Tenants and leaseholders can now access official guidance on their rights when renting their home. The online rental guides, published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, are part of a continuing crackdown on poor practice by a minority of landlords and agents in the private rented and leasehold sectors. The Citizens Advice Bureau helped 65,000 private renters with more than 100,000 problems about their tenancy in 2017. …Read More
Woman victimised over anxiety and depression awarded £8,000
A woman who felt victimised after being accused by her boss of faking anxiety and depression to get a big pay-out has been awarded £8,000 compensation. The case involved Melanie James who started working for Capital Care Service in 2016 as a credit controller. She signed off work sick in March 2017 and was diagnosed with symptoms of anxiety and depression. As part of her treatment, she began to see …Read More
New Mental Capacity Act law to ‘protect vulnerable in care’
A new law to protect the interests of vulnerable people in care is expected to be in place early next year. The Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill will replace the current system known as ‘Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards’ (DoLs). DoLs are assessments currently carried out on people who do not have the mental capacity to make their own decisions about their care, for example because they are living with dementia. It …Read More
First-time home buyers save £284m because of stamp duty cut
More than 120,000 first-time home buyers have saved a total of £284m because of the cuts to stamp duty introduced last November, according to government figures. The first £300,000 of the price of a property is now exempt from tax for people entering the housing market for the first time. It means that the new stamp duty cost for first-time buyers is: • properties up £300k, no stamp duty • properties between …Read More
Businessman leaves millions to Oxfam under ‘common tragedy’
A wealthy businessman has left millions to the charity Oxfam after inserting a common tragedy clause into his will. Richard Cousins died along with his two sons, his fiancé and her daughter when their plane crashed in Australia on New Year’s Eve. Mr Cousins, who was the chief executive of the Compass Group, had made provision in his will for what should happened if all his immediate family died in …Read More
Hartley Wintney Pram Race 2018
The quintessentially bucolic Cricket Green is once again the centre stage for the annual Hartley Wintney Pram Race 2018. Bates Solicitors are delighted to once again sponsor this popular village event.
Carrie runs in the Royal Parks Half 2018
Family Law Solicitor Carrie Crown is in training for a Half Marathon. In her charity raising statement Carrie says “I will be running the 2018 Royal Parks Half Marathon
Make a Will in aid of Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice
Nicola Browett, our Head of Private Client Department is again supporting ‘Make a Will Fortnight’ 10 – 22 September 2018 in aid of the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice. This initiative offers local solicitors an opportunity to support the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice
39% rise in employment tribunal claims since fees ruled unlawful
There has been a 39% rise in claims before the Employment Tribunal since the Supreme Court ruled last year that the fees charged to bring claims were unlawful. The fees were introduced in 2013, with employees having to pay up to £1,200 to bring a claim. Following a challenge by the union Unison, the Supreme Court ruled that the fees were discriminatory, unlawful and unconstitutional. Figures released by the Advisory, …Read More
Landlords oppose 3-year minimum tenancy proposals
The National Landlord’s Association (NLA) has criticised government proposals to introduce 3-year minimum tenancies. Ministers say 3-year tenancy terms, with a 6-month break clause