NAFD launches new property advice service
The National Association of Funeral directors has introduced a specialist advice service to help its members tackle property and planning issues.
All kinds of funeral firms are set to benefit, from start up businesses that want to buy or lease commercial premises, to established companies that are looking to make structural changes to their existing funeral homes or are searching for additional premises to accommodate their expansion plans.
The service is being provided by solicitors Williamson & Soden, which was established in 1979 and advises small and medium-sized businesses on a variety of aspects of law and commerce. The firm has offices in Birmingham and Solihull and specialises in commercial litigation, businesses sales, purchases and start-ups, residential and commercial property and employment law. It also has a well-established personal injury department and a criminal law division.
Ian Williamson, one of the firm’s founding partners, will head up the service and will tailor advice to meet the needs of individual NAFD members. Ian is a member of the Law Society’s Planning Panel and a Legal Associate of the Royal Town Planning Institute, while the practice also works in conjunction with specialist planning consultants on larger projects.
“The majority of our members are in the small business category and property issues such as change of use, boundaries, access rights and car parking will affect them at some point, especially new firms and expanding businesses that want to open additional branches,” says Alan Slater, chief executive officer of the NAFD.
“This new property advice service will tackle all the problem areas, ensuring members have access to the kind of cost-effective legal advice that will enable them to plan for the future, and is another example of how we are supporting them.”
Typically, Williamson & Soden will help funeral directors establish whether they need to apply for permission for a change of use to premises they are acquiring and advise if a property is in an area which is subject to special restrictions. The team will also help with the legal aspect of a Planning Appeal and look into restrictive covenants in the deeds, which may prevent a property from being used as a funeral home.
“We are delighted to be supporting the National Association of Funeral Directors whose members provide such a vital service to our community,” says Ian Williamson.
“Property law can be exceedingly complex, so our aim is to provide the specialist support that will encourage funeral directors to develop their businesses. We expect this new service will have particular appeal among smaller funeral businesses, which are highly likely to come across property planning and enforcement issues, yet do not have readily available resources to tackle them.”