A factual error in a letter circulated to tenants of a block of flats led to a lengthy court dispute that required the intervention of the Court of Appeal to resolve. The letter, which was drafted by a non-lawyer, had indicated that tenants were being
Published Wednesday 3rd April 2013, 03:04 PM The Equality and Human Rights Commission (ECHR) has published two sets of guidance for businesses on how to prevent discrimination and avoid costly legal challenges. These are: ‘The Equality Act: Guidance for Small Business’, which explains how the
In an important ruling for private landlords of student accommodation, the High Court has ruled that a purpose-built block of self-contained ‘cluster flats’ does not require to be licensed as a house in multiple occupation (HMO) by the local authority in whose area it is
The need to ‘know your customer’ applies right across business in the UK, although financial-type businesses, where large transactions occur, have a particularly stringent compliance regime. Once the data have been obtained, there is then a need to keep them safe, as theft or loss
A Court of Appeal decision has laid bare the differences between draconian English anti-bribery laws and the much less severe equivalent provisions in force in Russia. Whilst in England there is a presumption that bribery causes loss and that wrong-doers are liable not only for
A recession-hit company whose cash-flow was hit by high levels of staff absenteeism had a reasonable excuse for not paying its PAYE bills on time, the First-Tier Tribunal has ruled. In upholding the company’s appeal against late payment penalties, the tribunal noted that the company
In a decision which brightens the often controversial dividing line between capital and revenue expenditure, the First Tier-Tribunal has upheld a caravan park owner’s claim for a tax deduction in respect of the cost of resurfacing with hard-core an area used by touring vehicles. The
If you have a ‘bring your own device’ (BYOD) policy at your firm, you should think carefully about the implications of such a policy for your data security. Computer giant Dell has recently issued a report claiming that more than half of all firms with
The term ‘village green’ may conjure up to most people an image of a picturesque piece of open grass; however the Court of Appeal has ruled in an important test case that a beach can be regarded as a village green in the eyes of
A senior judge has lamented the impact that the ‘emasculation’ of the legal aid budget is having on the administration of justice and expressed the view that any savings achieved by the Legal Services Commission could be outweighed by the increased cost of the judiciary
