Property Disputes Newsletter November 2013
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Business Services
Company annual returns could be scrapped to help businesses
The government is proposing to scrap mandatory annual returns to help companies save time and money. Under company law at present, companies must provide details every year about matters such as the business address, business type, names of directors and information about shareholders and shares. For most businesses, this information barely changes from one year
Model agreement to set out rights of tenants and landlords
The government is introducing new measures to encourage longer term tenancies and improve standards in the private rented sector. A model tenancy agreement, developed with the sector, will set out the rights and responsibilities of both landlords and tenants, and provide an industry benchmark for written tenancy agreements. Ministers say the agreement will ensure families
Number of new UK businesses continues to soar
More than 102,000 new businesses were set up in theUKlast year, according to the latest government figures. The total number of businesses now stands at a record level of 4.9million. Business Secretary Vince Cable said the figures “are a timely reminder of the number of people willing to try their hand at business”. The government
Firm stops ex-employees using its confidential information
A publishing company has been granted an injunction preventing former employees from using its confidential information including its customer databases. The issue arose when three of the company’s senior employees resigned to set up a rival business. The company suspected that the employees had set up their new enterprise before resigning. It then alleged that
New minimum wage rates come into effect
The new National Minimum Wage (NMW) came into effect on 1 October. These are the main changes: The adult rate increases by 12p to £6.31 an hour The rate for 18-20 year olds increases by 5p to £5.03 an hour The rate for 16-17 year olds increases by 4p to £3.72 an hour The apprentice
Pub manager compensated for depression caused by dismissal
A pub manager has been awarded compensation for the depression she suffered after being unfairly dismissed. The case involved a husband and wife who were employed together to manage a large pub. They lived on the premises with their four children. They worked there for just over a year when the employer became dissatisfied with
Government offers extra £69m to help start-up businesses
The Government is making an extra £69m available for loans to start-up businesses as a way of creating jobs and boosting the economy, Ministers say more than 30,000 new businesses have been created over the last two years with support from government schemes including Start-Up Loans and the New Enterprise Allowance. It’s hoped the new
Action group fails to prevent development in beauty area
An action group has failed in its legal bid to stop what it described as a “major development” of 14 houses in an area of outstanding natural beauty. The case involved a reserve housing site. Before applying for planning permission, the developers asked the local authority to adopt a screening opinion as to whether the
Landlord Security: Rent Deposit or Guarantors
As the economy appears to be taking a turn for the better and vacant units in town centres falling from 1 in 7 to 1 in 5 (Local Data Company Limited), landlords and tenants are still precarious about entering into leases of premises. There is a fine balance seeking to protect an interest and ensuring