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We are founder members of Certainty - an organisation recently set up to maintain a register of wills. This is to ensure a will is not lost and can be easily accessed when required. For more information go to www.certainty.co.uk
Margary & Miller news articles are designed to keep you up to date with changes in the law and important court cases that may affect you, your family and your business.
Please contact us if you would like more information about any of the issues raised.
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Summer 2010 newsletter
Government scraps plans to tighten regulations on private rented sector
The new Government has scrapped plans to impose tighter regulations on the private rented sector.
The previous Labour administration had intended to implement the proposals put forward in the Rugg review. That would have involved setting up a National Register of Landlords, making written tenancy agreements compulsory and introducing stricter regulation of letting and managing agents. read more
More than £62bn now owed in overdue invoices
More than £62bn is now owed in overdue invoices in the UK, according to new research by NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland.
The survey shows that 71% of SMEs in the UK have suffered because of late payments. Larger companies may have a higher value of invoices paid late but in terms of proportion of turnover, it is the smaller firms that are worst affected.
read more
Businessmen win £427,500 damages from valuers
A group of businessmen have been awarded damages of £427,500 after some finance projects were incorrectly assessed by valuers at a professional services firm.
The businessmen had set up a company to bid for private finance initiative projects involving healthcare facilities. A total of 11 projects were eventually undertaken and the businessmen engaged the valuers to assess the new company’s shares based on those projects. read more
Mistake over consultation costs property company £270,000
The need for businesses to comply exactly with relevant regulations was illustrated in a recent case in which a property company was left with a bill for £270,000 after failing to consult properly with its leaseholders.
The company had wanted to carry out major works at a block of flats and notified leaseholders of its plans, as required by law. read more
Council wrong to refuse planning permission for housing development
The High court has ruled that a local authority was wrong to refuse outline planning permission for a housing development on a greenfield site.
The court heard that the authority had identified the site as being suitable for development but still decided to refuse planning permission. read more
Workers get more help to make employers pay tribunal awards
Workers can now benefit from a scheme to ensure they receive payments awarded by employment tribunals.
The Employment Tribunal Fast Track scheme was introduced after research by the Ministry of Justice, published in May 2009, showed that 39% of people granted awards had not been paid and only 53% had been paid in full. read more
Housing market experts want to reform home buying process
Some of the main professional organisations involved in the buying and selling of homes have been discussing ways to provide a better service to the consumer.
The Building Societies Association (BSA) chaired a meeting which included solicitors, estate agents, surveyors and consumer bodies to develop strategies to improve the system. read more
Court ruling could help many grandparent carers
The high number of family breakdowns means that thousands of grandparents now play a major role in looking after children.
Many find they become the primary carer for their grandchildren – sometimes with no or only limited financial help. Now in a landmark case, a 64-year-old grandmother has won a legal battle with her local authority because it had refused to pay her the same rate as a foster carer for looking after her granddaughter. read more
Woman leaves £250,000 to taxi driver in her will
An 86-year-old woman has left all of her £250,000 estate to a taxi driver who took her shopping and drove her to and from the doctors.
Mary Watson was one of Don Pratt’s regular customers for more than 20 years. They often chatted and Mr Pratt used to carry her shopping into her home in Newquay. read more
Homeowners lose boundary dispute because of adverse possession
A woman and her son have lost a boundary dispute with their neighbour because of the legal concept of adverse possession.
This is the principle whereby people can sometimes claim ownership of land if they have had exclusive possession of it for a certain period. read more
Most workers not aware of employment and redundancy rights
Most UK workers are not aware of their employment and redundancy rights, according to new research by Which.
The consumer organisation carried out a survey involving 4,000 people and found that more than half were worried about being made redundant or having their pay reduced. However, 9 out of 10 were unable to answer key questions about redundancy procedures and payments and other important employment rights. read more