helps your child feel that they still have connections to the home that they have left behind.

Bury a time capsule
Before you move to your new house, create a time capsule in a box filled with memories of how you lived your life in your old home. Many years later you could always return to the spot and open the capsule with your family and share your memories. Have the children write down their favourite memories of their old house and the item they’ve put in the capsule to represent that memory. Just make sure you bury it in an accessible and memorable place!

Make a wish list and give them ownership
Start getting the whole family excited about all the fantastic plans you have for everyone once the move is complete. This can include new activities that your kids can try, such as enrolling in a gymnastics club, or starting with a local theatre group, and you can bring these ideas to life by getting them to research them online. Even better, get them to create a physical wish list of things that they would love to do once they are settled to the new place and then help them set some goals so that they can achieve these wishes.

As you settle into your new house, ensure you allow your child some ownership over the design of their new room. Whilst you may think that letting your little ones go crazy with their imagination could lead to some questionable choices in home décor, it enables them to emotionally bond with their new environment and also provides a focus whilst they settle in.

Creative writing
Work with your child to write a moving home story with a main character that moves with their family. Encourage them to use their imagination and have the main character go through the experience of moving homes with their families and settling into a new place, making new friends and joining new clubs and groups in the new area. This will help them envisage what the new environment will be like and familiarise themselves with the concept of moving home.

Check in with them regularly
It is really important to check in regularly with your children to ensure that they can confide in you any troubling feelings that they may be experiencing. Take 10 minutes each night before they go to bed to discuss their feelings about moving home. This allows them to feel supported and also unpack their feelings so that they don’t lie worrying in bed, because tired kids find the world a great deal more challenging.

There are lots of books available which feature stories about children moving house including Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Wrecking Ball or Jenny Eclair’s Moving.

Visit www.purplebricks.co.uk/blog/post/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid for further details and to download ‘A Kids Guide to Moving House’, created by Emma Kenny with Purplebricks, to help families through the moving process.

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