New legislation to prevent company bosses misusing Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) for former employees has been announced by the government. Ministers say that while NDAs can be used by businesses for several legitimate reasons, there are occasions where they are being abused and those who sign them not made aware of their rights. There have been cases
The Tenant Fees Act 2019, which came into force on 1st June 2019, bans so-called ‘hidden fees’ that are charged to tenants throughout the course of tenancies. Previously, some tenants found they were being charged costly fees in addition to their rent and deposit such as administrative fees and credit check fees. These additional fees
The law surrounding gas safety certificates has been problematic for landlords, agents and property lawyers for some time now. Property lawyers are hoping that that the recent case of Trecarrell House Ltd v Rouncefield (unreported, 13 February 2019), due to go to the Court of Appeal in the next year, will add some clarity to
A dispute between a property owner and builder has been settled by the High Court, with the owner ordered to pay for work completed, even though he was not happy with it and the job was cancelled. The parties had entered into a JCT minor works building contract for work to be done on the
Two female police officers who were put on restricted duties for giving evidence against a colleague have won their sex discrimination claims. The tribunal ruled that they had been treated in way that would be detrimental to their careers, while male officers in a comparable position were not. The case involved two senior officers, Jane
A divorced husband has been ordered by the High Court to transfer the legal title to 42 properties solely into his own name or sell them. The judge found that he had not made his best efforts to remove his ex-wife from the mortgages of the properties that he had received in the divorce settlement.
A woman has been awarded £1.2m despite being written out of her father’s will after they fell out in the later years of his life. The judge found that the woman was entitled to the sum because she had worked on the family farm for 30 years on the understanding that she would inherit it.
The number of affordable homes has increased according to the latest figures published by the government’s housing accelerator, Homes England. The numbers of house builds started and completed in the past 12 months are both up on the previous year. Between April 2018 and March 2019 there were 45,692 new house builds started under programmes
The EU has adopted a new set of regulations to protect children caught up in cross border disputes between their parents. The Brussels IIa Regulation covers cross-border matrimonial matters (divorce, separation, marriage annulment) and matters of parental responsibility, including custody and access rights, and international child abduction. There are an estimated 16 million international families
A judge has ruled that a son was entitled to a share of the family farm, despite having fallen out with his parents, because he had worked for more than 30 years on the understanding that the land would pass to him. The High Court heard that in 1981, the parents made wills under which