Buying a Business and Confidentiality

Many local clients are considering buying or selling a business and, in doing so, secrecy is paramount. If details get out, the deal can be scuppered so it is important to keep things under wraps to protect relationships with customers and suppliers. In some cases, employees will be inclined to leave if they get wind of a deal in the offing.

Lawrence Furlong says:
"In the current economic climate some sales are forced due to liquidity problems and some buyers are snapping up businesses or assets. Some people often do not properly consider the legal side of the sale and purchase of a business. In June, the Information Commissioner’s Office published new guidance to help organisations comply with the Data Protection Act when providing information about their employees under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE).

TUPE ensures that employees’ terms and conditions of employment are preserved when a business or undertaking is transferred to a new employer. To achieve this, TUPE requires that certain information is provided to the new employer before the transfer takes place. This will include details of pay, contracted hours, holiday entitlement and any details of disciplinary or grievance action relating to that employee. The Data Protection Act does not prevent the transfer of this information as it is a requirement by law. However, both parties must comply with the Act when handling the information, for example ensuring it is accurate, up-to-date and secure.

If you are considering buying or selling a business contact us for a competitive quote. Call Lawrence on 01329 822333

Notes

1. Phil Jones, Assistant Commissioner at the ICO, said: “Organisations should consider their data protection obligations early in the transfer process and only transfer the information required by the new employer. Additionally, if not prevented by insider trading restrictions, employees should be told that their information is going to be passed on.”

2. A copy of the guidance can be downloaded from the ICO website at

http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/library/data_protection/practical_application/gpn_disclosure_employee_info_tupe_v1.0.pdf

3. The 7th edition of Beswick & Wine - Buying and Selling Private Companies and Businesses has just been published, which provides guidance in this field (Tottel Publishing 2008).

Jail Sentences for Price Fixing

Three oil executives were jailed for price fixing on 11th June in the first such prosecution ever for a cartel.

Ian Robinson says:

Sadly, some of our clients do fall foul of the criminal law and it is important to get immediate high quality legal advice whether the matter simply be speeding, assault, corporate fraud or price fixing.

In this case the jail sentences were between three and five years and were imposed on three directors. They were also disqualified from serving as directors.

The three men had pleaded guilty to a single cartel offence and will be eligible for release after they have served about half their sentences. The judge found that the men were guilty of a “carefully orchestrated and comprehensive process” of fixing prices.

The three used codenames, secret meetings and Swiss bank accounts and the judge found they had cheated customers, including the Ministry of Defence, into paying higher prices. Mr Whittle was paid $300,000 a year for several years to run the arrangement, which he did “as a full-time job”. The cartel is still being examined by the EU and the US authorities and indeed the men were arrested in the US last year after a cartel meeting was bugged.

The US allowed them to return to the UK after a plea-bargain under which they would plead guilty in the UK and serve time in prison. In the US, jail sentences of ten years, of which the entire period is served in jail, are common.

Points to note include:-

· Increasing tougher attitude in the UK to cartel offences

· Real risk of jail sentences

· A search warrant was executed both at the offices of the company and one director's home, which is permitted under the UK competition rules

· Bugging of a cartel meeting in the US

Call Ian on 023 9286 2424 for advice in this field. We can draw up a "raids" policy for your business so that staff know how to react if the OFT raid your premises. We can also draft a competition law compliance programme for you as well as advise on whether particular practices or agreements are valid under competition law. If you are the victim of an anti-competitive practice or abuse of market power, we can advise you your remedies.

Notes

1. The sentences were imposed under the Enterprise Act 2002. The jail sentences would have been much longer had all the period of the arrangement been after cartel activity was criminalised by the Enterprise Act 2002.

2. The jail sentences were as follows:

· Peter Whittle, a consultant, went to prison for three years. He was the global coordinator of a cartel fixing prices in the market for marine hoses. He was also disqualified as a director for seven years.

· Bryan Allison had previously been managing director of Dunlop Oil and Marine and he was jailed for three years. He was subject to a five year director disqualification order

· David Brammar, Dunlop Oil & Marine's sales director, was jailed for 30 months and banned from serving as a director for five years.

3. John Fingleton, OFT Chief Executive, said:

'This was a highly sophisticated and well-organised cartel, involving all the major manufacturers of marine hose worldwide over many years, where the cartel members secretly employed a full-time coordinator to allocate contracts and fix prices. This first criminal prosecution sends a clear message to individuals and companies about the seriousness with which UK law views cartel behaviour. The OFT will continue to investigate and prosecute cartels vigorously, with the aim of ensuring strong competition within the UK economy.' The OFT said "Officers of the OFT executed search warrants at Dunlop's offices and Whittle's home in May 2007 and seized extensive and compelling evidence of the cartel arrangements. At the same time, in an operation coordinated between the OFT and the US Department of Justice, the defendants were arrested in Houston, Texas, where a cartel meeting had taken place the previous day and was covertly recorded by the US authorities. A number of other suspects were also arrested by US authorities".

4. On 5th May the EU confirmed it had sent a statement of objections to companies involved in this cartel which means an EU competition law case is also now starting in respect of this alleged cartel’.

See
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/08/284&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Next Trainee Solicitor Intake

Trainee Solicitors:

We will be interviewing candidates for the next intake in Spring 2010, with a contract start date of September 2011.

Applications, by email, can be accepted from January 2010 and those we wish to take further will be contacted.

Personal Injury

A baby damaged at birth has failed to recover damages. In Garcia v East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust the court looked at what was the cause of the damage to the child was and determined there was no negligence by the NHS trust concerned. Difficult cases such as this will rest on the medical evidence concerned.

Matthew Bailey says:

"We handle a wide range of personal injury cases and few are as traumatic as when a baby dies or is injured at birth. A damaged child will cost the parents a lot of money to raise and where the hospital has been negligent a claim can be brought. Although in the Garcia case, the connection between the action of the hospital and the damage was not found (and the court determined that even if the child had been induced and the birth been earlier the injury (a stroke) would still have occurred) in other cases a valid claim can be made. It is also important that those responsible are called to account. The same applies if you are injured at work through the fault of an employer or in an accident such as whilst driving the car.

Many personal injury cases can be handled on a no-win, no-fee basis if you prefer and once liability is established the question of damages needs to be determined. If you need any advice on personal injury issues contact us for information"

Call Matthew on 01329 822333 for advice.

Buzz Marketing - New Rules

Many local clients try all kinds of weird and wonderful advertising stunts rather than a straight forward brochure or mailing. One of the newer forms of advertising with potential to reach many prospective customers is internet marketing.

Ian Robinson says:

"We can advise you on all the rules and regulations in this area. On 26th May, the new Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 comes into force. These regulations have an impact on buzz marketing and marketing via social networking web sites such as Facebook and MySpace.

The regulations introduce a new criminal offence of "Falsely claiming or creating the impression that the trader is not acting for purposes relating to his trade, business, craft or profession or falsely representing oneself as a consumer" (sched 1 para 22). This has huge implications for the advertising industry as some modern advertising methods work on the basis that individuals online are engaged to recommend a product to their friends or a group of individuals go to sit in a bar or other public place and talk loudly about the virtues of a particular product. So from 26th May, planting a comment in a blog without making clear that the message has been placed by or on behalf of the business could be a criminal offence.

In addition, anyone seeding viral advertisements online in a way that implies they are just a member of the public could also infringe that prohibition. Another area where businesses often fall foul of the law is where they use photographs in brochures, on websites and online without permission from the copyright owner. It always pays to check difficult legal issues with lawyers before an expensive marketing campaign is launched and also to ensure there are writing contracts with advertising agencies which makes clear whether the agency or customer are responsible for legal compliance.

For further information call Ian Robinson on 023 9286 2424.

Self Employed Workers Claim Unfair Dismissal

Many contractors who are really employees, wrongly pretend to HMRC that they have self employed status. Yet they turn up to work every day, are controlled by the employer, not allowed to substitute a different person to undertake the work and have all the hallmarks of being employed. In a recent Court of Appeal case it was held that two such workers could later argue they were employed when it suited them.

Andrew Bryan says:

"This case should serve as a warning to employers to be absolutely sure that workers are really self-employed, otherwise their contractors might later bring unfair dismissal claims if their contract is terminated, which is only possible for employees who have worked for a year for that employer. It is also worth, on a regular basis, having lawyers check your consultancy and contractor agreements and also advise on whether individuals really are employees or not.

The interesting legal point in this case was that the employer was saying the employees (Mr Payne and Mr Grace) could not, in effect, lie about their legal status when it suited them for tax purposes. Then completely change their view when it suited them to bring an unfair dismissal claim against the employer, arguing that they were employees all along. The employers tried to argue that the contract was "tainted with illegality" as the individuals had misrepresented to HMRC that they were self employed when they were employed. The court found that the individuals were originally taken on a self-employed basis but later the employer had suggested to them they were employed. Obviously, if an employer can avoid making any such suggestions that will put the employer on much stronger ground. The court thought there was an error of categorisation of the employment contract rather than an illegality or misrepresentation by the employees and they could bring claims as if they were employees.

It is important that contracts are correct and the distinction does matter between employees and contractors. For example, if the contractor is producing work protected by copyright or patents the contractors will retain ownership unless the contract says otherwise, whereas with an employee, copyright and patent rights automatically rest with the employer."

Contact us if you need advice on your employees and contractors.

Supermarkets Raided by OFT

On 24th April some leading supermarkets were raided by the Office of Fair Trading after a tip-off by Wal-Mart/Asda about practices which may breach UK competition law. Emails were seized in what the supermarkets claim is a "fishing expedition", crossing many products and sectors.

Andrew Bryan says:

"The raids follow a separate investigation into pricing arrangements for cigarettes sold in supermarkets and came the same week that the Competition Commission issued its report into the sector. However, the OFT in the same week also had to pay Morrisons £100,000 in a settlement of the company's libel action against the OFT arising from an OFT press release suggesting Morrisons was guilty of competition law breaches (before that is proven) in the on-going investigation into milk pricing.

The OFT appears to be getting tougher. It issued a statement of objections - the equivalent of a writ/claim - against 112 construction companies recently for alleged cover pricing and compensation payments. Many of these companies have already admitted guilt and applied for leniency. Although some parts like the ban on price fixing and cartels are very easy to understand, not all businesses understand what information they can exchange with a supplier or rival about forthcoming price increases, pricing, discounting on retail prices and the like. The supermarkets have complex arrangements and relationships with their suppliers and it is wise to take legal advice on competition law in relation to many of these practices. Bigger companies often have written competition law compliance programmes and training for staff and issue regular warnings to ensure all employees know what the rules allow. Breach of the rules can lead to fines of 10% of worldwide group turnover, restrictions in agreements are rendered void and third parties can sue for damages. In addition, negative publicity will result. Where there is horizontal price fixing or bid rigging, jail sentences are possible as is extradition to the US if there is a US element, where prison sentences of 10 years for breach of anti-trust legislation are common.

Investigations by the EU are also possible for breach of EU competition law. Recently, formal charges were sent to a group of multi-national companies allegedly involved in a conspiracy to fix prices of marine equipment supplied to the oil industry. This follows raids on the companies 12 months previously in a case which has led to investigations in the US and UK and the first charges for individuals involved for the criminal cartel offence under the UK 2002 Enterprise Act.

Corporate Restructurings

Not all businesses are as high profile as Northern Rock or Bradford & Bingley but many are going through similar periods of financial difficulties at present. Many need more cash like some of the banks that have been in the press during May 2008.

Nicholas Eve says:

"Act early and do not panic, is our principal advice to local businesses in difficulties in the present economic climate. If you may need more funds, think about that early before creditors are calling. Look at cash flow on a regular basis. The Companies Act 2006 sets out the duties directors owe to a company and if you operate through a limited company you need to ensure you comply with your legal obligations. It is an offence to trade whilst insolvent. It is important to take advice from solicitors or accountants before that point is reached so that sensible decisions can be made about the business.

It may be possible to sell off the shares in the company or its assets or sell a partnership or business operated as a sole trader which is preferable to going into liquidation as a company (or bankruptcy for a company). It is better to take charge, appoint your own liquidator or effect voluntary arrangements with creditors where possible. We can steer you through the process and also advise on any sale or refinancing of your business."

Call Nicholas on 01329 822333

Inheritance Tax Case - Sisters Lose Test Case

For 30 years, Joyce and Sybil Burden, aged 90 and 82, have been battling to ensure that when one of them dies the other does not need to sell the home they share in order to pay an inheritance tax bill without success. However, when civil partnerships became lawful they thought they might be able to use discrimination legislation to aid their case. Were they not related, they could have formed a civil partnership and no IHT would be payable when the first sister dies but as they are related they are not permitted to do so. They have lost their appeal in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

Mary Hazlewood says "The ECHR held by 15 votes to 2 that the Civil Partnership Act does not breach the prohibition of discrimination under Article 14 by not giving them exemption from IHT. The court said that as a marriage or Civil Partnership Act union is forbidden to close family members it was right that the sisters were denied the exemption. The sisters have written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer every year since 1976 asking to be treated as a married couple. Although it is within the Government's power to make an exception it is unlikely they will choose to do so.

However, there are a number of steps individuals can take to minimise IHT which in some quarters has been described as a voluntary tax on those not wise enough to plan to avoid it. For a start, assets given away more than 7 years before someone dies are entirely exempt and many individuals give their assets and houses away to avoid the tax entirely. There are complex rules against "reservation of benefit" but with legal advice many lawful arrangements which completely avoid the tax are possible. Secondly, for spouses there is no IHT until the second spouse dies and even then that spouse has the benefit of both their and their spouse's IHT exemption band.

Thirdly, most of those who die do not pay IHT simply because they are well below the threshold. For 2008-2009 this is £312,000. It is only those with assets worth £312,000 or more who have IHT to pay.

Fourthly, even with recent legal changes it is possible to put some assets in trust to avoid the tax. Many individuals put their life insurance policies into trust for their children, which avoids IHT in most cases. In addition, life policies can be taken out and put in trust and the proceeds used to pay the tax.

Finally all the IHT does not have to be paid at once. HMRC allow payments over 10 years.

If you would like advice on reducing the impact of IHT on your estate when you die, contact Mary Hazlewood on 01329 822333

Mental Capacity Act

The Mental Capacity Act makes important changes which will affect many people, including the elderly, and those who may not be in a position to manage their own affairs. In October 2007, it came fully into force and the new Lasting Power of Attorney was introduced (replacing Enduring Powers of Attorney for new such powers). Under the Act there are five key points:

• Every adult has the right to make his or her own decisions and must be assumed to have capacity to make them, unless it is proved otherwise.
• A person must be given all practicable help before anyone treats them as not being able to make their own decisions.
• Just because an individual makes what might be seen as an unwise decision, they should not be treated as lacking capacity to make that decision.
• Anything done or any decision made on behalf of a person who lacks capacity must be done in their best interests.
• Anything done for, or on behalf of, a person who lacks capacity should be the least restrictive of their basic rights and freedoms.

Tim Bennett says:

“Many of our local clients are unaware of the provisions of the Mental Capacity Act. It is wise to enter into a lasting power of attorney so that your affairs can be handled by those you trust once you lose capacity. In addition, the Act includes a new criminal offence of neglect or ill-treatment of a person who lacks capacity. The act aims to ensure that decisions that are made on the person's behalf are in their best interests. It also provides a checklist of things that decision makers must use and it introduces a Code of Practice for people such as healthcare workers who support people who have lost the capacity to make their own decisions.

The Mental Capacity Act set up a new service, the Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA) service. This aims to help people make decisions about their lives when they are vulnerable, such as those with dementia, Alzheimer's disease, brain injury or a very severe learning disability. It is for those who do not have any relatives or friends to determine matters for them or voice their views."

If you need any advice in this area, want to set up a lasting power of attorney or work with the elderly or vulnerable and need an update on the latest changes call Tim Bennett on 023 9255 1500

First Day Marketing

John Guest says

“We welcome the decision by the Housing Minister to extend the provisions allowing properties to be placed for sale immediately a HIP has been commissioned (this is called “First Day Marketing”). Anything that makes the HIPS arrangements less obstructive to selling a property is to be encouraged.”

Churchers support the petition to the Housing Minister to continue this initiative so that Clients are not delayed in selling their home by the requirement to have a complete HIP available before being able to market their property.

We provide HIPs for clients enabling them to market their property immediately instructions are received. This is the best route for Clients as HIPs are legal documents and as solicitors, we are best equipped to provide them as a seamless part of a property sale.

A HIP prepared by Churchers will include a Full Official Local Authority Search to ensure that problems do not arise with buyers or their lenders at a later date. Many HIP providers only include Personal Searches without explaining the problems that can arise. We do not recommend this to our Clients, whether selling or buying.

We are keen to help sales proceed quickly and effectively at all times. Please contact us for further details on our HIPs and property sales.

Home Information Packs

Since last December, every property being sold must have a Home Information Pack. A HIP provides buyers with information about the property they are intending to buy right from the start.

The HIP includes legal documents and searches, as well as an Energy Performance Certificate giving a “fridge type” efficiency rating for the property and makes suggestions for improvements.

We always include the best kind of detailed Official Search in our HIPs. Some HIP providers use other kinds of searches provided by personal search companies. These can cause problems with buyers or their lenders who will not always accept personal search results. Churchers firmly believe that our HIPs are best for clients – the last thing you want when selling a property is for difficulties to get in the way of a successful sale.

HIPs are part of the legal process and as legal people, we strongly advise anyone thinking of selling a property to CONTACT US FIRST so that we can give full advice on HIPs and property sales generally.

New Laws for 2008

NEW LAWS for 2008
The Queen’s speech was announced on 6 November 2007. This includes a new Employment Bill, National Insurance Contributions Bill and Pensions Bill, and in total comprises 22 new Bills.Ian Robinson says:“Of the 22 new bills, some are more likely to be relevant to business clients than others. Of particular interest are:
1. Employment Bill
This bill will repeal rules dating from 2004, including statutory dismissal and grievance procedures. This will be part of a wider range of measures that will encourage early, informal dispute resolution in the workplace and improve the workings of employment tribunals. This will save employers £180m per year, the Government says. The Bill would also strengthen the enforcement and penalties framework for the National Minimum Wage and employment agency standards.
2. National Insurance Contributions Bill
The National Insurance Contributions Bill will simplify taxation by aligning National Insurance contributions with a higher rate of income tax, in other words a personal tax increase. The Bill will enable Ministers to align the Upper Earnings Limit (UEL) with the point at which higher rate tax becomes payable from 2009/10. It intends to remove the restrictions to the current maximum level of UEL, which stipulate that it can be no more than seven-and- a-half times the Primary Threshold.
3. Pensions Bill
The Pensions Bill will establish personal account pensions for low earners and compulsory employer pension contributions from 2012 to improve incentives to save. This will affect some of our employer business clients. The legislation intends automatically to enrol eligible individuals into personal accounts, although individuals will have the right to opt-out. The sums to be paid into the pensions are fairly small.
4. Other measures
Planning legislation will be reformed and, as regards health, the Government plans to establish a Health & Social Care regulator to ensure "clean and safe services". Following the recent publication of the Climate Change Bill the Government will bring forward further legislation on the provision of clean, affordable energy, and look to make the UK the first country in the world with a legally binding framework for reducing CO2 emissions. Other key areas under review include security, citizenship and democracy. The Government will "seek consensus" on changes to anti-terror legislation and also "renew the constitutional settlement" - the PM has already made clear his desire to see a Bill of Rights drawn up as part of a written constitution.
If any clients would like advice on how any of the new measures might affect them call Ian on 023 9286 2424

Churchers Solicitors Change Skippers - Duncan Johnson Hands the Ropes to Ian Robinson

It’s all change at the top as Churchers Solicitors new Managing Partner Ian Robinson takes the helm from Senior and Managing Partner Duncan Johnson, who semi-retired from the firm in December 2006, after 38 years.

Duncan Johnson’s career at Churchers began in 1968 when he was head-hunted to join the Gosport office. He subsequently moved to the Fareham office in 1970. Duncan managed the firm under the previous senior partners for about ten years and was then formally elected Managing Partner in 1992. As such he was instrumental in creating the current departmentalised structure and in achieving the Lexcel and Legal Aid Kitemarks.

Ian Robinson took over as Churchers’ Managing Partner in January 2006 to Duncan’s great relief, as he has since been able to focus purely on client work.

However, Duncan will not be retiring from the firm entirely, as his partners have kindly agreed to let him “sneak back under the wire” and work as a Consultant for his private client base from 1st January 2007. He comments:

“The strength of this partnership, coupled with Churchers’ friendly atmosphere and devoted staff are the most valuable assets of the firm.”

Duncan is married to Lizzie and they have four daughters and five grandchildren. He enjoys sailing, gardening, cooking, cycling, reading, France, learning Italian and fine wines.

Ian Robinson joined Churchers in 1992 to specialise in criminal defence. The growth of the Criminal Department led to the creation of a bespoke Litigation / Criminal office in Portsmouth in 1998, headed by Ian. Churchers now have the largest Criminal department in Hampshire.1

Ian was made a Partner in 1998 and became Managing Partner in January 2006, after his office as Commodore at his local sailing club came to a close, enabling Ian to dedicate his attention to Churchers’ business development.

Ian’s vision for the immediate future is to hone the creation of specialist departments which Duncan Johnson began and to develop a uniform style and approach across the firm.

Churchers also recently promoted their Company Commercial department with a seminar at the SpinnakerTower in response to demand from the growing commercial sector market in the Portsmouth and surrounding areas.

Ian Robinson comments:

"We are ideally placed geographically and structurally to meet the legal needs of Hampshire’s expanding commercial sector. Our aim for Churchers is to maintain our approachability and accessibility to private and publicly funded clients, whilst growing the Commercial arm of the business."

Ian lives in Lower Swanwick, Hants with his wife; he has a son aged 23 and a daughter aged 20. He enjoys sailing and harbours a passion for classic British sports cars.

John Guest will assume the role of Senior Partner at Churchers from 1st January 2007.

Hill Head Sailing Club

Hill Head Sailing Club was founded in 1930 and is situated at Titchfield Haven on the River Meon.

The object of the club is to foster and promote the sport of small boat sailing and good seamanship. It is a recognised RYA Training Centre – accredited as a ‘Champion Club’.

The club is run entirely by members who volunteer their time. It owns a fleet of boats that are available to the membership and, each year, RYA dinghy and powerboat courses are held. Additionally, approximately eighty children are introduced to sailing each year.

Double Olympic Gold medallist Shirley Robertson is a former member. John Pink, the former 29’r World Champion is a current member and training for the Olympic squad.

Churchers recently purchased an ‘Oppie’ sailing dinghy for the club to use for training and we also regularly support club events.

Portsmouth Music Festival

The Portsmouth Music Festival was founded in 1917 in an attempt to improve the quality of life for Portsmouth citizens.

Since the Second World War it has continued to go from strength to strength.

Currently, the festival hosts over 4,000 performances from people in the community who enjoy making music, dancing and/or acting. Almost all are amateurs who wish to give pleasure by their performance and to learn from the adjudicators and others. It is the largest annual community event staged in Portsmouth. There is no pressure to pass exams, but the preparation teaches discipline, teamwork and communications skills – all of which have a positive effect on the lives of the participants.

Waterlooville Boys’ Football Team

I took over managing the Waterlooville Boys’ Under 11 team when they were the Under 9 team.

At that time, they only had 3 players left and were disheartened at not getting the scores they knew they were able to achieve. I decided that I was going to put all I could into rebuilding the team and make it a great success.

With the Churchers sponsorship of the team for their first 2 years, I was able to sign up more players, provide the team with new kit and buy some extra training essentials to help them achieve their best. Consequently, the boys’ confidence and abilities grew. The team did extremely well in its first year and, in 2006, was promoted from D league to B league!

When the boys reached 10 years old, Churchers was kind enough to sponsor the team for a further 2 years. This allowed us to provide them with a further new kit because they were growing at such a fast rate – enabling me to pass the old kit down to the younger teams to use.

On behalf of the boys, their parents, my Assistant Manager and myself, we would like to thank Churchers for their sponsorship over the last 3 years and hope we can continue to make them proud to have their name on the kit of a very appreciative and successful football team.

Kieron O’Connor
Manager

HOME INFORMATION PACKS – CONTACT CHURCHERS FIRST

The Home Information Pack Regulations are now in place and the contents of what is required has become clearer.

Presently, they become compulsory on the 1st June 2007. Although the Government have removed the requirement for the seller to provide a Home Condition Report it was one of the most contentious parts of the Home Information Packs and it is still necessary to have a pack available on the first marketing of a property. We strongly recommend that you contact Churchers as soon as you are considering selling your property – perhaps even before contacting an estate agent.

It is anticipated that many people may place their properties on the market before the 1st June 2007 as the Home Information Packs will still impose more expense on sellers than is currently the position. There are still major criticisms of the Home Information Packs and pressure is mounting on the Government to make further changes.

Regardless of their final form, Churchers will provide Home Information Packs for clients who wish to sell their properties as well as providing comprehensive advice to prospective purchasers. Should you require information on what is required in a Home Information Packs please contact a member of our conveyancing department.