Consumers Struggle to Get Refunds for Holiday Bookings
With flights, accommodation, tours and holiday plans disrupted due to the coronavirus pandemic, consumers are expressing increasing frustration as holiday companies appear to flout consumer protection laws by refusing to offer refunds. While some airlines, hotels and tour operators are approving refunds, albeit reluctantly, others are making it difficult to request refunds, with some refusing […]
Ventilator Manufacturers to be Protected from IP & PI Claims
UK manufacturers of ventilators being used to treat coronavirus patients are to be given specific legal protection in the event of any breaches of IP rules or personal injury claims, the Government has confirmed. Where new kit malfunctions, or is found to be defective or to infringe intellectual property rights, the Government has pledged to […]
CPS Told to Downgrade “Less Serious” Cases
Prosecutors in England and Wales have been advised to take the current issues resulting from the COVID-19 crisis into account when deciding whether to press charges, under new guidance issued by the Crown Prosecution Service. The new guidelines state that serious cases should be prioritised and all options should be explored for less serious offences, […]
Overlooking is Not a Private Nuisance, Court of Appeal Rules
Loss of privacy as a result of overlooking by neighbours does not qualify as a form of nuisance, the Court of Appeal has ruled in a landmark judgment. The ruling confirms that, while noise, dust, noxious smells and vibrations inflicted by neighbours are among the types of nuisance offering legal protections to aggrieved parties, overlooking […]
MOTs Extended Due to Coronavirus
MOT expiry dates are being pushed back for some cars, motorcycles, light vans, lorries, buses and trailers in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. MOTs for cars, vans and motorcycles MOTs due on or after 30 March 2020 For cars, vans and motorcycles with MOTs due on or after 30 March 2020, the MOT expiry date […]
Family Court Issues Coronavirus Child Arrangements Advice
The Family Court has provided guidance for parents concerned about complying with child arrangement orders (CAOs) during the coronavirus crisis. Alongside the Stay at Home Rules issued on 23 March 2020, the Government provided specific guidance relating to child arrangement orders, stating that “where parents do not live in the same household, children under 18 […]
Coronavirus: Government Help For Employers
The UK Government has set out a range of schemes to help employers deal with the coronavirus crisis. This includes a package of measures to support businesses including: Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme The coronavirus job retention scheme aims to help employers who would otherwise have to lay off workers due to the Covid-19 outbreak. HMRC […]
Wide-Ranging Employment Law Changes From 6th April 2020
The following changes in UK employment law will be taking effect on 6th April 2020. These are in addition to annual increases to minimum wage, statutory sick pay and statutory family pay. Employment contracts Employers will be required to provide all employees and workers with a statement of employment particulars, including their main terms and […]
IR35 Off-Payroll Tax Rules: Changes Affecting Private Sector
This article was published before the Government announced it would postpone the reforms from 6 April 2020 in light of the Coronavirus crisis. A new implementation date is yet to be confirmed. New IR35 rules are coming into force that apply to private sector companies in the UK. Under the new regime, private sector organisations, […]
New Consumer Guidelines For UK Fertility Clinics
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is to issue consumer law guidelines for the IVF sector to ensure that fertility clinics practice in accordance with consumer law. The CMA is working closely with the sector regulator, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) and the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) to review current practices in the […]
Changes to Anti-Money Laundering Regulations Now in Effect
Changes to the Money Laundering Regulations came into force on 10th January 2020. The Money Laundering and Terrorist Finance Amendments Regulations 2019 (Regulations) update the UK’s anti-money laundering (AML) regime to incorporate international standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and implement the EU’s 5th Money Laundering Directive (5MLD). UK businesses are being […]
New Bereavement Rights for Parents
Bereaved parents who have suffered the loss of a child will be entitled to two weeks’ statutory paid leave from work from 6th April 2020. The new Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay Regulations extend existing provisions under the Employment Rights Act 1996, which only allow employees to take ‘reasonable’ time off work, unpaid, for emergencies […]
Martyn’s Law Set to be Adopted Early by Manchester City Council
Manchester City Council is preparing to introduce new licensing rules for public venues to support counter-terrorism policing. Sports and music arenas, cinemas and other public sites will be asked to adopt new measures to assess the threat of a terrorist attack, take steps to prepare for it and devise emergency measures to deal with an […]
£4 million Government Funding Pledged to Tackle Rogue Landlords
More than 100 councils in England are to receive new funding from the Government to take on criminal landlords and letting agents and improve standards in the private rental sector. More than £4 million is being made available to fund enforcement initiatives against a minority of private landlords and agents who are breaking the law […]
Millions Yet to Apply for Power of Attorney Fee Refund
More than £54 million in refunds are yet to be claimed by individuals who were overcharged when registering a power of attorney. A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is a legal document that allows the appointed person to act on your behalf in financial or medical decisions and in managing your affairs in the event […]
Motorists to Benefit from New Code of Conduct for Parking Firms
The British Parking Association (BPA) is to implement a new code of conduct governing private car parking firms. Members of the BPA will be required to adhere to new rules designed to benefit drivers by tackling rogue parking companies and dubious fines. The new code will afford the BPA greater powers at the first stage […]
Law Commission Publishes Leasehold Housing Reform Plans
The Law Commission has put forward plans to make the leasehold system fairer and cheaper for Britain’s 4 million leaseholders to buy their freehold or extend their lease. The UK leasehold system has come under criticism in recent years for becoming unfair and costly, with some leaseholders facing extortionate demands from freeholders and high and […]
Claims Portal Testing Enters Second Stage Ahead of Planned April Launch
The second phase of testing for the Litigation in Person (LiP) portal is due to start later this month, according to the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB). The introduction of the portal forms part of wider whiplash reforms under the Civil Liability Act. The LiP is being designed to allow personal injury claimants to manage small […]
UK Home Office Criticised for Refusal to Reveal ‘High Risk’ Countries
The Home Office has faced stark criticism from campaign groups for its decision not to reveal details of the algorithm used to filter UK visa applications. In response to a legal challenge brought by immigrants’ rights campaigners over use of its artificial intelligence programme, the Home Office provided a redacted list of countries in different […]
£500,000 data breach fine for Dixons Carphone
The parent company of Currys PC World has been fined £500,000 after the tills in its shops were compromised by a cyber-attack that affected at least 14 million customers. Between July 2017 and April 2018, hackers were able to install malware onto 5,390 computer systems and tills located at Currys PC World and Dixon Travel […]