The Impact of COVID19 on Property Transactions
April 15th 2020Jonathan Carroll, Director and Head of Property & Agriculture helpfully explains the potential effects of #COVID19 on property transactions. For those buying or selling property, or who are already committed to a move, the COVID19 pandemic has brought some challenges. Fortunately, with good legal advice and a bit of common sense from the parties most of those challenges can be managed. “It’s important to stress that you need to follow…
Tenant evictions banned during Coronavirus outbreak – obtaining possession of a Residential Property let on an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (“AST”)
April 6th 2020Under Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988, to recover possession of a property after the expiry of the contractual term in the AST, landlords are required to give tenants two months written notice stating that they require possession of the property for a so-called “no-fault” eviction. “Section 8” Notices provide different notice periods for seeking possession where a tenant, typically, is in breach of the tenancy. The Coronavirus Act…
Contingent Workers working in Public Sector given extra support
April 3rd 2020As Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors are members of the UK200Group we are able to share with you the following update on Contingent Workers working in Public Sector from James Abbott, Managing Director of Abbott Moore We hope you will find this beneficial and we will continue to keep you informed of any useful advice during this difficult time. The Cabinet Office has issued guidance notes on how contingent workers in the…
In Brief – Covid-19 news affecting businesses and individuals
April 2nd 2020The government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak moves rapidly with new measures to ease the financial burden on businesses and workers appearing almost daily. Joanne Stronach Director and Head of Employment & HR gives a round-up of some of the main developments so far: Furlough Leave – Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme Chancellor Rishi Sunak wants to use furlough leave as the basis of a Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to enable…
Businesses that fail to pay rent due to Covid-19 won’t be evicted
March 30th 2020Commercial tenants who cannot pay their rent due to Covid-19 will be protected from eviction under new legislation. Many landlords and tenants are already having conversations and reaching voluntary arrangements about rental payments, but the government says it recognises that businesses struggling with their cashflow due to coronavirus remain worried. The emergency Coronavirus Act provides that no business will be forced out of their premises if they miss a payment…
Tenancy law reforms ‘will knock down barriers’ for farmers
March 27th 2020The government is introducing legal reforms to provide greater flexibility for tenant farmers. It says the Agricultural Holdings Act (AHA) will provide greater flexibility in tenancy law, bring legislation into the 21st century and make it fit for purpose for modern farming needs. Amendments include repealing the minimum succession retirement age of 65 to provide tenants with the flexibility to decide when it is right for them to retire and…
Tenant fails to get extra compensation for building work noise
March 24th 2020A tenant has lost his appeal to increase the compensation offered by the landlord for noise and disturbance caused by building work. The tenant was a dentist. In 2010 he had purchased a practice and had taken over the lease of its premises, which had a rent of £14,500 per annum. The landlord began works to convert the rest of the building into a hotel. No works took place at…
Summary of the UK Government’s policy on ‘Furlough’ and the Coronavirus Job Retention scheme
March 24th 2020As Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors are members of the UK200Group we are able to share with you the latest advice on ‘Furlough’ from Helen Spencer FCIPD, Managing Partner Whittingham Riddell. We hope you will find this beneficial and we will continue to keep you informed of any useful advice during this difficult time. Q: What does the word ‘furlough’ mean? Furlough generally means a temporary leave of absence from work. This…
Access to help for Businesses – Coronavirus (COVID-19)
March 19th 2020Following on from the Budget and the announcement this week from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Government has announced a package of measures to help businesses deal with the coronavirus. The help available is in a number of forms: – Business rates reductions, and grants for businesses who have low rate bills – Extending statutory sick pay (SSP), and allowing employers to reclaim it. – More scope for deferring…
Athena Brands wins contract dispute with Superdrug Stores
March 18th 2020Athena Brands has won a contract dispute with Superdrug Stores over the supply of various cosmetic products. Athena claimed that it had entered into a binding agreement with Superdrug in an exchange of emails with one of its employees. In the course of the email exchange, Athena had asked the employee to confirm that he was placing orders and committing to the specified yearly minimum quantity. He had emailed back…