Read our latest articles, news briefs and legal updates across all our different services.
A couple have been prevented from building a new home in their garden because of a covenant dating back 60 years. Covenants are promises or conditions often inserted into title deeds that affect or limit how a property can be used. They are legally binding on whoever later buys the property unless overturned by a
The mediation voucher scheme is being expanded to help thousands more separating couples resolve disputes without having to go to court. The scheme, launched by the Government in March, provides a £500 voucher for mediation services with the aim of finding amicable solutions to disagreements. It seeks to spare eligible families the trauma of going through
A teacher who locked a misbehaving pupil in a store cupboard, that was rumoured to be haunted, has won his claim of unfair dismissal. Mr Mohammad Basit taught maths at Pleckgate High School in Blackburn from 2012. He had an unblemished record and was known for his self-professed ‘love of his job’. However, an incident
Leaseholders with Countryside Properties will no longer be subjected to ground rents that double every 10 or 15 years. The effect of these increases is that people often struggle to sell or mortgage their home and their property rights can be at risk, for example, if they fall behind on their rent. Countryside will also
Probate lawyers are urging the government to introduce reforms to make it easier for families to access the ‘digital assets’ of deceased relatives. A new report carried out by STEP – the professional body for inheritance planning advisers – highlights the extent of the distress caused by being cut off from digital assets when family members
There’s been a large rise in the number of married couples using ‘prenups’ over the last 20 years, according to a new survey. The survey, carried out by Savanta ComRes for the Marriage Foundation, found that one in five couples married since 2000 have some form of a pre-nuptial agreement in place. This compared to
A landlord has lost its appeal against a decision that it could not impose service charges for certain works because it had failed to consult tenants properly. The landlord owned several flats let on long leases. It carried out various works to the flats and, in 2017, sought to recover the cost from the lessees
A jewellery designer who had built up a strong brand reputation has won a passing off claim against a new business using a similar name. The Intellectual Property Enterprise Court heard that Alyssa Smith started out as a sole trader in 2009, using the trading signs Alyssa Smith Jewellery, Alyssa Jewellery and @alyssajewellery. She attracted
The High Court has ruled that a restaurant manager was entitled to be a director and shareholder of a new business he had set up with a married couple. He was also entitled to payments as specified in a contract agreed by both sides. The manager had run a restaurant from premises which were held
The Court of Appeal has clarified whether external doors are landlords’ fixtures and so subject to landlord control. The case involved a tenant who was the registered proprietor of two long-leasehold flats with terms of 999 years. The leases included a covenant by the tenant at cl.3(4) not to “remove any of the landlord’s fixtures”