Parliament has begun work on the Draft Tenant Fees Bill that will make it illegal for agents to charge tenants letting fees. Ministers say the level of fees charged are often not clearly or consistently explained, leaving many tenants unaware of the true costs of renting a property. This latest action is designed to help
A firm or architects have won their dispute over the payment of a final invoice after a developer unexpectedly dispensed with their services. The issue arose after the developer had accepted the architects’ fee proposal in relation to a housing project. After a few months, the developer emailed the architects, indicating that it intended to
Persistence is an admirable quality but unfortunately it can sometimes work against directors who take personal risks when trying to save a failing business. Sometimes the heart can rule the head. Directors often have an emotional attachment to a firm they have set up themselves and feel a tremendous loyalty to their staff. This can
A flat can be considered a home in multiple occupation (HMO) even if it is only part of a larger building with floors used for other purposes. That was the decision of the High Court in a case involving a two-storey flat situated above a restaurant. The local authority said it needed to be licensed
The government has announced plans to tighten the regulations covering mergers between companies operating in sensitive areas that could affect national security. The changes are targeted at firms that design or manufacture military and dual use products, and parts of the advanced technology sector. Currently in these areas, the government can only intervene in mergers
Deliveroo has won a dispute over whether its cyclists should be classed as workers or self-employed after inserting a ‘substitution’ clause into their contracts. The issue arose after the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) claimed union recognition for Deliveroo cyclists in Camden in London. For the claim to succeed, the union had to
“”An employer that does not allow a worker to exercise his right to annual leave must bear the consequences.” So said the ECJ in its ruling yesterday, 29 November 2017, in King v Sash Window Workshop Ltd. Mr King – a commission-based salesman did not receive holiday pay for 13 years. He argued he could
A “director” includes any person occupying the position of director no matter what they are called. This definition appears in both the Companies Act 2006 and Insolvency Act 1986. It is clear then that the reality of any given situation is crucial in determining whether an individual is a director and that you cannot escape
The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is set to become enforceable from the 25 of May 2018. The GDPR creates a wider definition of personal data than the Data Protection Act. It covers all organisations in the public, private and non-profit sector and applies throughout the EU and beyond, even if the business itself
Unlike say for a consumer, the buyer of shares or assets be warned; the law provides no statutory or common law protection as to the nature and extent of the assets or liabilities you are acquiring. It is therefore usual for the buyer to negotiate certain forms of contractual protection into the purchase agreement for