The High Court has ruled that a group of engineering consultants were not negligent when advising on a major development – even though they failed to predict some important issues. The consultants had been asked by the commissioners of a drainage authority to explore options for upgrading a pumping station. They carried out research with
Businesses are being urged to make sure their websites comply with consumer protection law ahead of the Christmas period. The warning from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) comes after it carried out a review of 156 websites to check if any were in breach of the Distance Selling Regulations (DSRs). It found that 62
Three estate agents face prosecution for printing misleading information about the size of a garden in a property they were selling – even though they included various disclaimers. In the brochure they described the house as a “charming period, detached family house…set within superb gardens of approximately three-quarters of an acre”. The gardens were actually
Q – I am going through a divorce with my wife and I earn more than her. Will I have to pay her maintenance? A – In every case we have to work through a checklist of factors. Two important points are the difference in earning abilities now and in the foreseeable future and
Tenancies are lasting longer and landlords are increasing their portfolios as the private rental sector continues to grow, according to the National Landlords Association. The research shows that 54% of tenancies are now lasting between two and three years, and 32% last longer than four years. It also showed that 10% of landlords had added
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has issued new guidelines explaining how it will set tougher penalties for breaches of competition law. The maximum starting point for penalty calculations will increase from 10% of relevant turnover to 30%. The OFT says the change gives it the ability to set penalties which better reflect the gravity
Making a will is not necessarily the first thing you think about on the birth of your child! However, as you waft through a time of little sleep and lots of nappies, it’s certainly something worth thinking about when you get five minutes to spare! The most pressing need is to decide who will act
The law offers employers some protection against libel claims arising out of references they provide for employees. This was illustrated in a recent case before the High Court. It involved a laboratory assistant, Mr Bol Thour, who had worked for the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead. He applied for a job at St Bart’s Hospital,
A firm has been fined £10,000 after making a slight change to its name without telling HM Revenue & Customs. The firm, which doesn’t want to be identified, was originally a partnership but then decided to restructure as a limited company. It added Ltd to its name but didn’t realise that it was suppose to
The problem of rent arrears is increasing with 49% of landlords saying that they have experienced difficulties in the last 12 months, according to the National Landlords Association (NLA). Looking to the future, 37% of landlords are worried that they will experience more arrears in the coming months. NLA research shows that an average landlord