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Under 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…

The 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…

The coronavirus outbreak has led to a 30% increase in the number of elderly people wishing to write new wills or grant power of attorney. Ian Bond, chair of the Law Society’s wills and equity committee, told The Daily Telegraph that law firms throughout the country had had seen a “huge spike” in the number of queries over the last two months. Most of the requests were from elderly or…

Commercial 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…

The 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…

A 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…

As 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…

Ultra running solicitor Krystal Garnett couldn’t be in a better place today when it comes to starting her new job. Krystal has landed her ideal role at top legal firm Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors in a part of the country she loves. “I am so excited to get started. Cartmell Shepherd has such a good reputation, they are held in such high regard, I know they are one of the best…

A group of MPs have called for root and branch reforms of the inheritance tax system, including a cut in the standard rate from 40% to 10%. They also want to scrap most of the current tax reliefs, including the seven-year rule that allows you to pass on wealth without any tax implications. Instead, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Inheritance and Intergenerational Fairness wants a new annual allowance of £30,000…

Following 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…