The parties to a bitter building dispute have been urged by the Technology and Construction Court to stand back and ‘take a sensible and commercial look’ at the case and to consider whether it is worthwhile fighting on after six years of costly litigation. The
The new Consumer Insurance Act came into effect on 6 April 2013, bringing benefits for individuals who buy insurances of all types. The nub of the change is that the requirement for the insured to make appropriate disclosures is replaced with a duty on the
In a ruling acknowledged to be of ‘considerable public importance’, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has identified a glaring lacuna in the Equality Act 2010 that prevents employees claiming victimisation in respect of conduct post-dating the termination of their employment. A car body repairer was
Consent granted by a planning inspector for the conversion of a single-bay garage to living accommodation has been overturned by the High Court after Westminster City Council objected that it would set a damaging precedent in an area of central London plagued by a scarcity
Landlords have a statutory obligation under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 to maintain gas appliances in their property. They are required by law to arrange for a Gas Safe registered engineer to check all flues and gas appliances within 12 months of
A factual error in a letter circulated to tenants of a block of flats led to a lengthy court dispute that required the intervention of the Court of Appeal to resolve. The letter, which was drafted by a non-lawyer, had indicated that tenants were being
Published Wednesday 3rd April 2013, 03:04 PM The Equality and Human Rights Commission (ECHR) has published two sets of guidance for businesses on how to prevent discrimination and avoid costly legal challenges. These are: ‘The Equality Act: Guidance for Small Business’, which explains how the
In an important ruling for private landlords of student accommodation, the High Court has ruled that a purpose-built block of self-contained ‘cluster flats’ does not require to be licensed as a house in multiple occupation (HMO) by the local authority in whose area it is
The need to ‘know your customer’ applies right across business in the UK, although financial-type businesses, where large transactions occur, have a particularly stringent compliance regime. Once the data have been obtained, there is then a need to keep them safe, as theft or loss
A Court of Appeal decision has laid bare the differences between draconian English anti-bribery laws and the much less severe equivalent provisions in force in Russia. Whilst in England there is a presumption that bribery causes loss and that wrong-doers are liable not only for
