How Can Leaseholders Extend Their Lease?
In a move celebrated by many leaseholders, Section 27 of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 was brought into effect on 31/01/2025. This legislation removes the two-year qualifying period requirement for leasehold extension. While leaseholders may ostensibly feel like homeowners, the nature of a lease means that the property will return to the […]
An Overview of Litigation in the UK
Litigation in the UK refers to the legal process of resolving disputes through the court system. It can involve individuals, businesses, or public bodies and is divided into civil and criminal proceedings. However, those not familiar with litigation may be confused by the litigation process, sometimes preventing them from even engaging with it […]
Refugees to be excluded from gaining British citizenship?
By Angel Wan Without prior announcement, the Home Office has updated its guidance on the good character requirement for nationality applications submitted from 10 February 2025 onwards. Under the new guidance, individuals who entered the United Kingdom illegally will generally be refused British citizenship. This applies to anyone who made a “dangerous journey” […]
High Court Rules in Favour of Mother and Child in ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ Case Against Coventry City Council
On 07 January 2025, the High Court quashed an assessment made by Coventry City Council in a ‘no recourse to public funds’ case and ordered the authority to re-take the decision. They urged the Council to take into account why the children concerned were held to not have any unmet welfare needs given the updated […]
Taxpayer Fined After Relying on AI Legal Arguments in her Tax Appeal
Artificial intelligence is now a simple fact of many people’s every day life. However, one UK taxpayer recently found out that relying on AI without verifying the credibility of its information can be risky. In the case of Harber v HMRC [2023] UKFTT 1007 (TC), the UK tax tribunal explored the dangers of using AI […]
Who Pays Business Rates, the Landlord or Tenant?
During my practice in commercial property transactions, clients including commercial property landlords, tenants, and business owners often raise questions around the topic of Business Rates. But what are Business Rates? How are they calculated? Who is responsible for paying these, landlord or tenant? Or someone else relevant? Today, let us discuss these questions with the […]
Major Change to the UK Work Visa Sponsorship Guidelines
The UK government has recently updated its guidance for work sponsors. The changes focus particularly on the practice of employers passing certain costs onto employees. With millions of foreign workers in the UK, the changes are set to have a significant impact on work visa sponsorship. What do employers have to pay for? […]
University withdraws student sponsorship over false bank statements
We have recently reviewed the High Court’s decision in R (on the application of Prabhjot Kaur and another) v Birmingham City University [2024] EWHC 3185 (Admin). The case sheds light on the responsibilities of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) as licensed student sponsors and highlights how allegations of fraudulent documentation can lead to the withdrawal of […]
Richard Hammond’s costly divorce – who gets the family home when a marriage breaks down?
The cost of divorce in the UK is quite high. In fact, many people joke that divorce is so unaffordable these days that no one dares to get married. In today’s article, we look at a high-profile celebrity case involving the division of a family home, as well as what happens to a family home […]
What reasons can landlords use to dispute a lease extension?
We have recently received many enquiries about commercial lease renewal procedure, as well as issues around a lease extension not being granted. This can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety for business owners regarding their future. But what reasons can a landlord use to dispute a lease extension? Keep reading to find […]
