Social housing tenants could be offered up to £30,000 to enable them to leave their rented accommodation and buy their own home.
Father must accept reduced contact with his daughter
A father has been told he must accept reduced contact with his daughter after losing his appeal against a court ruling.
Cutting off stressed employee’s emails amounted to discrimination
An employee who was unable to enter into a share purchase plan because he wasn’t allowed to receive company emails while off work with stress has won a disability discrimination claim.
Woman only gets 25% of house she shared with abusive partner
Unmarried couples who share a home should consider drawing up an agreement about how much of the property each one of them owns. Failure to do so can lead to confusion and potential hardship, as illustrated in a recent case before the Court of Appeal. It involved a woman who had lived with her abusive partner for 34 years until his death in 2009. They had two children together and …Read More
Family courts to have power to order DNA Paternity Tests
Family courts in England will soon be able to order DNA tests to establish a child’s parentage. It’s hoped the move will reduce delays and unnecessary arguments during divorce cases.
Shared ownership homes to become easier and quicker to sell
It could soon be easier for people in shared ownership homes to sell their property. The government funded schemes enable people to buy a share in a property, with a registered housing provider owning the rest. Typically, a purchaser may buy a 50% share in the home with the option of increasing their stake if and when they can afford to do so. Under the current system, when someone wants …Read More
Legal first as obese worker wins disability harassment claim
An obese employee has won a disability harassment claim after being taunted about his weight by a work colleague. It’s the first case of its kind in the UK since the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled last year that obesity could be considered as a disability in certain circumstances.
First-time home buyers get 20% off
New homes are to be offered at a minimum 20% discount to first-time buyers under the age of 40. The Starter Home initiative is a government scheme to help young people on to the housing ladder and encourage construction firms to build more homes. It’s hoped that up to 100,000 buyers will benefit. The initiative is being made possible by a change to the planning system. The idea is to …Read More
Expectant fathers entitled to time off for ante-natal appointments
Expectant fathers now have the right to take unpaid time off work to attend two ante-natal classes with their partners. The entitlement, which came into effect on 1 October, applies to all expectant partners including husbands, spouses, civil partners and anyone in a long-term relationship with the mother. Expectant fathers who are not in a relationship with the mother are still entitled to the unpaid time off work.
New laws for people who die with no Will
Inheritance laws simplified for when people die without a Will The government has simplified inheritance laws in order to modernise the process of dividing the assets of a person who dies without making Will. It follows a review of intestacy law and a consultation carried out by the Law Commission.