Blog - Bowling & Co Solicitors

Blog: Short-term holiday lets: home-owners must check the small print

As the shutters lift on life, with shops and bars opening and holiday planning underway, property owners may be thinking of cashing in on the demand for UK trips by offering their home for short-term holiday lets, but they may run into trouble if they don’t check the small print. As the shutters lift on life, with shops and bars opening and holiday planning underway, property owners may be thinking of cashing in on the demand for UK trips by offering their home for short-term lets, but they may run…

Blog: Five tips for businesses dealing with unpaid invoices

In this blog we suggest 5 tips for businesses dealing with unpaid invoices The coronavirus pandemic has caused financial difficulties for many and could be making the problem of late payments worse for both small businesses, the self-employed and freelancers. Carrying the weight of unpaid invoices really can make doing business challenging. The Forum of Private Business indicates that 1 in 4 businesses fall into insolvency as a result of late payment of invoices. While business owners need to worry about paying suppliers, staff members, rent and bills, unpaid invoices…

Blog: Why do you need a cohabitation agreement?

April 16, 2021
Vikram Kumar
Family

Do you need a cohabitation agreement if you live with your partner, or considering moving in together? There is, of course, no legal requirement to have a cohabitation agreement to live with a partner, but it can be a useful tool to protect your finances and establish practical arrangements. In this article, we look at why you might want to get a cohabitation agreement and what such an agreement can do for you. What is a cohabitation agreement? A cohabitation agreement is basically an outline of an open and honest…

Blog: Non-payment of child maintenance: What happens if a parent does not pay?

March 31, 2021
Vikram Kumar
Family

Under a child maintenance arrangement, child support is usually paid by the parent who does not have day-to-day care of the child or does not usually live with the child. In cases of non-payment of child maintenance, the receiving parent could launch a civil legal claim. However, this option is expensive and still leaves the issue of ensuring the paying parent complies with the judgment. Instead, where possible, you, as the receiving parent, can approach the Child Maintenance Service (CMS), which has wide-ranging powers of enforcement. What measures can the…

Blog: COVID-19 – Advice for commercial landlords and tenants

In this article we provide advice for commercial landlords and tenants impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic which has affected almost every industry in the UK, with many businesses experiencing a severe strain on their cashflow as a result. While commercial tenants may be struggling to pay rent in full and on a regular basis, their landlord could also be under pressure if they rely on these payments to maintain their own cashflow. Both parties to a commercial lease contract should understand how their liabilities and obligations have been affected by…

Blog: Why is inheritance tax planning still important?

March 30, 2021
Manal Fouad
Private Client

The inheritance tax threshold is frozen until 2026 – but why is inheritance tax planning still important? If you intend to leave savings, property or other assets to family or friends after you die, you need to consider inheritance tax (IHT). It could cost your heirs up to 40% of their inheritance. By planning ahead, you can minimise IHT and ensure as much of your estate as possible reaches your loved ones. Understanding the tax-free allowance The tax-free inheritance allowance, known as the nil-rate band, allows your beneficiaries to inherit…

Blog: Homeworking and the importance of cybersecurity risk management

March 30, 2021
David Downham
Risk Management, General Data Protection Regulation

Having staff working remotely has presented significant challenges for many businesses, but one of the most difficult to address is the increased cybersecurity risk. As many companies did not have sufficient opportunity to prepare for the transition to homeworking, they may not have identified potential cybersecurity issues. Moreover, it is now much harder to monitor staff and ensure they are following safe practices. Cybercriminals have wasted no time in exploiting these weaknesses, and businesses are encountering threats regularly. Here we look at the cybersecurity risks that homeworking may present to…

News: Bowling ‘dress up’ to support SSAFA Armed Forces Charity

March 26, 2021
Dinesh Raja
News, General, Firm News

Bowling & Co 'dress up' to support SSAFA Armed Forces Charity. A huge thank you to our clients, friends, and staff who ‘dressed up' in their best business attire to support Strettons, Ashfords LLP, and Nyman Libson Paul with their Tailored Tuesday launch day on 23 March in aid of SSAFA, The Armed Forces charity. For many of us, it was the first time in a while we dressed in full business attire, and for some, it appears lockdown has had a small impact on our waistlines! Nonetheless, we did not let that daunt us for…

Blog: Dealing with inheritance disputes

Dealing with inheritance disputes may have arisen in response to soaring property prices, second marriages, and blended families, with relatives more likely to feel they are missing out, but the courts are pushing back on frivolous claims and obstructive family members. Such disputes once seemed the preserve of celebrities and the wealthy, such as the former lover of singer George Michael who was reported to be planning a claim against the singer’s estate recently, but research carried out by Direct Line found that a quarter of people would be prepared…

Blog: Bullying and racism in the workplace during lockdown

March 17, 2021
Vandana Dass
Employment

Dealing with bullying and racism in the workplace, particularly with many staff working in different environments during lockdown. Bullying and racism affect everyone involved, and harassment hits hard at every level. Bullying or racism may seem the fate of the underdog, but recent headlines have shown how it may affect anyone at any level, including royalty and high-flying civil servants. Seniority and titles do not confer special protection. Companies are being encouraged to review their employment policies. Most recently, the Duchess of Sussex has talked about the impact of racism…

News & Insights