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Government ministers have welcomed proposals to boost the private rented sector by easing planning restrictions and encouraging investment. Housing Minister Grant Shapps says the report compiled by Sir Adrian Montague provides a blueprint for building more good quality homes. Most of the private sector in the UK is managed by individual landlords. This is likely
The law offers employers some protection against libel claims arising out of references they provide for employees. This was illustrated in a recent case before the High Court. It involved a laboratory assistant, Mr Bol Thour, who had worked for the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead. He applied for a job at St Bart’s Hospital,
The High Court has provided a welcome boost for landlords wishing to avoid paying rates on empty commercial property. Currently, business rates are charged on nearly all non-domestic properties such as shops, offices and factories while they are in use. Properties with a rateable value of less than £2,600 are exempt from rates when they
Employees will soon have to pay £1,200 to bring an unfair dismissal claim to an employment tribunal. The new fee arrangement will be introduced next summer and follows widespread consultation with business leaders and trade unions. Currently, employees don’t need to pay to make a claim. This has led to complaints from some businesses that
The Government wants to see more women starting new businesses in the UK. It says it’s important to increase the number of female entrepreneurs as a way of boosting the economy and creating more jobs. The number of new companies has actually grown during the recession. Many of them have been set up by people
A property developer has won his appeal to quash a decision by a planning inspector in a case involving the proposed construction of six houses. The dispute arose after the developer decided to shut down a pig rearing unit and demolish an old farm house. He said he had done so because the council had
A British engineering firm has won its legal battle with a French company that refused to pay its invoices after claiming the goods supplied were unfit for purpose. The issue arose when the French firm complained that the various pieces of engineering machinery did not have certificates of conformity which are necessary under an EU
An NHS clerical worker has won her appeal that she should be paid the holiday pay she accrued while on sick leave for a year. Janet Larner had been signed off work with ME and depression, and had six months leave on full pay followed by another six months on half pay. While she was
EU leaders have reached agreement on a Unified Patent Court and a unitary patent system across 25 European countries. The court will be based in Paris but will have a London section covering cases involving pharmaceutical and life science issues. There will also be a section in Munich covering engineering and resources. Business Secretary Vince
The Government has announced further changes to the planning system to make it simpler and quicker to use. The measures include making it easier to re-use some existing buildings without the need for planning permission. This would include the ‘meanwhile’ use of vacant commercial premises for purposes such as helping start-up businesses. There are also