A letting agency has been fined for illegally obtaining information about tenants while chasing up rent arrears. The offence took place in 2009 when the agency became concerned about overdue rent payments. One of its directors approached a local authority customer service adviser and asked him to obtain information about certain tenants from housing benefit
The national minimum wage for workers over the age of 21 is to increase by 11p to £6.19 an hour. That is a rise of 1.8%, which is lower than the rate of inflation but higher than the average increase in earnings, which rose by 1.4% in the year to January. The rate for 18
A developer of a block of flats has been ordered to return deposits to purchasers because the building was not completed on time. However, it was not the delay itself that caused the problem, but the lack of due diligence in failing to get the work done as quickly as possible after problems arose. In
Five bus drivers have won a claim of unfair dismissal after a change of employer meant they would have to spend up to two hours a day extra getting to their new depot. The case arose when the bus operator Centrewest transferred one of its routes in London to another operator, Abellio. The drivers were
What protection is offered to Consumers at Home? The Cancellation of Contracts made in a Consumer’s Home or Place of Work etc Regulations 2008 came into force in October 2008. The Regulations allow a mandatory cooling off period of 7 days within which the consumer may choose to cancel the sale. The contract itself must
An insurance company has been awarded damages and granted an injunction against a group of employees who left to set up a rival business. The court found that the group had committed numerous breaches of their employment contracts and fiduciary duty. They enticed others to resign and also used confidential company information while still employees.
Timing can be crucial when taking legal action, as one company recently found to its cost. The company had hired a firm of builders to carry out some roofing and cladding works at a new factory. A contract was agreed which stated that in the event of a dispute, no action could be taken after
The number of homes coming on to the rental market because their owners cannot sell them is increasing, according to the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA). A survey of ARLA members showed that 47% had seen a rise in “unplanned lettings” by homeowners who either couldn’t sell or wanted to wait until the market
Home-buyers who turn to the “bank of mum and dad” and increasingly the bank of grandparents to buy their home to prepare for the all eventualities, as generous family members tighten their belts. Many people have no choice but to turn to parents or other family members to help raise a deposit for a house
With the stamp duty holiday for first-time buyers buying properties under £250,000 due to end on March 24, there could be a rush to buy amongst first time buyers. With lending from the major banks still cautious, first time buyers will inevitably turn to other sources, such as family members, for help to beat the