Power of Attorney Refund: How to Make a Claim
The following guide looks at the Power of Attorney refund scheme, the eligibility criteria and how to apply. If you applied to register a Power of Attorney (POA) between 2013 and 2017 you may be entitled to some of your money back. The Ministry of Justice has set up a scheme to give a partial […]
How to Apply for Power of Attorney
If you are concerned about the ability of a relative or friend to manage their own affairs or to make their own decisions, where you may need to step in to act on their behalf, there may still be time to make a Power of Attorney (POA). There may be all sorts of reasons why […]
Which Power of Attorney?
There are three different types of Power of Attorney: Ordinary Power of Attorney; Lasting Power of Attorney and Enduring Power of Attorney. We look at the factors determining which Power of Attorney will be appropriate for your circumstances. What is a Power of Attorney? A Power of Attorney (POA) is a legal document […]
Consumer Rights Act 2015: How to Claim a Refund
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, should you purchase an item or service that is faulty, you may be eligible for a refund. To be considered faulty, your purchase has to meet at least one of the following conditions: It isn’t of a satisfactory quality. It isn’t fit for purpose. It isn’t as described. There […]
Distance Selling Regulations (Your Consumer Rights!)
Distance selling is the sale of goods or services through mail order, digital TV, phone or text message. Consumer rights in this area were previously covered by the Distance Selling Regulations. These regulations were replaced by the Consumer Contracts Regulations in June 2014. Since October 2015, the delivery of goods, including those purchased via distance […]
Rest Breaks at Work (A Short Guide to the Law!) | Lawble
Under UK employment law in accordance with the Working Time Regulations (1998) and Health and Safety Executive requirements, workers and employees have a right to take regular and uninterrupted rest breaks at work, with variations depending on age and categories of position. [toc] These statutory periods of rest are split into three categories: rest breaks […]
What is Whistleblowing (A Short Guide!)
The law on whistleblowing is there to ensure that if someone sees something wrong in the workplace, they are able to raise this within their organisation, or to a regulator, or wider, without jeopardising their job security. What is whistleblowing in the workplace? Whistleblowing is the term used when an employee or worker reports certain […]
ACAS Holiday Pay (Your Entitlement!)
The majority of workers, whether employed on a part time or full time basis, are entitled to holiday pay each year, including most agency and freelance workers, under the Working Time Regulations 1998 (amended in 2003), Employment Rights Act 1996 and the ACAS Codes of Practice. How much holiday pay are you entitled to? To […]
Assent of Property to Transfer Ownership
An assent of property is the transfer of legal ownership of property or land by the personal representative(s) of the estate of someone who has died to the beneficiary or beneficiaries. Unlike transfers under the conveyancing process, there is no sale or purchase price under an assent. This is because an assent only applies where […]
Buying a Leasehold Property (and the Legal Considerations!)
Purchasing a leasehold property can involve a number of risks. Here are some key legal considerations if you are considering buying a leasehold property. What is a leasehold? If you buy a leasehold, you will not own the property or the land on which its stands. As a leaseholder, owning the leasehold to […]
Notice Periods (Your Questions Answered!)
Your notice period refers to the time between the date you formally advise your employer that you resign and the date your contract of employment will officially end. [toc] Before resigning from employment, you will need to ensure you are complying with the legal requirements on you to resign with the relevant notice period. How do […]
Buying a Shared Ownership Property: FAQs
If you would like to own your own home but are unable to afford the mortgage, shared ownership properties could allow you to buy a share of a property from the landlord and rent the remaining share at a reduced rate. As a government-funded programme, it is designed to help people get on the property […]
How to Take Someone to the Small Claims Court
If you are owed money or are looking for compensation, you may be able to take the person or company responsible to the small claims court. You may have purchased a faulty product or paid for substandard work by a builder, or perhaps your landlord has refused to carry out repairs or you have suffered […]
How Long is Paternity Leave?
If you are an expectant father, or the partner of an expectant mother, and want to take time off work following the child’s birth, you will need to know your employment rights. This guide examines the legal position for fathers or partners to be, including how much time off work you are entitled to, and […]
Adverse Possession (and How to Claim it!)
Adverse possession allows an individual (‘squatter’) to acquire valid freehold title to a specific piece of land when they have been in continuous occupation and had exclusive possession of the land over a specified number of years. Adverse possession is often referred to as ‘squatters’ rights’. In the context of adverse possession, the term ‘squatter’ […]
Self-Employed Maternity Pay (A Guide!)
If you’re pregnant and you work for yourself, you may be entitled to self-employed maternity pay, known as ‘Maternity Allowance’. [toc] Maternity Allowance is a benefit paid by the Department for Work and Pensions to pregnant women who do not otherwise qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay because for example they are self-employed. Do I qualify […]
Can I Take Unpaid Parental Leave?
Unpaid parental leave allows eligible employees to take a limited amount of time off work each year on an unpaid basis for child-related reasons such as to spend more time with their children or family. During this period of unpaid parental leave, the employee’s rights are protected, for example, to annual leave and the right […]
Exchange of contracts (What’s Involved?)
When buying or selling a property, the stage of the conveyancing process that makes the agreement legally binding is known as ‘exchange of contracts’. Up until the point that contracts are exchanged, neither the vendor nor buyer are legally required to see the transaction through as they are not deemed to have formally accepted the […]
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 Employees Responsibilities
Ensuring your employees understand their duties in respect of health and safety and that they are supported in meeting these duties is critical to creating and maintaining a safe and compliant working environment. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 places legal responsibilities on employees to exercise reasonable care concerning the health and safety […]
Patenting in the UK (FAQs)
To protect your invention from being used, made or sold by someone else, a patent can provide legal protection for your intellectual property for a limited period of time. The process of obtaining a patent is in itself protracted and can take up to five years from filing. After this initial period, annual renewal and […]