Glasgow Solicitors Blog from The GLP

Over 24,000 properties in Scotland are owned by individuals and companies based overseas, with American owners representing the largest group of buyers based abroad. Research from the Registrars of Scotland shows that those based in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates are the next biggest overseas buyers.

Scottish couples who get married in humanist ceremonies are nearly four times less likely to seek a divorce in the future than those who marry in other types of services, new figures have revealed. Those who choose a non-religious ceremony have a higher chance of staying together than couples who marry in Church of Scotland, Roman Catholic or civil services.

Scotland's Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf has vowed to "root out persistent violence" after figures showed that repeat victims suffer over half of all violent crime. Mr Yousaf said that violent offending had fallen by half in the last ten years, but insisted that officials had not become complacent.

The number of second homes in Scotland has nearly halved in the last six years, according to recent figures. Those involved in the Scottish property market are suggesting that higher taxes on additional properties and general economic uncertainty have combined to reduce demand, with the total number of properties listed officially as second homes down from more than 40,000 in 2012 to less than 25,000 in 2018.

The Law Society of Scotland has called for changes to be made to Scotland’s cohabitation laws, calling them ‘problematic and disadvantageous’. In a new paper titled Rights of Cohabitants, attention is drawn to problems suffered by grieving partners who, under the current legislation, must make an application to the court for a share in their partner’s estate if they die without leaving a Will.

The average house price in Scottish cities has increased by 3.7 per cent in a year, from 2017’s figure of £190,250 to £197,308 in 2018, according to recent research.

Drugs that have been illegally made and sold as Valium are being closely linked to an ‘unprecedented’ number of fatal overdoses in Glasgow, according to the city’s NHS addiction services.

In the 12 months to November 2018, house prices in Scotland rose by 6%, with the average cost of a home hitting a new peak average of £186,142, according to data from Your Move index.

According to buy-to-let lender Landbay, the UK’s annual rental growth is highest in Edinburgh, with the average rent at £1,073, an increase of 4.63% in 2018. Landbay’s national review confirmed that Nottingham closely followed Scotland’s capital with rent rising by 4.62% (£688) in the past year.

Edinburgh City Council has approved housing development firm, Forth Ports' plans for a huge 1,600 home development at Western Harbour in Leith after revisions were made to their original design framework.