Homeowners buying a property under Help to Buy are now allowed to take out 35-year mortgages. The government has moved to close what it describes as a loophole, which has seen purchasers using the scheme facing difficulties and uncertainty if they wanted to take out a mortgage with a term of more than 25 years
Extended rights for pregnant employees and new parents
Pregnant women and new parents are set to receive extended legal protection against being made redundant after they return to work. The move is part of the government’s ‘Good Work Plan’
Manager must pay compensation for racially abusing colleague
A council manager has been held personally responsible for compensating a work colleague he subjected to racially abusive comments. The case involved
More additions to ‘Good Work Plan’ to protect low-paid workers
The government has introduced a new set of additions to its ‘Good Work Plan’ which aims to increase the rights of workers. Some of the key elements of the scheme include: • workers to be given enhanced rights to tackle
Court protects interests of pensioner unable to manage his affairs
The Court of Protection has stepped in to safeguard the interests of an elderly pensioner who was unable to handle his financial affairs at a time when he was facing complex legal action. The case involved a 75-year-old man who had various medical conditions
UK house prices jumped 0.7% between March and April
The latest House Price Index figures show that the cost of an average home in the UK jumped 0.7% between March and April. The annual rise to April was 1.4%, bringing the cost of the average property to
Government aims to improve parental leave entitlements
The government has launched a consultation on how to ensure greater equality in parental leave entitlements. The consultation will ask whether statutory paternity leave for fathers and same sex partners should be
Woman committed to prison for contempt in family dispute over will
A woman has been committed to prison following a dispute with her brother over their late father’s estate. The court heard that neither of the siblings had been named as executor of their father’s will but the sister had taken the role without authority to do so.
Female police officers win sex discrimination claims
Two female police officers who were put on restricted duties for giving evidence against a colleague have won their sex discrimination claims. The tribunal ruled that they had been treated in way that would be detrimental to their careers
£500m to help build 11,000 new homes, including rooftop properties
The government is providing £500m to help housing associations build 11,000 affordable new homes, including some ‘rooftop’ properties. The funding boost will help the government towards its target of building 300,000 properties a year by the mid-2020s.