A team of lawyers, staff and estate agents from Hartley & Worstenholme beat off competition from rival teams in a charity ‘It’s A Knockout’ tournament on Sunday 14th July in aid of the Prince of Wales Hospice – raising over £600 in the process.

The day began with warm-up exercises (including some questionable dancing from Practice Manager, Paul Haslam) and six grueling challenges consisting of jumping over obstacles, crawling through holes, dressing up as firemen, and even throwing water over your teammates.

Partner Victoria Maude and Practice Manager Paul Haslam

At the end of the first six challenges, Team Hartley & Worstenholme were in third place and facing a team of rugby players, amongst others, in the final. With sideline support from a Senior Partner, Meg Andrews, the team pulled together and clinched a win in record time. The team received a trophy cup for their win, gold medals, and even a day’s paintballing!

A special thank you goes to Michael Spencer, a Newcastle University student who was with the firm for a vacation placement and demonstrated extraordinary willing when someone had to be nominated to dress as a penguin.

The Hartley & Worstenholme team

Property Manager Lisa McIntosh, who organised the firm’s team, commented:

“It was a true privilege to work with such a hard working team. The sportsmanship and determination shown by each member was incredible. Against some tough competition, I am delighted we won. The Prince of Wales Hospice is a fantastic charity and I am proud we have raised so much money whilst having such fun!”

Property Manager and team leader Lisa McIntosh

The Prince of Wales Hospice charity provides a vital service to the local community, and is dependent on income from its shops, donations, and events like this. Hartley & Worstenholme has been a loyal supporter of the Hospice for many years, often participating in fundraising events, and even running will writing schemes that benefit the charity.

Victoria Maude, a Partner at the firm took part in the ‘It’s A Knockout’ event and had this to say:

“The Prince of Wales Hospice is a fantastic charity that provides an invaluable service to the local community. As a firm, we are regularly involved with assisting the Hospice in its fundraising efforts and today was another opportunity for us to do this. Every member of our team was exhausted by the end of the day, but it was definitely worth it.

We believe that local businesses have a responsibility to give something back to the community wherever possible and Hartley & Worstenholme staff are frequently involved in a whole manner of fundraising events. Recent schemes have included preparing wills for the Will Aid charity and Martin House Children’s Hospice in Leeds.”

Keep checking the ‘News’ section of our website for updates on recent charitable events and schemes.

For further information on the Prince of Wales Hospice, please visit their website at www.pwh.org.uk.

The Green Deal

These days we are all expected to be experts in climate change and matters of environmental importance, we are advised that making the “green choice” is the “right choice”, but it is sometimes difficult to make sense of the enormous amount of information which is out there. People generally want to make a change for the better for themselves and for future generations, but it seems so complicated to know where to begin.

Knowing this, the Government launched the Green Deal scheme in January of this year. The idea is that we can make energy-saving improvements to our homes or businesses, through the Green Deal, paying the cost off, over time, through your electricity bill. The repayment period can be up to 25 years.

Hopefully, the electricity bill itself will be reduced due to the improvements! The Green Deal’s “Golden Rule” is that loan repayments are to be calculated at a lower rate than the anticipated savings. How this will work in practice is not yet clear, given that different families clearly have different energy requirements, and it may be that this is not possible in every case.

Although the debt itself will not be a charge (the legal term for a mortgage) on the property it will, in essence, belong to the property so, if you are buying a house with a Green Deal you will take on the responsibility for discharging the debt.

All Green Deal suppliers and installers will need to be properly authorised, which, it is hoped, will help to protect end-users and ensure that the installations are of the highest quality and efficiency available.

For those of you who have bought and sold a property recently you will be aware of the Energy Performance Certificate required at the point of marketing on all properties (with certain exceptions). In future, details of any Green Deal affecting the Property will be contained in the EPC along with details of the energy efficiency of the Property. These details will be viewable online, without charge, for any interested purchasers.

The Government explains the Green Deal, including the type of energy saving improvements which can be made, on the following webpage https://www.gov.uk/green-deal-energy-saving-measures.

If you have any more questions about the Green Deal, feel free to contact one of the Property Team here at Hartley & Worstenholme Solicitors on 01977 732222 who will be able to point you in the right direction. Alternatively you can telephone the Energy Saving Advice Service on 0300 123 1234, Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm Saturday, 10am to 2pm.

The Ministry of Justice is changing the way people can bring a claim if they have been injured. An injured party would not be able to keep 100% of the compensation they are due but would have to pay their own legal costs.

The Ministry of Justice suggests the changes to the regulations in relation to Personal Injury claims will encourage injured parties to liaise directly with an insurance company to secure their much needed compensation. Unfortunately evidence shows that there is a real risk that insurers will settle claims at an undervalue, meaning that the injured party loses out.

• A report from the Financial Services Authority in 2009 found that injured people were awarded 274.95% more compensation if they obtained independent legal advice and assistance in bringing a claim.
• Research commissioned by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers found that 70% of people would not know how to calculate how much they should claim for an injury.
• Many would find dealing direct with a large insurance company daunting.

The Law Society is not alone in believing that these will restrict access to justice. It is not just road accident victims who will be affected but also victims of accidents at work and tripping and slipping claims against the Local Authority. In 2010 87,530 people made a personal injury claim following an accident at work. If the Ministry of Justice’s proposals had been in place at the time, then many of those people would not have received the compensation they required in order to assist recovery.

Can you afford not to ask for legal advice to recover compensation for injury suffered as a result of an accident?

If you have had an accident it is important that you see a Solicitor as soon as possible before the proposed changes come into effect.

Hartley & Worstenholme Solicitors

It may not have been given too much attention in the national media, but legal aid will soon be changing drastically due to the implementation of The Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012.

From the 31st January 2013, firms which deal with civil matters under Legal Aid schemes will be forced to drastically reduce the amount of Legal Aid cases they can take on, specifically matters on divorce, children, including contact and residence (formerly known as access and custody), co-habitation and other family issues. From April this will be reduced again.

The final rules have not yet been published, but it is likely that nobody, regardless of income or benefit status, will be able to claim Legal Aid for any matrimonial or family matters. Legal Aid may still be available, however, if the case falls in the public law domain (such as adoption or when children are taken into care),if there have been allegations of domestic violence or harm to the children.

These cuts have been heavily criticised in the media, by the courts and by the House of Lords, but the government seems set on them going ahead.

Many feel that the cuts will expose the most vulnerable people to even greater risk. A recent report by an Independent Commission of Inquiry into legal aid on the proposed changes said that those at the greatest risk include the elderly, the disabled, the abused, children and the mentally ill. The changes will mean that those people may no longer be able to enforce their rights.

There are also concerns that this may lead to an increase of people acting for themselves at court, which will cause the court system to clog up with cases which could be dealt with relatively simply, creating a back-log and increasing time and costs. Further, there is a belief by some that the requirement of an element of domestic violence will lead to an increase in false claims of domestic violence, causing difficulty for the police and for solicitors’ firms, as well as undermining the plight of those who are genuinely in danger.

In response to the cuts, some firms are taking new steps in an effort to prepare people for the changes.

At Hartley & Worstenholme, for example, we now have free legal drop-in clinics. At our Pontefract office our clinic deals with matrimonial and family matters and is open from 4.30pm-6.30 pm every Wednesday. At our Castleford office, we offer advice for family and litigation matters (including personal injury) on every Tuesday evening from 4.30pm-6.30pm. The clinics allow people to come for free initial advice, and allows us to explain the action that needs to be taken without people feeling pressured.

We are still here to help, but if you have a matter and need the assistance of Legal Aid, we urge you to not delay, make an appointment to see someone as soon as possible. At Hartley & Worstenholme we are ready and willing to take your matter on, to ensure that you get the best result possible.

For up to date information on this developing issue please keep an eye on our website.

Website: www.hartley-worstenholme.co.uk

Telephone: 01977 732222

Hartley & Worstenholme Solicitors have helped raise a record sum of £3,525 for Will Aid this year.

Solicitors in the private client team at Hartley & Worstenholme’s Castleford and Pontefract offices drafted almost 50 wills free of charge throughout November to reward generous donations to the Will Aid charity.

Will Aid supports 8 diverse charities, including Age UK, the British Red Cross, the NSPCC and Sightsavers. Almost 80,000 enquiries were received by Will Aid across the UK this year – the highest number of enquiries since the charity was founded in 1988!

Meg Andrews, a partner at Hartley & Worstenholme, said ‘I helped raise the profile of Will Aid in October in a radio interview with Wes Butters on Radio Leeds but we received a greater response following the item in the Pontefract & Castleford Express in November. The firm’s involvement in Will Aid represents Hartley & Worstenholme’s continued commitment to supporting charities both locally and nationally.

Making a properly-drafted will is the best way to make sure that loved ones are provided for after your death and that the most suitable people are appointed as guardians for your children should anything happen to you whilst they are young. Gifts can also be made in your will to ensure that your favourite charity or cause continues to receive support from you even after you pass away.

Whilst the deadline to take advantage of the Will Aid scheme has now passed, Hartley & Worstenholme continue to offer highly competitive rates for those wishing to make a will and ensure their estate is administered properly after death. To book an appointment at either Castleford or Pontefract, call 01977 732222, or visit www.hartley-worstenholme.co.uk.

Despite trying times for the property market and the tendency for the Christmas period to be slow for buyers and sellers, Hartley & Worstenholme Estate Agents are continuing to go from strength to strength. Throughout November and December, our estate agents have seen solid and reassuring sales figures where other firms are winding down for the Christmas holidays.

Lisa McIntosh, property manager and estate agent at Hartley & Worstenholme, commented ‘The market has definitely improved for us this year. Despite difficult conditions, I have a good feeling about the property market and I am very excited to see what 2013 holds.

Having a combined solicitors’ practice and estate agency enables us to offer continuing and seamless support for those looking to buy or sell property. We also offer lettings and property management services across the region and nationally. This sets us apart from the majority of our competitors and also helps cut time and costs from the conveyancing process. These savings are passed on to our customers, which contributes to many clients returning to the firm again and again.’

Additionally, Hartley & Worstenholme have been awarded both Lexcel and CQS accreditation. These schemes recognise firms who meet the highest possible standards of quality throughout the conveyancing process. Tom Day, a partner in the firm and head of Residential Conveyancing, said ‘The overall beneficiaries of our Lexcel and CQS accreditation will be clients who use us when buying or selling a home. They will receive a reliable and efficient conveyancing service as recognised by those standards.’

If you are interested in obtaining a free conveyancing quote or to find out more, please contact our property team on 01977 732222 or via info@hartley-worstenholme.co.uk.

The Bribery Act 2010 (‘the Act’) imposes criminal sanctions (including a prison term of up to 10 years and an unlimited fine) on those who commit acts of bribery. An illegal act of bribery can have profound consequences on a business, reaching from an employee, right up to management and shareholders.

The offences

It is an offence under the Act to:

• offer, promise or give a financial advantage to another person (i.e. bribe a person), whether within the UK or abroad, with the intention of inducing or rewarding improper conduct;
• request, agree to receive or accept a financial or other advantage (i.e. receive a bribe) for, or in relation to, improper conduct; and,
• fail to prevent bribery.

As well as incurring sanctions under the Act, businesses may also suffer effects such as damage to reputation, loss of recurring business and prevention from entering into certain types of contract in the future.

Steps to take

There is a wealth of guidance which discusses what businesses can do to mitigate the risks of bribery occurring. Actions that can be taken to safeguard against committing offences include:

• having proportionate anti-bribery procedures in place;
• ensuring top-level/management commitment to preventing bribery;
• carefully assessing the risks faced by your company;
• clearly communicating your anti-bribery policy to employees and clients;
• continually monitoring and reviewing your approach to anti-bribery compliance.

If proper anti-bribery policies are implemented, and continual measures are taken to ensure compliance, potential offences under the Act can be easily spotted and avoided.

How we can help

The commercial department at Hartley & Worstenholme have prepared and implemented bespoke anti-bribery policies for a number of business clients since the Act was introduced.

Concept Handtufting Limited, a producer of luxury handmade carpets and rugs and client since its incorporation, approached the department to question whether it should have an anti-bribery policy in place. Chris Wilton, Senior Partner of Hartley & Worstenholme drew up a tailored policy for Concept Handtufting and gave advice on how to ensure the company continued to comply with the Act. Managing director Charles Lawton had this to say about Chris’ work:

“As we continue to increase our operations both domestically and internationally, I thought it best to ensure that we trade in compliance with the Bribery Act. Chris’ ability to tailor a policy specifically to our needs has enabled us to identify potential risks under the Bribery Act, and has helped us safeguard against them. The firm’s provision of clear, practical advice has been invaluable to us in this area.”

To find out more about anti-bribery and how Hartley & Worstenholme can help you stay on the right side of the Bribery Act 2010, contact Chris Wilton on 01977 732222.

BBC Radio Leeds with Meg Andrews

Our very own Meg Andrews was to be heard recently on BBC Radio Leeds talking about the importance of making a Will. If you feel inspired by Meg then please call and make an appointment, to make sure your family or other beneficiaries are well cared for.

Click here to listen.

About three quarters of the land in England and Wales is registered at the Land Registry consisting of over 22 million titles. If the property you own is not registered at Land Registry, we strongly recommend that you make a voluntary application to register it…why?

Reasons to Register

• It brings your ownership up to date and enables you to identify your land holdings and consolidates and stores relevant title information in one place.
• Once registered, if you become the innocent victim of fraudulent transactions involving the registration of your property and suffer financial loss, you may be able to claim compensation.
• Registration can identify problems with your ownership which can be sorted out now. It is not fair to leave it to your heirs who may not know what you know and, in any case, it is cheaper to deal with such things sooner rather than later in the long run.
• It provides simpler access to property details and plans in the future. This makes it easier and faster to handle a sale or other dealing with the property.
• Ownership is guaranteed by Land Registry. The loss of unregistered deeds can make it difficult (sometimes impossible) to prove you own your property.
• It makes it harder for people to encroach on your property and successfully claim ownership of the land occupied.
• Buyers and lenders increasingly expect land to be registered before buying or lending.
• Land Registry is currently giving a 25% fee discount on voluntary registration applications. In addition Land Registry fees are going down on or after 22nd October 2012 by around £10.00 for such applications. For example, if your property is worth between £100,001 and £200,000, the normal fee of £190.00 after 22nd October will be reduced to £140.00 for voluntary registrations.

Is my Property Registered?

If we already hold your deeds, we will be able to tell you.

If you have got your deeds you can make an appointment, bring them to see one of our conveyancing team and they will be pleased to let you know.

If you have access to the internet you may wish to use the Land Registry’s online checker at www.landregistry.gov.uk.

How do I Register?

You can do it yourself! You could contact Land Registry and they are there to help.

However, most people find it easier and simpler to let their solicitor (us!?) do it for them. We will be pleased to do so and will estimate our costs for you at the outset.

For most ordinary domestic property our charges currently are £150.00 plus VAT and the applicable Land Registry fee. If problems arise which would raise those costs, we will tell you and seek your approval before proceeding.

Once registered, we will give you the new title information document and the old deeds to keep.

Contact one of our conveyancing team?

DON’T DELAY, REGISTER TODAY!