Guide to Extending Your Lease

guide to extending your lease

If you own a residential property on a leasehold basis, there are many reasons why you may be considering extending your lease. In most cases, the shorter the amount of time remaining on the leasehold, the lower the value of the lease becomes, and the more you will have to pay to increase the term […]

Supreme Court Rules in favour of Google in iPhone “Secret Tracking” Case

The Supreme Court has rejected a claim against Google that the company misused web browsing data of iPhone users in the UK. The claim was brought by former director of consumer group Which?, Richard Lloyd. He claimed that the tech giant had “secretly” collected user web browsing data between 2011 and 2012 from the Safari […]

Deed of Covenant on a Leasehold Property?

deed of convenant on a leasehold property

Buying a leasehold flat can often be more complex than buying a freehold property. The addition of a third party, ie; the freeholder or landlord, in the conveyancing process means that there are various extra documentary requirements involved, typically including the requirement to sign a deed of covenant. The following guide looks at deeds of […]

New Motoring Rules From November

This month sees the following changes in UK motoring laws. Driving licence COVID extensions ending Under coronavirus provisions, driving licences that were due to expire between 1 February 2020 and 31 December 2020 were given an automatic 11-month extension. This month sees the last of the automatic driving licence extensions granted under this temporary rule. […]

Collective Enfranchisement to Buy Flat Freehold

collective enfranchisement to buy flat freehold

Owning a long residential lease can be a valuable asset although, as the lease term decreases over time, so too can the value of your flat. However, together with other owner-occupiers, you may have the right to collectively purchase the freehold of your building. In this guide, we explain the collective enfranchisement process for buying […]

UK Removes Remainder of Countries from Travel Red List

In an announcement on 28 October, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed that the remaining countries on the UK’s travel ‘red list’ were being removed from Monday 1 November 2021. Changes to the red list follow the recent relaxation of requirements for travellers arriving into the UK in a bid to boost the travel industry and […]

Teletext Holidays Faces Legal Action Over Customer Refunds

The owners of Teletext Holidays are facing legal action from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) for failure to lawfully process customer refunds. As the competition regulator, the CMA is alleging that Truly Holdings, Teletext Holidays’ parent company, is acting illegally by making customers wait for payouts on refunds. This is the first time the […]

CMA Closes Investigation into Airline COVID Refund Policies

The UK’s competition watchdog has closed its investigation into British Airways and Ryanair’s COVID refund policies. In response to concerns that the two airlines may have broken the law by failing to offer refunds for flights that customers could not legally take during periods of lockdown, an investigation was launched by the Competition & Markets […]

HGV Driver Temporary Concession

hgv driver concession

A new immigration route has opened allowing non-UK HGV drivers to come to Britain to work on a temporary basis. The HGV driver temporary concession applies to fuel tanker drivers from non-visa national countries coming to the UK between 1 October 2021 and 15 October 2021. Eligible individuals can request to enter the UK border […]

Can You Make An Unfair Dismissal Claim?

As an employee, you have the right not to be dismissed unfairly. This means employers have to follow the correct procedure, or you may be eligible to make an unfair dismissal claim for compensation. A dismissal could be deemed unfair if the employee was dismissed for a reason which was not fair, if the employer […]

Temporary Visa Scheme for HGV Drivers & Poultry Workers

The UK is to make thousands of emergency temporary work visas available to address critical labour shortages in the haulage and food processing industries. Under the temporary visa scheme announced by the Government, a total of 10,500 three-month work permits will be issued by the Home Office, in an attempt to ‘save Christmas’ for Britains. […]

Workers May Be Given Right to Request Flexible Working From ‘Day 1’

UK workers could be given the right to request flexible working from their first day of employment, under new government proposals. The BBC has reported that the government is launching a consultation into the proposals over the coming days.  Under the proposals, workers could become able to make a statutory request for flexible working from […]

US Travel Ban Lifting For Fully Vaccinated Travelers from UK & EU

The United States has confirmed it will be easing travel restrictions for certain foreign nationals who have received the COVID double vaccination. From early November, fully vaccinated adult travellers from the UK, the 26 European Schengen countries, Ireland, China, Iran, Brazil, South Africa and India will no longer be subject to the travel ban. Travellers […]

Self Employed Mortgage Guide

One of the downsides of having your own business is that applying for a mortgage can seem a more challenging process than if you were employed. The following guidance looks at the key criteria for getting a self employed mortgage, including which documentation you will need to show to potential lenders and the steps you […]

‘Unlawful’ Mandatory COVID Vaccine Law Challenged By Care Home Workers

Care home workers are taking legal action against the UK government to overturn the mandatory COVID vaccine law. Two care home staff are pursuing a Judicial Review challenging the amendment to ‘The Health and Social Care Act 2008’ which will prevent individuals from entering a care home after 11 November 2021, unless they have been […]

New Legal Duty on Funeral Firms to Give Consumers Clear Pricing

A new legal duty is now in force requiring funeral directors and crematorium operators to provide clear pricing of their products and services to grieving families. The Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) has issued new guidance obligating service providers in the funeral industry to take steps to ensure their pricing for consumers information is clear […]

Broadcasters To Make “Distinctively British” TV Shows Under New Proposals

Broadcasters in the UK may soon be legally required to produce content that is “distinctively British”, according to Media Minister John Whittingdale. Speaking at a Royal Television Society conference, Mr Whittingdale cited programmes such as the Great British Bake Off, Dr Who and Downton Abbey which had achieved global success while still reflecting “Britain and […]

New Children’s Privacy Design Code In Force

A new data protection code has taken effect in the UK designed to restrict and monitor online services accessed and used by children. The Age Appropriate Design Code, also referred to as the Children’s code, has been introduced by the UK ICO to make the internet a “better and safer place for children”. The code […]

One Month Countdown to End of Furlough Scheme

Employers currently claiming furlough support have only one month left until the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme closes. Government financial contributions towards furloughed workers’ wages are due to end on 30 September 2021, when employers will be required to resume full responsibility for workers’ wages. During September, the government will contribute 60% of wages up to […]

Dealing with Sex Discrimination at Work

sex discrimination

Sex discrimination refers to when someone is unfairly disadvantaged in the workplace because of their gender. Most sex discrimination is directed towards women, but it is equally unlawful to discriminate against a man because of his gender. Sex discrimination remains a common workplace issue, as can be seen by the number and type of employment […]