Equal Pay Act (A Brief Guide for Employers!)
The Equality Act 2010 enshrines in law the employers’ responsibility to pay employees equally for equal work, regardless of gender. The legal basis for equality of pay was first introduced in the UK by the Equal Pay Act 1970, which prohibited any less favourable treatment between men and women in terms of pay and conditions […]
Roadmap Out Of Lockdown: New Rules from 29 March
The government has laid out details of the roadmap that will take England out of lockdown. The new rules, which must be agreed by Parliament, provide the legal framework to ease current restrictions on a phased basis, provided certain tests are met. From 29 March 2021, the mandate to stay at home will come to […]
No Fault Divorce: Where Are We Now?
Getting a divorce can be an extremely difficult and emotionally challenging time for the former couple. Yet even where both ex-partners are in agreement that divorce is the only option, the law at present in England and Wales does not allow a ‘no-fault divorce’. Under current rules, to legally divorce, blame must be attributed to […]
Hall & Preddy: Homosexual Rights Landmark Decision
Hall & Preddy v Bull is a landmark case in the UK dealing with homosexual rights and unlawful sexual orientation discrimination. Facts of the case On 4th September 2008, Mr Preddy booked a double room for himself and his civil partner, Mr Hall, at a private hotel in Cornwall run by Mr and Mrs Bull. […]
New Ban on Leaving UK “Without Reasonable Excuse”
A new ban on leaving the UK without a “reasonable excuse” is to take effect next week in England as part of new coronavirus laws. The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Steps) (England) Regulations 2021, published today, are part B of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown. Regulation 8 of the new legislation “imposes restrictions on […]
Attachment of Earnings Order (Employers’ Guide)
Attachment of earnings orders are used to enforce non-payment of county court judgments or unpaid magistrates’ fines. They are administered by employers, who must meet certain obligations for the order to be effective. What is an attachment of earnings order? Where a creditor has obtained a county court judgment (CCJ) for monies owed by a […]
How Does Divorce Affect Your Pension?
When it comes to divorce or civil partnership dissolution, all financial assets have to be put out in the open, and this includes all pensions you and your ex-partner have built up. Pensions are a valuable asset, particularly for older people who have amassed sizeable funds, so it will be vital to understand how they will […]
Statute of Limitations (Time Limits To Claim)
To bring a claim in the UK, the claimant must ensure they are within the relevant time limit. Understanding how time limits work in the UK is not necessarily straightforward, as there are several different limitation periods for various different types of civil claim. The rules are also further complicated by the fact that the […]
Lodger Agreement (Landlord Advice)
A lodger is someone who rents a furnished room in a landlord’s main home and shares use of certain common parts of the property such as the kitchen, bathroom and living room. A written lodger agreement, also known as a resident landlord agreement, should be drawn up to set out the agreed contractual arrangements between […]
Controversial Policing Bill Moves Closer To Becoming Legislation
The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill has passed its second reading in Parliament with a majority of 96 votes. MPs voted 359-263 in favour of the legislation on 17th March 2021. An amendment by Labour leader Keir Starmer was defeated by 359-225 votes. The draft legislation aims to afford the police and UK government […]
Subletting & Landlord Rights
Subletting is more common than many landlords realise. In many cases, a landlord may not even be aware that their property, or part of it, is being sublet. What are the legal implications of subletting, and what does this mean for landlords and their rights? What is subletting? The property owner is known as the […]
Donoghue v Stevenson & the Doctrine of Negligence
Almost a century on, the case of Donoghue v Stevenson [1932] AC 562 remains an important landmark decision in English tort law. This case established the modern doctrine of negligence as we now know it, including what’s widely referred to as the ‘neighbour principle’. Donoghue has not only provided a memorable read for generations of […]
UK Government Plans Data Protection Reform
Reform of the UK’s data protection regime is being planned, according to Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden. The UK Government is pledging to overhaul existing rules, including the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), to “allow information to flow more freely and drive growth in the digital economy” now that the UK has left the EU. […]
Directors Service Agreements Explained
When appointing a company director, the directors’ service agreement should be used to ensure the individual complies with their duties and that your business’s interests are protected. What is a directors’ service agreement? Directors have specific statutory duties and responsibilities in relation to the organisation, which should be addressed within a directors’ service agreement. In […]
Partnership Agreement (Terms to Include)
Before entering into a business partnership, you should ensure the terms of the partnership are agreed and documented. Written partnership agreements are typically complex documents, containing a broad range of terms and clauses to cover all manner of eventualities which may not seem conceivable in the early days of the business, but a well-drafted agreement […]
Protecting Your Image Rights
Image rights are an extremely valuable and lucrative commodity for celebrities and personalities of all kinds, from entertainers to online influencers and sports professionals. While the law in the UK currently does not offer a specific ‘right to image’, in this article, we consider a number of legal options which may be available to protect […]
What is Freedom of Speech in the UK?
Freedom of speech forms a fundamental part of our democracy. The UK public and press enjoy some of the greatest freedoms of anyone in the world to express their opinions and ideas. The following guide on the rules relating to freedom of speech in the UK examines the legal basis of this right, including the […]
Current Law on Squatting
What is squatting? Squatting is where someone has entered a property without first obtaining permission from the owner, and then stays there, or intends to stay there. The current law on squatting varies, depending on whether the building or land being occupied is residential or non-residential. Squatting in a residential property In 2012, it became […]
Gagging Orders: Everything You Need to Know
What are gagging orders? A gagging order, or non-disclosure order, is a type of injunction used to protect the someone’s right to privacy and confidentiality. It is issued by the court, usually on an interim basis pending a full hearing of the legal and factual issues, to restrict the publication and dissemination of private or […]
Sentencing Reforms See Teenage Killers Face Longer Jail Terms
Teenage killers are to face longer jail sentences, under reforms announced by the justice secretary, Robert Buckland. Older teenagers in murder cases could see sentences almost doubled to up to 27 years. ‘Ellie’s law’ comes as part of wider criminal reforms which were introduced to Parliament on 9 March 2021. Ellie’s law follows a campaign […]