A developer has been refused permission to convert a family home into a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO). The property was in a street which contained mainly single-family homes. The developer wanted to the convert it into six self-contained apartments. The planning inspector considered the effect an HMO would have on the living conditions of
The Tenant Fees Act 2019 came into force on 1st June 2019 and provided more rules regulating tenancy deposits. The new rules undoubtedly provide a new hurdle for landlords, but it’s important that landlords continue to work to get the basics right. We have found that despite it being many years since the law changed
A recruitment company has successfully appealed against a decision to allow one of its former employees to join a competitor as a shareholder. Egon Zehnder moved to prevent its former employee Ms Tillman from joining a rival firm. In her contract there had been a post-termination non-competition covenant. It stated that the employee should not
An insurance company has been granted a disclosure order allowing it to access recordings of phone calls made to two other firms in an alleged customer poaching case. The case involved D&G, which provides protection for customers after a product manufacturer’s warranty has expired. It became aware that two firms had been cold calling its
Millions of flexible workers are to be given extra protection as part of the government’s Good Work Plan initiative. The new measures are expected to include: compensation for workers when shifts are cancelled at short notice entitlement to a reasonable period of notice for their allocated shifts additional protections for individuals who are penalised if
A dental practice has won a long running contract dispute with the NHS that went all the way to the Court of Appeal. The practice had a General Dental Services Contract with the NHS, which stated that no variation could take effect unless it was in writing and signed by or on behalf of the
The Court of Appeal has ruled that a landlord was within his rights to end a tenancy agreement without giving his tenant the six-month notice period required under the Housing Act 1988. The tenant, Sarah Bamber, had agreed a seven-year tenancy on the property, which included a 12-month starter period. During this starter period, the
Standard Life Assurance Limited has been fined £30million for failing to give its customers all the required information when selling annuities. An annuity is a type of retirement income product that can be purchased with some or all of an individual’s pension pot. It is a complex financial product, and the law states that companies
A loophole that enables large companies to avoid revealing how long it takes them to pay their suppliers has made the law not fit for purpose, according to the employers’ group, the Forum of Private Business (FPB). Large companies have a duty to report how long it takes to pay their suppliers at least twice
The government has introduced a new set of additions to its ‘Good Work Plan’ which aims to increase the rights of workers. Some of the key elements of the scheme include: workers to be given enhanced rights to tackle unscrupulous employers who do not comply with the law a new body that will enforce holiday