Blogs
Help to Buy guarantees arrive early
The Help to Buy: Mortgage Guarantee scheme was introduced three months early, in October, to boost the housing market and enable more people to own their own home. The scheme applies to both new-build and older properties and is available to both existing homeowners and first time buyers. It was due....
Whistle-blowing policeman dismissed after becoming ‘unmanageable’
A police officer has lost an unfair dismissal claim after it was ruled that his conduct in making a legitimate complaint had resulted in him becoming “unmanageable”. During his time with the police force, the officer made several complaints about the attitude towards victims of rape, child ab....
Home buy schemes help 100,000 families on to property ladder
More than 100,000 people have used various government schemes to buy a home over the last four years. Households have taken advantage of schemes such as Right to Buy and Help to Buy. The Right to Buy scheme gives people who have lived in a council property for at least five years the right to buy....
More than 6,000 take advantage of new home buy scheme
More than 6,000 people have applied to use the Help to Buy: mortgage guarantee scheme since it was launched in October 2013. More than 6,000 people have applied to use the Help to Buy: mortgage guarantee scheme since it was launched in October 2013. The scheme is intended to help people ....
Ban on exclusivity clauses in zero hours contracts
Exclusivity clauses in zero hours contracts are to be banned so that employees can no longer be tied to a company that may not have any work to offer them. Some firms, including recruitment agencies, have been using exclusivity clauses to prevent an individual from working for another employe....
PA unfairly dismissed after affair with her boss was discovered
A personal assistant who was sacked after her affair with her boss was discovered has won her claim of unfair dismissal. The PA lost her job after the affair was discovered by the boss’s wife. The PA, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been in a relationship with her boss who was chi....
Applying for a mortgage?
The UK mortgage application process is undergoing the largest changes in a decade on 26thApril 2014. Many lenders have already implemented these changes in anticipation of the formal change. Affordability check At the heart of the changes, known as the Mortgage Market Review (MMR), is the new ....
When companies rise from the ashes
We have all probably faced the situation of discovering that a company with which we have been trading seems mysteriously to have gone off the face of the earth, only to reappear in a slightly different guise after just a few days. The end result is, for instance, that the old company owes us ....
Are you ready to hand over your business in the right way?
After many years building up a business, directors often worry about how to bow out successfully while ensuring that the firm continues to thrive. After many years building up a business, directors often worry about how to bow out successfully while ensuring that the firm continues to thrive. ....
Widow awarded £705,000 after contracting same disease as husband
A widow has been awarded £705,000 compensation after developing terminal lung cancer as a result of washing her husband’s overalls. A widow has been awarded £705,000 compensation after developing terminal lung cancer as a result of washing her husband’s overalls. Monica Haxton’s hu....
Delighting clients
A delighted client of our Harlow office kindly sent several bouquets of flowers to our residential property team. We had assisted with the purchase of a number of properties at auction and he was extremely happy with the service. ....
Allegedly ‘lived by the gun’ – Lawfully ‘died by the gun’
Mark Duggan was a 29-year-old man hailing from Tottenham, North London. He was shot dead by armed police in Ferry Lane, Tottenham, at 18:15 BST on 4 August 2011. Mark Duggan was a 29-year-old man hailing from Tottenham, North London. He was shot dead by armed police in Ferry Lane, Tottenham, ....
