Filter by:

News

Check the ground rules to avoid boundary disputes

Warm weather and longer days see a surge in interest in garden works each year, and where householders improve and replace, boundary disputes are sure to follow.

Read more

Ensure equality in residential tenancies

For residential landlords, identity checks on prospective tenants can be challenging and the penalties harsh for getting it wrong; but trying to avoid tenants with complex immigration status is not an option, as this opens the way to claims of unlawful discrimination.

Read more

No blame but challenges remain…

When the clock finally chimed for no-fault divorce, courts saw a surge in petitions from couples looking to avoid the blame game but challenges still lie ahead for couples leaving a marriage.

Read more

Blame game ends

We highlight the benefits of 'no blame' divorce, which came into effect in April 2022.

Read more

Effects of Covid-19 on inheritance tax

Private Client solicitor, James McMullan, takes a closer look at the effects of covid-19 on inheritance-tax and estate planning.

Read more

In light of Grenfell, changes are coming

The Grenfell Tower tragedy raised many doubts about whether existing residential buildings are safe.

Read more

Insight

Mince pies and the minimum wage 

A reminder to employers that seasonal staff must receive the correct pay and holiday entitlements over the festive period. With temporary and irregular-hours workers now a core part of Christmas trading, businesses are urged to double-check minimum wage compliance, holiday accrual, and payslip transparency to avoid costly HMRC scrutiny.

Read more

Shifting the balance: How the leaseholder-landlord relationship has changed

Back in 2017, the Conservative government pledged to ‘Improve consumer choice and fairness in leasehold.’ But making a commitment and delivering on it are two very different things - as Stuart Jacobs explains in this article.

Read more

Menopause awareness month: Legal protections and what employers need to know

October is Menopause Awareness Month, highlighting the transition and the support available for those affected. While there are currently no menopause-specific employment laws, existing protections apply, and the forthcoming Employment Rights Bill is expected to introduce clearer obligations for employers.

Read more

DIY probate in England – understanding the risks

In England and Wales, probate is the procedure by which the deceased’s will is proven in court and the executors are given authority to distribute the estate. If there is no will, a similar process applies through “letters of administration”.

Read more

What happens if there’s no will?

Someone passing away without a valid will is more common than you might expect. When this happens in England, the person is said to have died intestate, and it means the law steps in to decide what happens to their estate.

Read more

Upward-only rent reviews to be banned in new commercial leases

The government has announced a significant reform to commercial property law in England and Wales. As part of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, upward-only rent review clauses will be banned in new commercial leases, marking a substantial shift in landlord–tenant dynamics.

Read more