The government has announced that landlords will have to give six months’ notice if they wish to evict tenants who are struggling to pay their rent during the Covid-19 pandemic. It has also extended the ban on evictions until 21 September. The six-month notice rule will apply in all cases except those involving serious issues
A survey of more than 24,000 employees has revealed widely differing attitudes between white and ethnic minority employees towards career progression, pay and discrimination. The research was carried out by Business in the Community (BITC) and published as Race at Work: Black Voices Report. It found that seven out of 10 of black respondents wanted
The High Court has settled a dispute between two brothers and their sister over their father’s will. The claim concerned the estate of a Mr Evans who died in 2019. He was survived by his wife, who suffered from motor neurone disease. Her daughter was acting as her litigation friend – someone who helps a
The Court of Appeal has ruled that the principles allowing parents to have contact with their children who are in care continued to apply during Covid-19, even though it could create practical difficulties for local authorities. The issue arose after a mother appealed against a decision that face-to-face contact with her three young children should
The Help to Buy scheme has been extended to compensate for the delays in building work due to the coronavirus outbreak. Under the current scheme, work on new homes would have to be finished by the end of December – the extension will mean the deadline will now move to 28 February 2021. The deadline
The number of families having to pay inheritance tax (IHT) has fallen for the first time since 2009, according to the latest figures. Inheritance tax is set at 40% and becomes payable once the tax-free threshold of £325,000 has been passed. There is no tax liability if a person’s estate passes directly to their spouse.
A court has imposed a penalty of more than £800,000 on a husband who behaved unreasonably during divorce proceedings. The judge said the move should act as a warning to all couples that the law would not tolerate dishonest tactics. The case involved a couple in their fifties. They had been married for 25 years
High Court has settled a dispute between a father and son over whether money was ‘loaned or gifted’ to buy a home. The father had been a successful builder and property developer who owned numerous residential properties. He and his son had been directors of a building company which owned a commercial property; the son
The number of people working from home could double once the Covid-19 crisis is over, according to new research. A survey carried out by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) says employers expected a dramatic increase as employees get used to the advantages of home working and not having to commute. CIPD surveyed
The Employment Tribunal failed to properly consider the needs of the employer when dealing with a disability discrimination claim. That was the decision of the Employment Appeal Tribunal in a case involving the Department of Work & Pensions and one of its employees, Susan Boyers. Ms Boyers suffered from migraines, stress and panic attacks. She