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The importance for owners of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) of keeping them in good condition is highlighted by a recent case in which the owners of a house that had 24 residents were fined for a number of failures. The house was found to have...

When intellectual property rights are not the subject of proper agreements, the likelihood of a dispute arising is increased. When the responsibilities and rights of employees are not precisely stipulated, there is also possibility for disagreement. A ...

In a landmark decision , a lesbian has won a High Court ruling that, whilst bereft of legal rights over a child conceived by her ex-partner during their relationship, she is the child's 'psychological parent'. During the couple's turbulent 18-month...

Following the introduction of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2013 , the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has now published updated statutory guidance intended primarily for use by businesses, public and...

In a reminder to property buyers that a full structural survey can often be well worth the money, a woman who had to have major work done to prop up her home has suffered a costly defeat in her fight for compensation from her mortgage lender. The detached...

If you are the trustee of a charity, you should make sure that you download, read and understand the implications of new guidance for charity trustees on managing conflicts of interest , which was issued recently by the Charity Commission and can be found...

For people with substantial estates, the concern that the next generation might not deal wisely with a large inheritance is a common one. When the owner of a successful company had such a worry, he arranged for his will to be drafted in such a way as to...

Under proposals outlined in the recent Budget, from 2015 HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) are to be given new powers to access the bank accounts of 'tax debtors' in order to remove sums needed to satisfy tax debts due. The right will only be exercised when the...

The new regime that will apply to pensions from April 2015 was the chief surprise in this year's Budget. Under the old tax rules applying to pensions, an individual had to decide within six months of taking the tax-free lump sum whether to take an annuity...

One of the less well reported changes contained in the Intellectual Property Act 2014 is that the commercial exploitation of a registered design without the design owner’s permission will become a criminal offence, with a maximum term of five...