Article Category: Insight & Opinion

There are an estimated 2.9 million leasehold flats and 1.4 million leasehold houses in England which amount to almost a fifth of the housing stock in England. The confirmed leasehold reforms by Government for all new homes will affect a large number of people, including both leaseholders and landlords. Leaseholders are granted the right to… Read more »

Many clients, in particular first-time buyers, ask how they can take their first step onto the property ladder. Well, Help to Buy (HTB) may be an option; it offers a contribution towards the purchase price meaning that the client has a wider option of mortgage lenders and a smaller deposit of 5% to fund. Who… Read more »

When selling leasehold property, you should be aware of additional costs imposed by your managing agent or freeholder. Here are some important factors to be mindful of: Your lease: This document will contain all provisions that you should abide by and will confirm what additional fees could be charged. Examples of fees include: Contingency Fees… Read more »

In May 2018, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) reported that international professional services company, Capita, paid its female employees enhanced maternity pay – however the same was not offered on the rates of pay for paternity or shared parental leave (SPL). The EAT held that this was not discriminatory, however the case was subsequently sent… Read more »

Agricultural Workers’ rights and pay in the agricultural sector can often leave many employers confused and unaware of the complex provisions. Keeping up to date with employment legislation can be vital to ensure you are not caught out. Particularly when the government typically introduces new legislation each spring. What are Agricultural workers’ rights? Firstly, the… Read more »

It has been well publicised of late how important it is for employers to undertake a fair, reasonable and impartial investigation process. The recent case of the Governing Body of Tywyn Primary School v Aplin emphasises this, bringing to light constructive dismissal and possible discrimination during their disciplinary investigation process. What happened? An openly-gay headteacher,… Read more »

Mr Lone was dismissed for gross misconduct from his position following a complaint made by a female colleague. The colleague complained of unwanted messages and emails sent by the Claimant. Following the dismissal, a professional conduct panel for the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) recommended to the Secretary of State that a prohibition order be put… Read more »

When conducting a disciplinary investigation, it will often be necessary to speak to other employees to obtain evidence and gather witness statements. However, some employees may wish to submit an anonymous statement or be reluctant to give out any information altogether. If the matter proceeds to a formal disciplinary hearing, all evidence considered including any… Read more »

A common question raised with me is whether pre-nuptial agreements exist in English law, and more importantly, are they worth the paper they are written on? In short, the answer to both of these questions is yes! A pre-nuptial agreement is a bespoke document drawn up before marriage to state what happens to a couple’s… Read more »

Non disclosure agreements (NDAs) – or confidentiality agreements – have hit the headlines in recent months, as a number of well-known entrepreneurs have attempted to limit public disclosure of their sometimes dubious dealings with employees. However, many businesses continue to have a legitimate need to protect their trade secrets, software or valuable confidential information such as… Read more »