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Handing over a family business to the next generation can prove surprisingly difficult for many people. Research by the Family Business Place website suggested the issue can be so challenging that 62% of families would consider selling their business because of the difficulties of passing it on to family members. Another 55% said they felt
The Law Commission wants to reform the law relating to the right to light, in an effort to balance the legitimate yet often conflicting interests of both developers and property owners The Commission is concerned that under the current system, there is no time limit for bringing claims that a right to light has been
Buy to let investors could save a total of £50m a year because of the stamp duty reforms, if property purchases continue at the current level. The reforms, announced by Chancellor George Osborne in the Autumn Statement, swept away the much criticised ‘slab tax’ approach to stamp duty and replaced it with a more progressive
A bus company has won its appeal against a ruling that it had discriminated against a disabled passenger. The issue arose after 36-year-old Doug Paulley from West Yorkshire was unable to board a bus because the area designated for wheelchairs was occupied by a woman and her baby who was in a buggy. The woman
The government is launching an ‘older workers champion scheme’ to tackle age discrimination in the workplace. The move follows concerns that older workers have to cope with much higher levels of long-term unemployment than younger people. The scheme, which will begin trials in April, will offer older jobseekers a career review, online support and a
New homes are to be offered at a minimum 20% discount to first-time buyers under the age of 40. The Starter Home initiative is a government scheme to help young people on to the housing ladder and encourage construction firms to build more homes. It’s hoped that up to 100,000 buyers will benefit. The initiative
Two sisters have been appointed to manage the estate of their mother who is suffering from dementia. The appointments were made by the Court of Protection despite an objection from a brother of the two sisters. The case involved a woman who had not drawn up a lasting power of attorney stating who she wanted
The recent ruling by the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) that overtime earnings must be taken into account when calculating holiday pay has alarmed many employers who fear they may now be liable for compensation claims dating back several years. That, however, doesn’t seem to be the case. The issue over holiday pay entitlement was raised
The trade union Unison has suffered a major setback in its challenge to the introduction of fees for people wanting to take cases to an employment tribunal. The High Court rejected its application for a judicial review because of a lack of evidence showing that fees were making it more difficult to bring cases to
A firm has been awarded more than £50,000 compensation from one of its employees who set up a rival business with his two sons. The court heard that the three had all worked together at the same glass recycling business. The father didn’t have written terms of employment until February 2013, when he signed a