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Commercial Law Blog

Our commercial and business solicitors regularly write about related legal news and topics and welcome your comments on our posts. If you would like more information on our services, please don't hesitate to get in touch on 01616 966 229.

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What are the consequences of a failure to register a legal charge at Companies House within the 21-day time limit?

Jade Fairhurst
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Under Section 859A of the Companies Act 2006, a company that has created a registrable charge (or, any person interested in that charge), may deliver to the Registrar of Companies a section 859D statement of particulars for registration of that charge. ...

What if a tenant refuses to move out?

Sophie Chilstone
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The usual routes for landlords to seek possession Section 21 process Landlords are often left in situations when the fixed term of a tenancy agreement comes to an end and the tenant fails to vacate. For some landlords, they are happy to let the tenant...

How would the extension of Awaab's Law affect private landlords and tenants?

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The implementation of ‘Awaab’s Law’ in July 2023 into the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 came after the death of 2-year-old Awaab Ishak in December 2020. His cause of death was a respiratory condition which resulted from prolonged...

How does removing the blanket ban on pets affect landlords and tenants?

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Following the delivery of the King’s speech on 7th November 2023, there are many elements for not only landlords to consider, but also for tenants to also consider. There is currently a blanket ban on pets in any rented property, banning pets of any...

The multiple deposit penalty claim question

Sophie Chilstone
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A recent case has dealt with the issue of how many deposit regulation breaches can be claimed for in respect of the same deposit. In this case, the landlords entered a 12 month fixed term tenancy with the tenants which then turned into a statutory period...

Section 21 and gas safety- building regulations compliance certificate

Sophie Chilstone
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A recent case heard on 4 December 2023 finally gave some clarity to the question of whether a building regulations compliance certificate (BRCC) needs to be served in order to serve a valid section 21 notice. A BRCC is a certificate issued by a gas...

Charities Act 2022 - disposals and legislation

Chris Graves
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Charities must comply with certain specific provisions of legislation when making disposals of property. The main rules have been dealt with under the Charities Act 2011, but this has now been adapted by the provisions of the Charities Act 2022. ...

Tackling late payment in the UKs creative sector

Jade Fairhurst
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The issue of late payments continues to plague thousands of small business owners across the UK. On average, most small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are awaiting a backlog of payments of around £27,000, which equates to around one...

Mixed bag for SMEs following Chancellor's Autumn Statement

Louise Hebborn
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The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement provided a mixed bag for SMEs. Whilst there were some significant announcements on business rates and taxes that will be broadly welcomed, there were some missing pieces of the puzzle. One of the most acute...

What are the common pitfalls that landlords face when serving a Section 21 notice?

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When a landlord wants to evict a tenant by serving a Section 21 notice, there are certain obligations that they must follow to ensure that their notice is valid. Following the correct rules and procedures will prevent unwanted delays in issuing court...

No fault eviction ban delayed

Sophie Chilstone
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The Renters Reform Bill was introduced to deliver the government’s commitment to bringing a fairer renter’s market for tenants. The aim of the bill was to abolish no fault evictions and to reform the landlord’s grounds for possession. ...

Advice note: fixed recoverable costs in commercial litigation claims valued at between £10,000 and £100,000

Julie Hunter
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From 1 October 2023, new rules came into force which fix the amount of costs recoverable in commercial litigation claims. This means that from that date, any claims issued at court will be subject to the new fixed costs regime. The new costs regime will...

Why should landlords instruct a solicitor to evict tenants?

Matthew Smith
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The procedure for evicting a residential tenant in England & Wales is a prescribed process. The aim of the process is to make it accessible for laypeople. With this in mind, why should a landlord, whether that be someone who has evicted tenants before,...

How will changes to the legal aid system affect domestic abuse victims who are also private renters?

Andrew Whitehead
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On 17 October 2022, the government announced an extra £10 million a year will be invested into Legal Aid to ensure this will be accessible to more people. The focus of this extra support is the use of new Domestic Abuse Protection Notices and...

Tenants seek 'bills included' homes as energy costs rise

Andrew Whitehead
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All-inclusive rents are rising on the list of search terms amongst people looking for somewhere to live, according to property portal Rightmove. The phrase “bills included’ is second on the list of searches that have been made, reflecting the...

Considerations when creating an employee ownership trust

Aaron O'Brien
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Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs) are an increasingly popular alternative to more traditional ways of selling shares. An EOT is where a trust is set up either by or on behalf of the employees of a business, giving them a controlling interest within the...

No fault evictions ban - Renters Reform Bill update

Andrew Whitehead
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In August 2022, the Renters Reform Bill was published confirming that private landlords will no longer be able to evict tenants at the end of their tenancy without giving a good legal reason or without providing a longer notice period. This was referred...

A warning to landlords - can the death of a guarantor bring a guarantee to an end?

Matthew Smith
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The general rule under the principles of contract law is that the death of a party to a contract does not automatically discharge the contract. This includes guarantee agreements, though specific rules can exist for such agreements, and it is possible for...

Why should you have a shareholder's agreement?

Aaron O'Brien
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Whether you are a new business or have been trading for decades a shareholder’s agreement is an ideal way to ensure that both you as a shareholder, and the business as a whole, are prepared for unforeseen challenges the future may bring. It provides...

What is the meaning of intellectual property?

Jade Fairhurst
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Put simply, intellectual property (IP) is property created by use of the mind, such as inventions, designs, literary and artistic works, images, symbols and so on. Just like other forms of property, particularly tangible property, intellectual property...

Commercial landlord update - minimum EPC rating is set to change by April 2023

Robert Gambles
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As a result of the the current energy cost crisis EPC ratings have become even more important to tenants trying to keep their costs under control. Read on for a little EPC background and the low-down on the current state of play in respect of...

Understanding the business sale process

Aaron O'Brien
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When it comes to selling your business, the process and the terminology can sometimes appear daunting. Most people will only get involved in this process once or a few times. When you are selling something, the two main methods of sale are: the sale of...

Passing off - what is it and how can I prevent it?

Jade Fairhurst
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Passing off is a civil tort falling within the realms of intellectual property law. Put simply, it is when one party misrepresents that its goods or services are those of another party. Passing off can be deliberate or innocent, however the customer is...

Personal data breach claims - defending your position

Jade Fairhurst
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Personal data breach claims come in many different forms: a letter sent to the wrong address, personal information disclosed to a third party, but the unanswered question, is how do these often small, sometimes relatively insignificant breaches, attract...

Understanding director's duties

Julie Hunter
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What is the difference between an owner and a director? An owner of a limited company owns shares in it, and they receive dividend payments in return for their investment, but these shareholders will not be involved in the day to day running of the company,...

What is copyright infringement and how can I prevent it?

Jade Fairhurst
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Copyright is an intellectual property (IP) right that occurs automatically upon creation of a particular type of work. It protects the copyright owner (or the author), from others copying or reproducing their work. What works are subject to copyright...

ONS reports steep rise in corporate insolvency

Julie Hunter
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Figures released earlier this week by The Office for National Statistics (ONS) show company insolvencies in England and Wales have hit their highest level since the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. The ONS reported that in England and Wales,...

Directors duties to creditors clarified by the Supreme Court

Julie Hunter
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On 5 October 2022 the 18 month wait for the Supreme Court to deliver its judgment in ‘BTI 2014 LLC v Sequana SA and others [2022] UKSA 25’ came to an end, with the court delivering a lengthy judgment in which it examined the nature and extent...

Greater land capture for public good may put landowners at a disadvantage

David Baybut
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The Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities have recently closed a consultation on compulsory purchase compensation reforms. This follows on from the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill that was recently published in May 2022. This bill...

Common mistakes made by landlords on section 8 or section 21 notices

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We appreciate that landlords will be keen to evict tenants who are not paying rent, or causing nuisance or damage to their property, but it is important in these situations to make sure that the correct due diligence and accuracy is accounted for.   ...

£150bn UK energy plan - business support limited to six months

Louise Hebborn
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This package of support will be greeted with a collective sigh of relief from many business owners. It offers some respite from the relentless list of challenges they have had to contend with over the past two years. Spiralling energy costs have already...

Things to consider when renting out a property as an assured shorthold tenancy

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An assured shorthold tenancy (AST) agreement normally has to be a minimum term of six months. Although it is not a legal requirement, we recommend it being signed by both the tenant and landlord in front of a witness who can sign that they witnessed the...

Commercial rent arrears recovery

Andrew Whitehead
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The last 2 years have been economically challenging for many businesses including landlords of commercial premises. There has been significant changes and differing measures in place in relation to the recovery of unpaid rent by tenants. During the...

How is no-fault eviction ban going to affect tenants and landlords in England?

Sophie Chilstone
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‘No-fault eviction’ or Section 21 rules currently enable a landlord to evict a tenant from their property without any reason.  If the landlord decides at the end of the tenant’s fixed term that they no longer wish to let to that...

Getting paid post pandemic: advice for businesses with overdue debts

Julie Hunter
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The pandemic has been a very difficult time for most businesses and while the latest set of restrictions have now largely been lifted in England and Wales, the financial impact of the last two years is likely to last for some time. In such difficult...

Directors beware! The pitfalls of post pandemic company dissolution

Julie Hunter
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On 15 December 2021 The Ratings (Coronavirus) and Directors Disqualification (Dissolved Companies) Act 2021 gained royal assent. Under this new legislation, directors of dissolved companies which received financial assistance during the pandemic face...

Electrical safety standards for residential landlords

Matthew Smith
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The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 imposed new obligations on private landlords of residential properties . The regulations came into force on 1 June 2020 and they have applied to all new tenancies from...

Government brings in new restrictions on winding up petitions

Julie Hunter
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As the previous restrictions preventing any creditor from presenting a winding up petition to the court expired on 30 September 2021, new legislation has now been put in place, in a further effort to reduce the number of companies being wound up by the...

Old eviction notice periods to return

Sophie Chilstone
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On the 9 September 2021, new regulations were announced to come into force on the 1 October 2021. The result of these regulations coming into force means that from 1 October 2021, there will be a new Form 6A for a Section 21 Notice and a new Form 3 for...

Government extends restrictions on winding up petitions but ends protection for directors against wrongful trading liability

Julie Hunter
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As we reported in earlier blogs, part of the package of measures implemented by the government in efforts to protect companies from creditor enforcement, was to impose a prohibition on the presentation of winding up petitions and the making of winding up...

Commercial forfeiture restrictions extended

Matthew Smith
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On 16 June 2021, the government announced that the restrictions on commercial forfeiture for unpaid rent arrears has been extended until 25 March 2022. The restrictions, which have been in place since 26 March 2020, were due to be lifted on 30 June 2021....

No extension to eviction ban

Sophie Chilstone
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In May 2021, the government announced that the eviction ban then in place until 31 May 2021, will not be extended further. The news was a relief for many landlords who obtained an order for possession prior to the pandemic and since the stay of...

Government extends ban on winding up petitions to 30 June 2021

Julie Hunter
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As expected, the government has further extended the temporary protections given to companies by the Corporate Insolvency & Governance Act 2020, by extending the moratorium on serving statutory demands and presenting winding up petitions to 30 June...

New rules and procedures for landlords in the private rented sector regarding electrical safety standards

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On 1st June 2020, The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 came into force. The regulations require landlords to have the fixed electrical installations in their properties inspected and tested by a person who...

Tips on gifting or transferring shares to employees

Louise Hebborn
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It is common for businesses to offer shares to senior employees. Gifting shares to employees can be a reward for senior employees who are integral to the success of the business. Clearly businesses who incentivise staff in this manner are more...

Update: Corporate Insolvency & Governance Bill 2020

Julie Hunter
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The measures put in place by the government earlier this year to protect businesses against the threat of insolvency and those protecting directors against wrongful trading claims by a liquidator have been extended to 31 December 2020, to give companies...

10 changes for landlords to consider when seeking possession of residential property

Gillian Cooke
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Since the start of lockdown, the government has made various changes to existing legislation and enacted new legislation to deal with the effects of the coronavirus on tenants, with a view to keeping a roof over the heads of those in rented property. If...

New rules and procedures for landlords regarding eviction

Andrew Whitehead
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The suspension to possession proceedings in England & Wales is due to be lifted on 20 September 2020. For landlords that are waiting for proceedings to resume, or landlords that wish to begin the eviction process, there are now new rules and procedures...

High Court clarity regarding business interruption insurance

Julie Hunter
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On 15 May 2020, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced that it would bring a test case against eight insurance companies aimed at resolving contractual uncertainty around the validity of claims made by business owners with business interruption...

What is an administration order?

Julie Hunter
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An administration order could be a way to deal with debt if you have a county court or High Court judgment against you and you cannot pay in full. But who qualifies for an administration order and which debts are included? An administration order is an...

Suspension on possession proceedings extended

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On 5 June 2020, the Housing Secretary announced plans to extend the current stay on possession proceedings until 23 August 2020. This means that renters across England and Wales will now be afforded greater protection from eviction with the moratorium...

Ten tips for buying property at auction

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Are you thinking about buying a property at auction? On the fall of the auctioneers hammer a buyer will then be under a legal obligation to buy the property 'warts and all'. A completion date is fixed at the auction and a buyer has to comply with...

Directors duties update - three month extension to file accounts and wrongful trading

Julie Hunter
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The government continues to issues briefings on their measures to ease the regulatory burden on companies during the current crisis. Further measures to assist directors and SMEs are expected over the coming weeks, and we will continue to update our advice...

Top ten tips for directors of distressed companies

Julie Hunter
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Many businesses are facing challenging times. The economic impact of the current climate may last up to 12 months. Sadly, some businesses already in distress will not survive and insolvency is inevitable. For others, the possibility of insolvency is ever...

Company restructuring - preparation for sale

Louise Hebborn
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There can be a number of reasons a business may choose to restructure. Including the plan to sell the business , merge, grow, develop into new markets, or prepare for a management buy-out. This could mean that part of the business needs to be transferred...

Upcoming changes to IR35 checks

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The IR35 tax legislation gives HMRC the power to challenge the status of contractors and aims to tackle tax avoidance by freelance contractors and the companies who appoint them. The responsibility has always been on the contractors themselves to prove...

Employee ownership trusts - the alternative way of selling your business

Louise Hebborn
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It can take years of hard work to build a successful business, and so exiting that business can be a very difficult decision for an owner to make. For others who have an exit strategy in place finding a buyer may be difficult, particularly in certain...

Top tips for buying or selling a care home

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If you are buying or selling a care home there are several things that you can do to help the process run smoothly and make sure that you get the most out of the transaction. Register with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) If you are buying a care home...

The sale of new-build houses as leasehold to be banned - what does this mean for developers?

David Baybut
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The Communities Secretary, James Brokenshire MP announced in a speech to the Chartered Institute of Housing conference in Manchester on 27 June 2019 that all new-build houses will be sold as freehold and there will be zero ground rent for new leases of...

What is a full repairing and insuring lease and what does it mean for tenants?

Paul Davies
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Landlords and/or their agents will often, after agreeing the basic terms with a tenant, send out to them heads of terms containing a number of terms and conditions that may seem straightforward and innocuous but often need a level of knowledge that a first...

Updated HMO licensing rules

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New rules relating to Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) came into effect in England on 1 October 2018 without much fanfare and under the radar of many landlords. As a result of the new rules properties that did not require licencing previously may...

What are my legal obligations as a landlord of a commercial building?

David Baybut
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Being a commercial landlord can be highly rewarding but it also entails a number of legal responsibilities. Make sure you don’t fall foul of the law with our simple guide. What fire regulations do I need to comply with? The Regulatory Reform...

Ten things to do when preparing your property and business for sale

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Once a seller has agreed a sale for a property they are keen to see progress as quickly as possible. Lack of preparation can significantly affect the early progress in a transaction. Follow these ten tips to prepare for a quick sale: Collate your ...

Appeal Court finds business rates have been incorrectly charged on ATMs since 2010

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Supermarket, shop and petrol station owners who have previously been charged business rates for having an ATM located on their premises may be eligible for refunds. In 2013 it was decided that external facing ATMs should be treated as separate...

Bribery case has implications for firms of all sizes

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In a case which is the first of its kind and has implications for companies of all sizes, a small interior design company has been convicted under ‘failure to prevent bribery’ legislation.   The court was told that a former director of...

Rent arrears - five top tips for residential landlords

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Following the festive period, tenants can often fall into rent arrears. Investing time at the start of the year to review your tenant’s rental payments can therefore help you identify issues at an early stage. This is exemplified by the...

Is your business owed money?

Kerrie Ainscough
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Cashflow is at the centre of any successful business. Invoicing early and chasing payment should help keep cashflow moving however sometimes your polite reminders just aren’t enough and the money you are owed isn’t forthcoming. Unpaid debts...

Protecting yourself as a charitable trustee

Louise Hebborn
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Following the recent decision by the insolvency service to bring disqualification proceedings against the former directors of children’s charity Keeping Kids Company, the conduct of charitable trustees is more pertinent than ever. Launching as a...

The Brexit Factor - Impact on commercial contracts

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Whilst the full and true effect of leaving the European Union is a much debated topic - and one still very uncertain - companies can still plan ahead to reduce the potential impacts. Market fluctuations, increase in material costs, changes in...

Importance of shareholders agreements

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A shareholders agreement is an agreement between the owners of private company that is limited by shares. The purpose of the document is to regulate various aspects of the ownership of the business, how the business is run and protects the owners on a day...

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is coming - Are you ready?

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The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will come into force in the UK on 25 May 2018. In short, the GDPR is a new law that significantly extends and strengthens the current law and regulatory regime in relation to data privacy and data...

The YouTube 'adpocalypse' and the need for website T&C's

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Whether it is a 20-minute video of the funniest cat moments, or a day in the life of a daily ‘vlogger’. For some YouTube channels and the people/companies behind them, advertisement revenue is their main source of income. Google’s...

Is anyone the right fit for Jimmy Choo?

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The high-end, footwear and baggage retailer Jimmy Choo, has notified the world that its business is up for sale. This ‘for sale’ sign on the British-listed company will without a doubt, grab the attention of its luxury-goods rivals. But...

Britain open for business

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‘Britain is open for businesses’ the words of Greg Clarke in the wake of the recent Peugeot takeover of Vauxhall and Opel. It seems that international big business mergers show no signs of slowing down. And the age old question remains -...

Storm Doris: a weather bomb, a nationwide pandemic and a reminder to landlords

Louise Hebborn
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Storm Doris was named on the 21st February as warnings for wind, snow and rain were issued by the Met Office. Overnight and into the morning of the 23rd February, storm Doris underwent explosive cyclogenesis labelling it a ‘weather bomb’. The...

Housing associations 'front and centre' in Housing White Paper

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“Housing associations have been doing well – they’re behind around a third of all new housing completed over the past five years” – if the government did ‘glowing reviews’, this would probably be as good as any. The...

Protecting deposits - and your pocket

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With the relatively new government backed ‘help-to-buy schemes’ there has been significant growth in first-time buyers, whether this is through obtaining equity share loans, using a help-to-buy ISA’s to save for initial deposits, shared...

Post Christmas possession proceedings

Louise Hebborn
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The new year can be a challenging time as the cost of Christmas catches up with us, but for many residential landlords, there is a struggle to collect rent both during the Christmas period and well into the new year. Rents due on the 1 st January and 1 st ...

Can the Booker group keep Tesco on the throne as biggest supermarket retailer?

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Many will have heard about the Sainsbury’s and Argos merger, some questioned the suitability, feasibility and the stability of whether the merger would be to the benefit of the two companies and their customers. Judging by the increase in share price...

What can employment law tell us about the Denny Solomona case?

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The early winter months are not commonly known for high profile Rugby League stories, however towards the end of 2016 the sport took centre stage on the back pages intriguing fans and legal observers alike. The story concerns New Zealand born Denny Solomona...

Under fire Sports Direct executive shows power of shareholders

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Recently, the chairman of Sports Direct, Keith Hellawell, survived a so-called 'shareholder revolt' to remain in his post. Mr Hellawell has been under pressure for the past 18 months since the company was subject to several media reports...

Government buying scheme withdrawal adds to pressure on social housing

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According to recent figures, there has been a 48% rise in the sales of social housing to private ownership as pressure on existing stock continues to grow. Data from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) shows that housing associations...

What does the Housing and Planning Act really mean for housing associations?

David Baybut
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Almost a full year since lamenting the many ‘unanswered questions’ over the then proposed legislation, David Baybut revisits the Housing Planning Act 2016 to examine the impact on housing associations. While the Chartered Institute of Housing...

Could the Fox / Sky Merger attempt be blocked by Ofcom?

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Rupert Murdoch’s '21st Century Fox' has made another attempt to take over the broadcasting media giant, Sky. Mr Murdoch already owns a 39 per cent stake in Sky, and his son - James Murdoch - was appointed chairman of Sky earlier...

The art of 'sharing' and setting up a private company

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Many businesses are set up as limited companies and – as such - they are limited by the number of shares that the company holds. In recent weeks the Government has sold more of its shares in Lloyds Banking Group, to just below eight per cent as they...

To merge or not to merge?

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In recent weeks there has been a string of high profile mergers culminating in the recent ‘Betty Power’ merger - between Betfair and Paddy Power - creating one of the world’s largest online gambling businesses worth £5 billion. ...

Warning: unofficial patent and trade mark reminders

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This week the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has issued a warning to all UK patent and trade mark owners of businesses being approached with unofficial trademark renewal reminders. According to the IPO, trade mark owners have received unsolicited...

Pokemon Go Terms of Service: 6 clauses to watch out for

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The ‘Pokemon Go’ phenomenon has now truly hit the UK and the ‘horror stories’ and doom-mongering has started in earnest. Among many concerns voiced by experts and the media is the extent of the app’s standard ‘Terms of...

Another possible way of holding a company director liable

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It is established law that a limited company is a separate legal entity to an individual shareholder or director even if she or he owns the majority of the shares in the company and runs the company on a day to day basis. However section 6 of the Statute of...

Are you breaking the law by not having a PSC register?

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As of 6 April 2016 small businesses could face legal action if failing to compile a PSC (People with Significant Control) register. The register - required by the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 - applies from 6 April 2016 and...

The booming commercial property market

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The commercial property market is booming after years of under-investment. Increased spending in the owner-occupier and rental sectors reflects a greater appetite from the banks to make funding available as well as investors who hold the necessary...

Lifetime tenancies to be scrapped

Louise Hebborn
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So-called 'lifetime tenancies' are being phased out by the government under plans to better utilise the UK's limited rented social housing stock. Under the proposals, social landlords - including local authorities - will now only be able to...

New bill means greater responsibilities for private landlords

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A new bill, currently being considered by Parliament, will mean private landlords are subject to further regulation relating to the safety of their properties. Already, private landlords have to comply with a wealth of statutory obligations to ensure their...

Asset and trade finance explained for SMEs

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Considering trade finance and asset finance for SMEs. Trade finance Trade finance can be a daunting concept for SMEs. However, any business large or small needs to come to grips with it in order to purchase goods from abroad. In its simplest form...

Banking Reform Act 2013, a good idea with poor implementation

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On 7 March of this year, section 36 of the Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013 came into force. It was designed to make senior employees of a financial institution liable if their decisions caused the business to fail or they failed to take steps...

8 tips to get the best deal when looking to obtain litigation funding

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Litigation can be an expensive and risky process. The demand for alternative funding is therefore ever increasing. It is however important that you choose the right option before embarking on the process. Our litigation experts outline 8 top tips...

Four tips for landlords dealing with secret subletters

Louise Hebborn
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As house prices rise and continue to drive up the cost of a rental property, particularly in London and the South East, it is becoming increasingly common for tenants to sublet. If you are a landlord you may find yourself in a situation where your property...

Stamp duty increase comes into force

David Baybut
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From today (1 April 2016), anyone buying a home that is not their main residence will face a 3 per cent hike on Stamp Duty. The surcharge applies to anyone buying a property with a value exceeding £40,000 as a buy-to-let-investment, second home...

Litigation funding on the rise

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A simple Google search highlights the extent and growth of the litigation funding marketplace with each company vying for your custom. Burford Capital is the latest example of a large litigation financer entering the English market by announcing a...

Investigation - not always disqualification

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Following a company liquidation the Insolvency Service will consider whether to investigate the conduct of the company directors.  Ordinarily, the Insolvency Service will write to the director to inform them that following the obligatory report from the...

Social Housing: Planning approvals up

David Baybut
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The number of social housing developments in England receiving planning permission has increased according to a recent report. The total figure for English social home planning approvals in Q1 2015 was 5,800 – a seven per cent increase on the same...