Council Tax on Empty Property (Do You Have to Pay?)
If you own an empty property, you may be wondering if you have to pay council tax on it. For homeowners and renters, council tax rules can be difficult to understand, with various bands and rates for different types of property, and discounts and exemptions available in certain limited circumstances. But failure to pay your […]
Conveyancing Process Steps
Conveyancing is the term used to describe the legal and administrative process of transferring ownership of a property from one party to another. If you’re buying a property, it helps to understand the different stages of the conveyancing process. By knowing what should happen by when, and who is responsible for what, you can do your […]
TA6 Property Information Form: Guide for Homebuyers
Buying a property can be both an exciting and stressful time. As part of the conveyancing process, the Property Information Form can be used to help to expedite the sale, provided this form is completed by the seller promptly and in full. In this guide, we explain what the Property Information Form is, what kind […]
Seller Lied on Property Information Form
Buying a new home can be incredibly stressful, with a lot at stake, given that this is likely to represent the most expensive purchase that any of us will ever make in our lifetimes. It therefore goes without saying that when we buy a property, we will want to make sure that we have been […]
Flight Cancellation Refund: What Are Your Rights?
Passengers travelling from the UK have certain rights in the event their flight is cancelled or delayed. In this guide, we outline your entitlements and what airlines are legally obliged to offer you if your flight has been cancelled or delayed. What are you entitled to if your flight has been cancelled? If your flight […]
UK Student Dependent Visa Requirements
If you’re considering the UK as a destination to study, one of the considerations may be whether student visa holders can bring their dependants with them. In the UK, it is possible for certain family members to join international students under the student dependent visa, provided certain requirements are met by both the student visa […]
Long Residence Guidance (Settle in the UK)
If you have lived in the UK with lawful status for more than 10 years, you may be eligible to apply to settle here, which is known as Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). In this long residence guidance, we explain the rules on ILR eligibility under the 10-year route, and the application process you will […]
Redundancy Pay (How Much Are You Entitled To?)
If you are made redundant from your job, you may be eligible to receive redundancy pay. There are two types of redundancy payments: statutory and contractual. Statutory redundancy payments must be paid by employers to qualifying employees who are being made redundant. Contractual redundancy pay refers to any payment stated as a term within your […]
Ending a Fixed Term Tenancy Early
What happens if you are a tenant living in a privately rented property that has a fixed term tenancy and you have to leave it early? Perhaps your job has changed and you need to move out of the area or a family member has become ill and you are leaving to care for them. […]
What is a Decree Absolute & Do You Need One?
Getting divorced can be a stressful time for separated spouses, not least because the legal process for filing for divorce can often be acrimonious, typically requiring one party to attribute some form of blame against the other to establish grounds for divorce. However, with the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act (DDSA) 2020 is coming into […]
TUPE for Employees Guide
If the organisation you are employed by changes hands, there are rules in place that protect you from any unfair disadvantage when your employment moves across to your new employer. These are called the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006, or ‘TUPE regulations’. For employees affected by a TUPE transfer, and potential changes […]
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 […]
Deed of Covenant 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Bullied At Work? Advice For Employees
Employees are protected by law from being bullied at work. But it’s not always easy to know what your rights are and how to enforce them. If you are feeling emotionally distressed or professionally vulnerable because of the unwanted discriminatory behaviour of others, you may even get to the point where you feel you have […]
Age Discrimination in the Workplace (Your Rights)
Age discrimination or ageism in the workplace is a form of unlawful discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. Employers are under a legal duty to prevent age discrimination in the workplace. The Equality Act 2010 states individuals must not be discriminated against at work because they are (or are not) a certain age or in […]
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. […]