Radical reforms to provide a better deal for leaseholders who want to purchase the freehold or to extend the lease of their home have been put forward by the Law Commission. The proposals would: make the process (known as “enfranchisement”) easier, cheaper and quicker improve and enhance the rights of leaseholders to buy their freehold
Two repairmen were unfairly dismissed even though they had broken the terms of their employment contracts by using company vans for personal journeys. Mr M Genus and Mr M Kelly had worked for more than 20 years for Fortem Solutions Ltd, which provides repair and maintenance services for Birmingham City Council. Fortem received an anonymous
Directors could soon be banned from running a business and face large fines if they dissolve their companies to avoid paying employees or making required pension contributions. The crackdown is part of government plans to safeguard workers, pensions and small suppliers when a company goes bust. Under the shake-up, bosses will face investigation if they
Royal Mail has been fined £50m for breaking competition law by abusing its dominant position in the postal delivery market. An investigation by the regulator Ofcom found that it discriminated against Whistl, one of its customers and its only major competitor delivering letters. The investigation followed a complaint by Whistl about changes Royal Mail made to its wholesale customers’
Tenants and leaseholders can now access official guidance on their rights when renting their home. The online rental guides, published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, are part of a continuing crackdown on poor practice by a minority of landlords and agents in the private rented and leasehold sectors. The Citizens Advice
A contractor was liable for delays on a building project even if it was not responsible for all the factors associated with those delays. That was the ruling of the Court of Appeal in a case involving North Midland Building Ltd and Cyden Homes Ltd. The two parties had agreed bespoke amendments to the JCT
The number of corporate insolvencies fell by 12% in the second quarter of this year, according to the Insolvency Service. While the figures are to be welcomed as a much-needed improvement, the trade body R3 fears they may only be a temporary blip in a continuing upward trend. It’s urging business owners not to be
A developer has won the right to build in open countryside despite opposition from the local planning authority. The case involved developer George Barlow and Cheshire East Council. Barlow had applied for planning permission to build 10 houses on open land. The authority failed to make a decision within the prescribed period, so Barlow appealed.
As everyone is now hopefully well aware, on the 29th March 2019, at 23:00 GMT – the UK leaves the EU. While the negotiations over the future relationship between the UK and the EU are still progressing, we do now face the possibility of there being no formal deal in place by that date. The
There has been a 39% rise in claims before the Employment Tribunal since the Supreme Court ruled last year that the fees charged to bring claims were unlawful. The fees were introduced in 2013, with employees having to pay up to £1,200 to bring a claim. Following a challenge by the union Unison, the Supreme