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Landlords will be obliged to join an ombudsman redress scheme as part of government efforts to give tenants greater protection. The new measures were unveiled by the Communities Secretary Sajid Javid. He said the government will also oblige letting agents to be registered so they are subjected to proper professional oversight. The new system will
Contracts should always specify the precise details of the terms and conditions relating to payments, duties, timescale etc. However, sometimes the courts can rule that a term is implied in an agreement even though it hasn’t been put in writing, as happened in a recent case involving the sale of land. The seller gave a
A police officer who claimed she failed a fitness test because a thyroid condition caused her to gain weight has lost her discrimination claim. Rebecca Tiffin was a detective constable with Surrey Police. It was a requirement that officers passed an Annual Fitness Assessment involving interval running known as a bleep test. Ms Tiffin failed
Businesses could now face prosecution if they fail to prevent staff from criminally facilitating tax evasion. The new measures came into effect on 30 September. It was already a crime to evade tax, or deliberately help another person to do so, but the government is now taking an even firmer stance in a move designed
The government is planning to set up an independent regulatory body to oversee the work of letting and property management agents. Ministers say the move is necessary to end abuses in the property management industry, drive down costs and protect consumers from the small minority of rogue agents. Research by consumer group Which? shows that
Britain has seen a surge in the number of new businesses being created each year, according to the latest government figures. There are now a record 5.5 million private sector firms – a million more than seven years ago. The Minister for Small Business, Margot James, welcomed the figures, saying: “Small businesses employ 12.5 million
The government has begun refunding employment tribunal fees following the Supreme Court ruling that they’re unlawful. The fees were introduced in 2013, with employees having to pay up to £1,200 to bring a claim. Following a challenge by the union Unison, the Supreme Court ruled that the fees were discriminatory, unlawful and unconstitutional. Up to
A woman who was told that she would be better off working for a more traditional firm has won her claim of age discrimination. Carolina Gomes, aged 59, worked as an administrator for an estate agency. In 2015, management became dissatisfied with her work and told her that she needed to cut out mistakes in
A woman who suffered with mental health problems has been awarded more than £11,000 compensation after her employer failed to deal properly with her request to work fewer hours. Marie-Claire McLaughlin worked for the Charles Hurst car firm when she began to suffer from depression and panic attacks. She asked for reduced hours but her
Parents who lose a child under the age of 18 are to be given the right to two weeks’ paid leave to allow them time to grieve. The government says the allowance will be one of the most generous in the world. Currently under the Employment Rights Act, employees have a day-one right to take