Residential Property News & Updates

What Help is Available for First-Time Buyers?

According to the BBC, the average age for a first-time buyer is now 34, the highest in decades. Only six per cent of first-time buyers are under 25, compared to a quarter of those buying their first homes in the 1990s. Given the difficulties for young people getting onto the property ladder, Alice Solomon, an Associate, Chartered Legal Executive in the Residential Property team with Sills & Betteridge explains some of the help available to first-time buyers in terms of government-backed schemes and other sources of support.

Sills & Betteridge Solicitors Celebrate 2026 Promotions!

We have announced this week, our annual promotion news, recognising colleagues who have made a significant contribution to the firm's success.

Moth Lessons When Selling a High Value Property

There is no legal definition of a ‘high value’ property. For insurance purposes, a rebuild cost of £500,000 or over is considered high value, but media coverage of the new council tax surcharge, for homes worth £2 million or more, highlighted how such properties come in all shapes and sizes.

Sills & Betteridge Solicitors Mark Milestone Year in Gainsborough!

Angie Driver
31 Mar 2026
Firm News
Wills, Trusts & Probate
Residential Property
Corporate & Commercial
Divorce & Separation News and Legal Updates

2026 marks a landmark year for the firm as we celebrate 15 years serving the local community, since first opening our offices at The Pattern Store at the rear of Marshall's Yard.

Commonhold Explained | What the 2026 Reforms Mean for Homeowners and Developers

On 27 January 2026, the Government published a draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill. If passed, it will significantly reform the UK’s leasehold system, removing issues such as escalating ground rent and expiring leases. The intention is for commonhold to become the preferred way of registering new-build flats.

Buying a Property With an Unadopted Road

Being able to drive straight onto the highway is something most homeowners take for granted, but for those relying on an unadopted road things can be less straightforward. ‘There are an estimated 40,000 unadopted roads in England and Wales,’ explains Karen French, a Partner in the Residential Property team with Sills & Betteridge. ‘Private or unadopted roads can involve additional issues and expense. So, if you are buying a property, it is important to be clear about the access arrangements.’