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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
The decision by Chancellor Philip Hammond to abolish stamp duty for most first-time home buyers in England and Wales has met with a mixed reaction from property experts and analysts. In the Budget, Mr Hammond announced that the first £300,000 of the price of a property will be exempt from tax for people entering the
People who have paid fees to bring a claim to the Employment Tribunal can now start applying to get their money back. The refund scheme was introduced by the government after the Supreme Court ruled the charges for bringing a claim were unlawful. The fee system was introduced in 2013, with employees having to pay
The deadline for registering new trusts with the online Trusts Registration Service (TRS) has been extended from October to 5 January by HM Revenue and Customs. The TRS was launched in July to enable trustees to register their trust online and provide information on the beneficial owners. Trusts that have incurred a liability to income
A wife has lost her appeal against an unequal divorce settlement that gave her less than half the money awarded to her husband. The couple had been married for 23 years and had two adult children. At the start of the marriage, the husband had considerable wealth, while the wife had very little. During their
Two sisters who were cut out of their mother’s will after making allegations that they were sexually abused by their father have failed in their claim to inherit some of her estate. The mother and her late husband had 11 children. The two sisters and their brother became estranged from the rest of the family
The government is investing a further £10 billion to provide 135,000 new homes through the Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme. More than 130,000 properties have already been sold through the scheme, which helps people buy a new build home with only a 5% deposit. The new funding means that Help to Buy Equity Loan