Author: admin

One of the most difficult things you can end up experiencing is the breakdown of a family or a relationship. In these situations, there’s several options you have available when it comes to legal advice. Reaching out to a solicitor can often be a difficult and anxiety inducing step – but often it’s an incredibly important one you must make. However, it’s vital to know what kind of solicitor to choose. If you feel your relationship is beginning to break down and that legal meditation will be necessary, then this is an excellent guide for selecting legal advice.

1. The Most Important Step – Research

The most vital step is research.

You will need to find an experienced family solicitor and a solicitor from a firm with a solid reputation – especially in areas relevant to your needs.

Always consider the kind of services that the firm has experience in providing. It’s important you find a solicitor who is experienced, has the relevant skillsets, and one that you know you will be able to rely on. Look for the experience they have, and the kind of accreditation they possess. Family Law Solicitors can be accredited in several ways, and accreditation is a demonstration of both knowledge and experience – but it’s important to check what exactly their accreditation is and if it relates to family law.

It’s important to ask about what their speciality is – are they a specialist in family law? Many solicitors can cover more than just one area of law – but in these situations you really want someone who has experience in the expansive field of family law and is a dedicated specialist there.

You’ll also want to think about the kind of services a firm can offer you over the course of the process. Specialists in finance and amicable resolution can be vital for assisting you in handling the dispute.

2. Talk to Solicitors

It is very important to meet with the solicitor.

You should always attempt to talk to a solicitor for free to gauge their approach as well as the kind of relationship you’ll be able to develop with them.

Many solicitors and firms offer a free initial consultation. Talking with a solicitor is a vital part of the research step, as it will allow you to see if you have a good working relationship with the solicitor. Because of the sensitive nature of what you must engage with the solicitor over, it is key you are able to develop a good relationship with them. Directly meeting or talking with them will give you a good idea as to whether you will be able to work with them over.

If you get along with your family lawyer Clarkston or like them, then it will be much easier to end up reaching a settlement – because when they discuss a compromise, they know you will be comfortable frankly discussing both the pros and cons.

3. What kind of Approach do they take?

The kind of approach that solicitors take will be vital for helping you to resolve the situation. How do they propose to resolve your case?

The aim should always be to seek an amicable resolution to save both time and money – going to court should always be a last resort taken when all other options have been exhausted or are simply no longer viable. The starting point for a good family solicitor should always be attempting a negotiated solution – and a realistic negotiated solution – to the problem.

However, you must be prepared for the possibility of a case going to a court and in many situations, a robust, experienced solicitor will be necessary to represent you through litigation and provide you with important legal advice relevant to the situation.

During an initial consultation, you’ll be able to get a good idea of the approach that a solicitor will take – but it’s vital for you to ask questions and discuss how they will deal with the case.

4. Costs and Hourly Rates

At the beginning of your consultation, you’ll need to consider how you can fund the legal process. It’s important to ask what for an estimate of the worst and the best-case scenarios – so you can get a proper handle on how much you may need to pay. Not every firm will provide a free estimate before meeting with you and finding out the specific details of our case, however, they should be able to provide details regarding a solicitors hourly rates – which should allow you to develop an idea of how much the process will cost you.

 A good solicitor will,

• Clearly lay out costs
• How to make your next steps

A good solicitor will always make all these details clear and never obfuscate any of the necessary costs.

If you run any form of business at some point you will need to retain the services of a lawyer.

Some choose to seek out a lawyer as and when they are required whilst others prefer to keep one on retainer, paying a certain amount on a monthly or annual basis to ensure their availability at all times.

Some of the main tasks that a lawyer working on behalf of a business will carry out include reviewing leases, contracts, and business agreements; ensuring their clients are abiding by all the latest legal regulations in their sector, and representing the company in litigation cases.

How, then, can you determine whether or not it is worth hiring a lawyer on retainer or not?

One of the main determining factors will be the frequency at which you are expecting to use the services of your lawyer but this is far from the only consideration.

Advantages of having a lawyer on retainer

Probably the biggest benefit of keeping a lawyer on retainer is that you will always be right at the front of the queue if you need legal aid.

You are effectively paying for a lawyer to agree that they will put your needs first over their ongoing work should their expertise be required.

This will allow you to complete all your legal work such as contract creation and review to be completed in a much more time efficient manner, and with much less hassle than would otherwise be possible.

You also won’t have to waste your time searching the market for a lawyer when an issue arises, time that could otherwise be spent working towards securing a positive outcome to the issue in question.

Even if your lawyer on retainer is not themselves a specialist in the area of law that you need assistance with, they will be able to use their wide range of connections within the legal sector to recommend someone suitable.

Although there is inherently an ongoing cost associated with retaining a lawyer, this approach offers a level of financial stability and is much easier to budget for than simply waiting for a crisis situation to arise and seeking out a lawyer each and every time.

It would be great to think that your firm will never be involved in litigation cases but no matter how fairly and honestly you run your company it is impossible to guarantee this won’t happen.

These cases can be highly charged emotional situations and a lawyer can help you ensure you don’t make any silly mistakes, taking a professional and calm approach that is far more likely to wield a positive outcome.

Long-term client-lawyer relationships can be incredibly beneficial as over time your attorney will develop an in-depth knowledge of your business and will know exactly what you are looking to get out of certain situations.

Disadvantages of retaining a lawyer

If there were no disadvantages at all to retaining the services of a Lawyer Glasgow, every business in the country would have one.

The truth is, that whilst the majority will definitely see long-term benefits from taking this approach, it is not for everyone, and there are certain potential disadvantages to consider before doing so.

The main drawback to keeping a lawyer on retainer tends to be disputes over whether or not certain legal services are included in the retainer.

In general, legal advice and inquiries will be included as part of ongoing retainer payments, as will a set fee for additional services offered and an understanding the work will be done as a matter of priority.

However, which services require an additional fee, and how much that additional fee is, can be a matter of conflict so ensure that both sides are clear from the outset about what they are expecting from the relationship and a retainer agreement is signed detailing this.

Another disadvantage to an ‘on retainer’ approach is that you will have to pay a certain monthly or annual fee, regardless of whether the legal services of your lawyer are required during this time.

Whilst a year with no contract disputes or litigation agreements sounds like bliss, this will result in you paying for a service that you have effectively never used.

Should a problem arise, however, you will be very relieved to have someone to call, and the peace of mind and reassurance that having a legal expert just a phone call away at all times should not be underestimated.

Furthermore, if you do use a lawyer even just a few times throughout the year, the money you will save by using someone who doesn’t need to get to grips with the intricacies of your business could prove invaluable.

Recent events have seen more and more commercial properties in the UK left lying empty for a prolonged period of time.

If you are responsible for a property or multiple properties, it is inevitable that at some point it will be vacant at least for a short period, whilst you look for a new tenant.

If you are not careful an empty property can be a major financial liability, not only costing you money in lost rent but also being much more likely to be the target of break-ins and other criminal activity.

Not only can criminal activity lead to you potentially having to pay for costly repairs to your property, but if an incident does occur whilst the building is unoccupied, it is likely that your existing insurance will be invalid.

Most property insurance only applies whilst the building is in use and if you expect to have to leave it vacant for a sustained period you will have to secure Unoccupied Property Compliance Insurance which is much harder to obtain and may require you to install additional security measures.

Some of the most effective security measures that you could consider putting in place if you are the owner of a vacant property include:

1. Installing Security Screens

Windows are one of the most vulnerable parts of any property and are commonly used as entry points by burglars and vandals.

Installing tamper proof steel metal sheets over the windows of your vacant property will add an additional layer of security to your windows and make it much harder to gain unauthorised access.

When installing security screens, you should ensure that they cover the entire frame of the external windows and are fastened and secured in place using bolts.

This fixing mechanism will not do any damage to the window frames themselves but will prevent trespassers from easily removing them.

Zinc-coated or perforated steel sheets are by far the most effective security screens and are far superior to traditional wooden panels that can easily be removed by an experienced criminal.

2. Install Security Doors

An even more obvious potential entry point than your windows, the doors of a vacant property are almost always the first point of entry attempted by an intruder.

Many opportunist burglars will simply roam through an area, trying the doors of buildings which appear unoccupied in the hope of getting lucky, so ensuring all your doors are locked before leaving is vital.

However, to maximise the security for vacant property it is worth installing some reinforced security doors that will take much more force to break through than traditional doors.

Ideally, you should look to install security doors that come with a keyless lock with millions of unique combinations and not one with a traditional lock that could be picked by an experienced criminal.

Other features to look for in a security door include a multi-point locking system and cut proof hinges.

To ensure that your security doors are installed properly and do not have any weaknesses you should approach a speciality company to handle the process.

3. Install Alarms

Property alarms are one of the most popular and effective security measures for any commercial property.

They are particularly useful for temporary use as they can be installed without a mains connection or access to WiFi, instead alerting you to an incident via the mobile network.

This makes them perfect for use on a vacant property and will typically operate using motion detection technology.

A monitored alarm system is particularly effective as an active deterrent as if triggered your alarm will notify a local security firm who will respond accordingly, alerting the emergency services and deploying a team of security experts to the site.

4. Install CCTV

Monitored CCTV offers all the same deterrent effects as an alarm system, indicating to intruders that they are likely to be detected and identified if they attempt to target your property.

Video cameras will capture all movement that takes place on your site and transmit the footage live to you and your security staff remotely.

This will allow you to keep an eye on your site whilst it is unoccupied via any mobile device and should an incident take place will give the police more of a chance of tracking down those responsible.

5. Concrete Barriers

If you are looking to prevent vehicles from being able to access driveways or carparks whilst your property is vacant, renting concrete blocks is a highly effective option.

Fly tipping is a common offence on plots that appear unoccupied, and these barriers will prevent trucks and lorries being able to use your outdoor space for this purpose without having to fork out for an entire perimeter fence.

By renting barriers rather than buying, you won’t even have the hassle of installing and removing the concrete blocks which will simply be removed once the area is back in use.

Solar panels are a fantastic way to harness the natural energy of the sun to produce clean, free energy for use around your home.

Unfortunately, however, the energy produced by your solar panels needs to be used right away, or it will be wasted.

Certainly not ideal, especially when you consider that a significant amount of the energy used in UK homes is consumed at night and other periods when solar panels are not as effective.

On average, a household with solar panels but no storage capabilities in place, will only save around half of what they could, due to this loss of energy.

The Answer? A Solar Battery

By purchasing a solar battery to store the energy produced by your solar panels until it is required in your home, you could save as much as £200 every year on your electric bills compared to having solar panels alone, not to mention reducing your output of greenhouse gases by almost a tonne.

This guide will tell you all you need to know about installing a solar battery and give you a better idea of whether such an installation would be beneficial to your home.

What is a Solar Battery?

Solar batteries allow you to store the excess electricity that you generate in your home through solar panels or any other means.

This energy can then be used at any time of the day or night or sold back into the national grid.

Typically, around 50% of generated energy by solar panels goas unused so a battery is essential if you are looking to get the most out of your renewable energy system.

The are several different types of solar battery, all of which have their pros and cons but the two most popular are the lead acid model, and the more efficient lithium-ion battery.

How do they work?

Solar batteries work by creating an overflow for solar panel generated energy.

Solar panels convert sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity, which is then converted into alternating current (AC) that can be used around your home.

Once the energy requirements of your home have been met at that current time the rest of the electrical energy will be transferred into the battery storage where it will remain until required.

For obvious reasons, solar panels are less effective at night, meaning that for a large portion of the time sent at home, owners must instead rely upon expensive grid electricity to meet their needs.

With a solar battery in place, your system will thrive at night, providing completely free, clean energy 24 hours a day.

Even better, your battery and panels will work together automatically, with your battery kicking in the moment it is required without the need for manual switching.

How much do they cost?

On average a solar battery will typically cost around £4,500 depending on the type and capacity of the battery in question

Once you have installed your battery however, maintenance costs will be minimal to none, and you will more than make your money back over the systems lifespan.

For a solar battery that can hold enough energy to ensure you do not require to use any grid electricity at all, you should expect to pay around 10-20% more than average, at around £5,000.

If you are looking to meet the energy requirements of your home through renewable energy alone and take the property off-grid, this may be the approach that is best suited to your needs.

On average you will make back around £200 per year in the form of reduced electricity bills when using a solar battery and panels and to maximise the returns you may also wish to sell unused energy back into the national grid through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) scheme.

AC or DC?

Solar batteries come in two different types, those that store electricity directly from the solar panels in direct current (DC) and alternation current (AC) batteries that contains an additional inverter.

If you already have solar panels in place, you will require an AC battery that is much easier to fit into an existing system but if you are instead installing both your panels and battery at the same time a DC battery is the better option.

How long do they last?

Solar batteries Scotland tend to last for around 15 years with many manufacturers offering a 10-year guarantee on their products.

The capacity may slightly decline in the final 5 years of usage, so this is something worth considering when working out which model to go for.

Contact Greener Energy Group

For more information on solar batteries or solar PV panels call Greener Energy Group today on 03335 77 66 99 or fill out our home suitability survey today.

Fire is a major risk to any business, posing a serious threat of injury or death to customers and employees and causing damage and destruction to property, stock, and equipment.

Every year faulty appliances and electrical wires are responsible for thousands of fires in commercial buildings, with carelessness, a lack of regular maintenance/servicing, and lack of safety knowledge also posing a threat.

Many of the blazes could have been prevented if the fire security systems of the premises in question had been better equipped meaning that just a few small changes to the fire protocols of your company could significantly reduce the risk of fire.

Central FS are one of Scotland’s leading providers of fire security systems including fire alarms, sprinklers, alarm monitoring, and fire doors.

We have many years experience helping business owners protect their sites and reduce the risk of fire and have used this knowledge to put together this guide on how to improve the fire safety of your business.

How do fires start?

One of the best ways to reduce the risk of fire to staff, customers, and property is to prevent the fire from starting in the first place.

To do this it is important to understand the common causes of commercial fires that need to be focussed on.

In order for a fire to start 3 key components are needed:

1. Ignition – Lighters, naked flames, electrical wires, cigarettes etc.
2. Fuel – Wood, loose packaging, cardboard, paper, foam, furniture
3. Oxygen

Clearly, fuel and oxygen are plentiful in any building across the world, but educating your staff on the risks of potential ignition sources and keeping them away from flammable materials is a simple way to improve awareness and reduce the risk of fire.

What can you do as a business?

Staff education is one thing, but in order to fully protect your site against fire, you will need to make some company wide changes.

Some of the steps that every business should take if they are serious about fire safety include:

1. Risk Assessment

Every owner or occupier of a commercial premises has a legal obligation to conduct a fire risk assessment and review it on a regular basis.

This can be done by the owner themselves, if they are confident in doing so, another responsible individual in the business, or the task can be designated to a professional firm.

A risk assessment should always involve:

• Identifying all possible fire hazards on site
• Identifying individuals most at risk of being exposed to fire
• Evaluating and taking steps to eliminate or limit the risks
• Creating a report, emergency plan, and fire safety protocols
• Providing training to all staff
• Regularly reviewing and updating the risk assessment to account for new risks and observed behaviour.

2. Early Detection and Alerts

The most crucial factor in a successful response to a fire in any property is early identification.

Installing a fire alarm system on site that is monitored by the emergency services, and is regularly serviced by a professional fire security expert, is by far the best way to achieve early detection,

Fire Alarms Glasgow will detect the first signs of smoke or excess heat and trigger an audio and visual warning, alerting those nearby to the situation.

This will allow staff to ensure that they and your customers are able to safely exit the building as quickly as possible.

Monitored alarms will also send an instant alert to the emergency services meaning help will be on its way as soon as possible.

By not requiring a physical 999 call your staff can focus on following established fire safety procedures, safe in the knowledge that help will be on the scene in a matter of minutes.

3. Evacuation

Ensuring that all staff and customers are well away from any potential fire should be the cornerstone of any fire safety plan.

An essential part of staff training should be to ensure that they are fully aware of evacuation routes, and the plan to clear the building in the event of a fire.

There should be a minimum of two separate escape routes out of the building in case one is inaccessible, and these should be kept well clear of any debris, or obstacles that may cause a trip hazard.

Escape routes should be clearly marked, and illuminated in case of a power cut, and all the external doors should be kept unlocked whilst the building is in use.

Finally, all routes should be interspersed with fire doors to prevent the fire spreading quickly through high traffic zones.

Contact Central FS

For more information on fire safety from an industry expert or to arrange alarm installation today contact Central FS today on 0141 530 1244 and our BAFE accredited team will be delighted to help.

The mortgage market is extremely saturated and finding the best deal without professional mortgage advice is nearly impossible.

Many people avoid the search altogether and simply take whatever mortgage deal is offered by the bank or building society they conduct all their other financial business.

This is a terrible idea as you will be limiting your options tremendously and may miss out on a much better deal elsewhere that could save you thousands of pounds over the mortgage term.

What does a mortgage advisor do?

At the risk of stating the obvious, the job of a mortgage advisor is to provide advice throughout the entire process of securing a new mortgage, from searching through thousands of different offers to applying for, and securing, your perfect deal.

The role of a mortgage advisor can be separated into several different stages from initial consultation to picking up the keys to your dream home.

During the process a mortgage advisor will:

1. Explain how applying for a mortgage works
2. Ask some simple questions about your financial situation to determine what sort of properties you are likely to be able to secure a mortgage for.
3. Scour the mortgage market for the best deals available to you.
4. Suggest the ideal mortgage deal to apply for once you are ready to proceed with a property.
5. Help process your mortgage application

Why is a Mortgage Advisor so important?

Initial Advice

There is nothing worse than finding your dream property and missing out either because you can’t secure a mortgage or because someone else was quicker off the mark with their offer.

One of the biggest benefits of using a professional mortgage advisor is that you can receive expert advice in the preliminary stage of your property search.

A mortgage advisor will look at your financial situation and use their years of experience to explain exactly what your budget should be in your property search.

They will do this in a similar way to a mortgage lender would decide whether to grant you a mortgage, by looking at what size deposit you will be able to put down and the monthly payments you will be able to afford.

By giving you an idea of the type of properties you will be able to secure a mortgage for you will be able to narrow your property search and won’t be left disappointed at the last moment by a rejected mortgage application.

Exclusive Deals

Many people presume that if they do enough research themselves, they will be able to secure the best possible mortgage without paying for professional advice.

Unfortunately, this is rarely the case as many of the best mortgage deals are only available to those who apply through a mortgage broker. Mortgage advisors will have extensive knowledge and contacts throughout the industry and will normally be able to direct you towards the best rates in no time at all.

Expert mortgage advisors will also be able to instantly narrow down your search, using their years of market experience to eliminate deals that you are not eligible for, or would not suit your needs, a process that would take much longer if you tried to do so yourself.

In order to have the most options available to you, it is essential that you use a ‘whole of market’ mortgage advisor such as CSR financial.

Some mortgage brokers are affiliated with specific lenders and therefore will only be able to recommend their products to you, making it extremely unlikely that you will receive the very best rates available on the market.

Whole of market advisors on the other hand have no obligations to anyone except their clients and their sole focus will be on delivering you with the best possible outcome.

At CSR financial we will compare as many as 2000 different mortgage deals from over 40 different lenders in order to identify the most suitable and affordable option for you.

Convenience

Buying a house involves a huge amount of administration and paperwork. Letting a mortgage advisor paisley handle this for you is a great way to take some of the stress out the process.

They will handle the gathering and submission of information, and make sure that when you find your dream property you are in a position to act quickly to secure an appropriate mortgage.

Rather than having to gather and submit all your information every time you approach a potential lender to find out if you are eligible for their products, you will only need to do so once with a mortgage advisor, who will use your information to find an appropriate deal and submit your application.

Your advisor will have submitted thousands of mortgage applications and there is also far less chance of them making an error that could lead to your application being instantly rejected than if you attempt to go it alone.