Blog - Bowling & Co Solicitors

News: Covid-19 – Business interruption insurance

March 12, 2021
Özgecan Sözeri
Corporate

The Covid-19 pandemic has led to widespread disruption and economic volatility which had a significant impact on businesses. Particularly, the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have suffered a significant level of financial loss. A large number of affected businesses have made claims for the losses under their business interruption insurance policies. However, there is uncertainty over the business interruption (BI) insurance policies’ cover in the context of Covid-19 claims. Recently, the Newcastle Circuit Commercial Court (Court) has struck out a BI losses claim in consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic where…

Blog: Why cohabiting couples must consider estate planning

Millions of couples across the UK are choosing to forego marriage and live as cohabitees. Why must cohabiting couples consider estate planning? Without proper estate planning, they could be putting their finances at risk. Unlike their married counterparts, unmarried couples have no automatic right to inherit from each other. However, with proper estate planning, you can ensure your cohabiting partner is properly provided for should you pass away. This article looks at some of the important estate planning matters all cohabiting couples should consider. Write a will The most straightforward…

Blog: Caring responsibilities during furlough and your rights

March 4, 2021
Vandana Dass
Family, Employment

The rules concerning furlough, schools, and workplace restrictions continue to change frequently, and it can be difficult for both employers and employees to keep up. However, if you are affected by furlough or there has been a change in your caring responsibilities, it is essential that you understand your rights under UK employment law. Government guidance on the furlough scheme, issued in November, confirmed that furlough is available to employees who must stay home because they have caring responsibilities as a result of coronavirus. In this article, we look at…

Chancellor empties his purse for a pandemic-beating budget

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the UK’s economic agenda dominated the Chancellor’s 2021 Budget Statement, with support for business and jobs receiving top-line billing. In a statement focused on “protecting jobs and livelihoods”, the Chancellor outlined a range of measures designed to provide a continuing safety net for individuals, businesses, and the wider economy during the planned exit from lockdown and beyond, as outlined in the Prime Minister’s roadmap in February. This further support will see the country recording the highest-ever level of peacetime borrowing, at 16.9% of…

News: Stamp duty holiday extended until the end of June

What does it mean for you? In the Budget, today, the Chancellor has confirmed that the stamp duty holiday on properties priced up to £500,000 has been extended by three months until the end of June. In addition, the holiday will also apply to properties priced up to £250,000 until the end of September 2021! The extension provides relief for buyers who were unlikely to complete their transactions before the original March 31 deadline. With a tax cut now available for buyers until September, this should also help to ensure…

New: Law Society calls for review of end of SDLT holiday to prevent sales collapsing

The Law Society has made a press release that calls for urgent action to prevent the end of the temporary increase in the residential SDLT nil-rate band. This is due to end on 31 March 2021, resulting in possibly, thousands of aborted sales. The Law Society is urging people to write to their MP to call for action. It has also suggested three possible options for the government to address the problem: Extend the temporary increase in the SDLT nil-rate band, thereby providing more time for buyers to complete transactions.…

News: Avanton is to tackle London’s housing crisis

The build-to-rent (BTR) group Avanton is to tackle London's housing crisis with massive plans to increase its landbank in the capital. The Avanton Group is to tackle London's housing crisis and has acquired a £500M fund to be utilised over a three-year period and will target the purchase and development of sites across London boroughs, including Islington, Southwark, Wandsworth, Wimbledon, Hammersmith, Lambeth, Camden, and Brent. The group seeks to acquire sites with values of between £20m to £100m, providing for 300 to 1,000 units per development. Avanton is targeting up…

Blog: Your rights in disciplinary and grievance procedures during coronavirus

February 17, 2021
Vandana Dass
Employment

While many workplaces continue to be affected by the coronavirus pandemic, employment law and the Acas Code of Practice concerning disciplinary and grievance procedures still apply. Do you know your rights in disciplinary and grievance procedures during coronavirus? If you are facing disciplinary action or grievance procedures, you must be aware of your rights and how these might be affected by coronavirus restrictions. Furloughed workers If you are currently on furlough, it is still possible to be involved in disciplinary or grievance procedures. Whilst on furlough, you may: Take part in…

News: Housing Secretary – extended support for renters during the pandemic

On 14 February 2021, the Housing Secretary, Robert Jenrick, published a press release announcing extended support for renters during the pandemic. The measures that currently protect residential tenants from eviction in England, subject to certain exemptions, will continue until 31 March 2021. Renters will continue to be supported during the ongoing national lockdown restrictions, with an extension to the ban on bailiff evictions. The Current Regulations prevent attendance at a house in England for the purpose of executing a writ or warrant of possession or delivering a notice of eviction,…

The beginning of the end of leasehold

February 15, 2021
Huseyin Youssouf
Property Market News, Property Law, Residential

Leasehold property owners are set for important changes in the coming months. The Government is planning to grant new rights on lease extensions and ending ground rent, which signals the beginning of the end of leasehold and this form of ownership. The government has indicated there will be a shift to ‘commonhold’ on the horizon, but the benefits to householders are likely to take time to filter through. Nearly all flats and some houses in England and Wales are owned on a leasehold basis, giving the owner the right to…

News & Insights