Home Information Pack latest.

Property lawyers, estate agents, pundits and the public remain bemused by the farcical saga that is the governments Home Information Pack (HIP) legislation. Having geared up for a blanket introduction on 1 June, the property industry now gears down for the limited introduction on 1 August, and Estate agents brace themselves for a flood of instructions to sell 3 bed houses with studies/box rooms/games rooms etc. Many in the property industry cling to the hope that Gordon Brown will promote Yvette Cooper (the Minister who has doggedly plodded on with the legislation in the face of increasing levels of incredulity from all sides) and allow the doomed project to quietly die a death. This, sadly, is an unlikely outcome.

Sellers therfore will need to consider if a HIP is necessary post 1 August. Buyers will need to be aware that even if they purchase with the benefit of a HIP including searches they may still (ludicrously) have to pay for their own searches costing upwards of £200 - because the government has allowed unofficial searches into HIPs which some solicitors and lenders will not accept. Another spurious justification for HIPs is thereby exposed - at the cost of buyers and sellers whose time and money will be wasted.

Property team welcome Samantha and Caroline

Samantha Millington has joined our Property team in Barnstaple. After a successful career as conveyancer in the Home Counties, Samantha is now enjoying the delights of North Devon. Based in Northam and working in Barnstaple, Samantha is already working successfully for many clients on their sales and purchases.

In September Legal Executive Caroline Chandler joins us from premier Salisbury firm Wilsons where she has acquired many years experience representing private clients in their property dealings. caroline too has been seduced by the beauty of North Devon's coast and country, and is looking forward to acting for clients locally and nationally.

Firm consulted on introduction of Speedy Summary Justice

Chris Jones, managing partner of Slee Blackwell's criminal department, is representing Defence Solicitors in high level discussions concerning the introduction of the Government's new initiative 'Speedy Summary Justice' in Devon and Cornwall. The scheme, which is aimed at dramatically reducing the number of Magistrates Court hearings, is scheduled to be introduced in North Devon in early July. Similar arrangements will then be rolled out across the rest of the region by the end of the year.

It is proposed that in most cases there will only be one hearing. If a 'Not Guilty' plea is entered then the trial date will be fixed there and then. In many instances the trial will take place within 2 months.

This revolutionary approach has been developed over a period of months with additional resources being made available to the Police and CPS. If successful the initiative will reduce the time involved in Defence preparation thereby reducing the costs which those no longer entitled to Legal Aid (following the introduction of means testing) will have to pay.