If you have bought or sold a property in the UK in recent years, you may have felt the “due diligence” checks were intrusive and maybe went further than strictly necessary. However, consider the recent case of a conveyancing firm that cut corners and unwittingly allowed a fraudster to sell a house they did not […]
Acas, the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, reports that more than 50% of UK employers anticipate increased demand for hybrid working options, following the Coronavirus pandemic. During the phases of lockdown, many organisations instituted a work-from-home policy and many employees and employers have discovered benefits from the practice. A recent Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD) […]
Overview Local authorities in England and Wales regularly enforce offences relating to HMOs and fines in excess of £740,000 have been issued to non-compliant landlords. You must have a licence to operate a Large HMO and you may require one to let a property to tenants not from the same household. As different local authorities […]
An employer who dismissed a long-serving employee for illegal drug use at home has had the dismissal ruled unfair. The employer had assumed that use of the illegal drug cannabis was a valid reason for automatic dismissal. The employee failed a workplace drug test, which indicated high levels of cannabis, opiates and morphine. The employer […]
The question on everybody’s lips at the moment is “When can we go abroad on holiday?” This is generally followed by “Where can we go?” Also, what about Covid passports? And essential travel? Who is allowed to travel now and what reasons are they giving? There is certainly reason to hope for a holiday this […]
What are the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees regarding vaccinations or testing for Covid-19? Can employers insist that employees are tested or vaccinated, or could employees refuse? This is an area where health and safety and human rights issues conflict, creating a murky area with ifs, buts and caveats for all parties. Unfortunately, […]
The UK Government is debating tougher rules for protests in England and Wales. Trespass would become a criminal offence. Police would be able to seize property and vehicles of trespassers who set up “unauthorised encampments.” Parliament is set to debate the second reading today (Monday 15th March, 2021) of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts […]
Evictions Bans Extended The Government has announced extensions to the bans on residential and commercial evictions in England. Residential Tenants The ban on residential evictions means that there will be no evictions by bailiffs before 31 May except in very limited circumstances. For residential tenancies, landlords must provide a 6-month notice period of eviction. This […]
Got-to Guide at a Glance: Budget 2021 The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, has delivered his budget speech. He announced that he expects the UK economy to recover more quickly than initially expected, so his budget reflects that optimism, while balancing giveaways with tax rises and freezes on some allowances. Government Grants to Individuals […]
Rent Repayment Orders Rent Repayment Orders in England enable tenants to claim back up to 12 months’ rent paid in respect of a tenancy to a landlord who has committed an offence listed in the Housing and Planning Act 2016. The legislation also entitles local authorities to claim back housing benefit in the same way, […]
