Surrender and regrant – is it applicable if a joint tenant leaves a property?

An important Court of Appeal case has reaffirmed the succession criteria for a tenancy when a joint tenant leaves a secure tenancy. Unlike assured shorthold tenancies, secure tenancies often allow for strong succession rights. This may allow family members such as spouses or children to succeed to the tenancy should the original tenant pass away. This case also outlines the rights and status of landlords and tenants in situations where one of the joint tenants in a secure tenancy leaves a property. Furthermore, it addresses the issue of when surrender and regrant applies if a joint tenancy leaves a property.

But what happens when a joint tenant in a secure tenancy decides to leave a property? Well, normally this means that both joint tenants continue to be responsible for the rent. However, the case we shall be discussing today, Rahimi v City of Westminster Council, presents a more complicated situation.

This case focuses on an appeal by the grandson of a former tenant of a flat owned by Westminster Council. The grandson (the appellant in this case) was appealing against a decision which had reversed a previous judgement that held that the appellant’s grandmother was the sole tenant following the departure of her husband from the property.

Background

To summarise the background of this case, the appellant (Mr Rahimi) was the grandson of a tenant (Mrs Hussain) who had originally rented the flat under a joint tenancy with her husband. The flat was owned by the local authority, Westminster Council. The husband left the property and became homeless, leaving the grandmother as the only occupant until her grandson, Mr Rahimi, arrived in the UK and started living with her.

Following Mrs Hussain’s death, Mr Rahimi defended his claim for possession on the basis that he had succeeded to the tenancy on Mrs Hussain’s death. However, this was dependent on the question of whether prior to her death, Mrs Hussain could be deemed a sole tenant. If she was a joint tenant, despite her husband leaving, succession would be prevented by the right of survivorship, which would mean Mrs Hussain’s estranged husband, Mr Kazam, would have been inherited sole tenancy by way of survivorship.

The trial judge had held that Mrs Hussain was the sole tenant granted to her by the local authority following Mr Kazam’s departure as a result of implied surrender and regrant, by way of Mr Kazam voluntarily moving out of the property. As a result, they held that the appellant, Mr Rahimi was entitled to succeed to the secure tenancy. However, on first appeal, the judge found that there had been no surrender of the joint tenancy and therefore no regrant. This was appealed by Mr Rahimi.

Decision

This appeal brings us to the subject case of this article. The main question which arose was whether the local authority had granted a new sole tenancy to Mrs Hussain with Mr Kazam’s permission.

It was found that:

There was no support for the finding by the trial judge that Mr Kazam had surrendered joint legal possession
Mrs Hussain remained liable for the rent
Mr Kazam made no request for the tenancy to be transferred solely to Mrs Hussain, nor was there evidence of the keys being returned
Leaving the property was not evidence of him relinquishing joint legal possession
There was also no evidence that Mr Kazam either consented to the grant of a new tenancy to Mrs Hussain, knew about any arrangement between her and the local authority, or that he had been excluded from the property
No evidence that Mrs Hussain had agreed to be solely responsible for the rent
There was therefore no evidence that Mrs Hussain had been granted a new sole tenancy by the local authority
Mrs Hussain had relied on her 2005 joint tenancy agreement when supporting her grandson, Mr Rahimi’s visa application in 2017

As a result of these findings by the Court of Appeal, it was concluded that Mrs Hussain had remained a joint tenant until her death. Mr Rahimi was therefore not entitled to succeed to this tenancy.

The justice who gave the lead judgment for the Court of Appeal, Lord Justice Lewison confirmed that the law is as follows: when a new tenancy is granted to a sole tenant, surrender and regrant would only occur in cases where the new tenancy is at the outgoing joint tenant’s request or with their consent.

Our thoughts

This important case clarifies the law on both succession of tenancies, as well as surrender and regrant in a secure tenant contract. It is not enough for a sole tenancy to be created if one of the joint tenants simply vacates the property. Instead, a new sole tenancy must be created by way of surrender and regrant between the landlord and tenant.

This underlines the importance of clear communication between landlords and tenants when it comes to their rental situation, particularly in joint tenancies where both parties are both jointly and independently liable for rent. If Mrs Hussain had been granted a new sole tenancy through surrender and regrant, this would have strengthened Mr Rahimi’s successions rights. If you require any advice or need help with your rental situation, contact us today and we will be happy to help.

Have questions? Get in touch today!

Call us on 020 7928 0276, phone calls are operating as usual and we will be taking calls from 9:30am to 6:00pm.

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James Cook

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Guide to Commercial Lease Renewal

Recently, we have received many enquires about commercial lease renewal procedure. These questions are commonly asked. As a result, it is worth discussing the various aspects of commercial lease renewal procedure.

In English law, there are two primary processes for extending the term of a commercial lease: granting a new lease and lease renewal by reference. Keep reading for a breakdown of the difference between the two.

Granting a New Lease

Lease Terms: When granting a new lease, the parties negotiate and agree upon the terms of the lease afresh. This includes the length of the lease, rent, break clauses, repair obligations, and any other relevant terms.

Rent Review: The new lease often incorporates provisions for rent reviews, allowing the rent to be adjusted periodically during the term based on agreed-upon mechanisms (e.g., market value, fixed percentage increase).

Tenant’s Security: Granting a new lease provides the tenant with the opportunity to secure a longer-term commitment from the landlord, providing greater stability and continuity for their business operations.

Negotiation: The negotiation process for a new lease can be more open-ended, allowing for potential changes to the terms and conditions based on the specific requirements of both parties.

Lease Renewal by Reference

Existing Lease: Lease renewal by reference refers to the process of renewing an existing lease by incorporating the terms of the original lease, as varied and updated with statutory provisions.

Security of Tenure: Lease renewal by reference is typically carried out under the provisions of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, which grants tenants the right to renew their leases at the end of the contractual term. This helps provide security of tenure for commercial tenants.

Statutory Protections: Lease renewal by reference ensures that the tenant continues to benefit from the rights and protections provided under the original lease and the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, such as compensation for disturbance and the ability to apply for a new lease if the landlord opposes renewal.

Limited Variation: While lease renewal by reference incorporates the existing lease terms, it allows for some flexibility in making amendments. The parties can negotiate any necessary updates or changes to the lease terms during the renewal process.

Our thoughts

It’s important to note that the process of lease renewal by reference is subject to strict statutory procedures and timelines outlined in the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954. These procedures dictate the notices required, the timing of responses, and the circumstances in which the landlord can oppose the renewal. Additionally, lease renewal by reference may not always be available if the lease is contracted out of the protections provided by the Act.

A point to note is that a simple variation of the existing lease to extend the term would not be the proper way for lease extension, and it may trigger unfavourable consequences.

We will be happy to provide such legal advice to navigate the complexities of lease extension to suit your specific circumstances.

Have questions? Get in touch today!

Call us on 020 7928 0276, phone calls are operating as usual and we will be taking calls from 9:30am to 6:00pm.

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James Cook

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High Court grants permission for judicial review of the government’s treatment of people with 3C leave

The High Court has granted the migrant and refugee charity organisation, Refugee and Migrant Forum Of Essex & London (RAMFEL), permission to bring a judicial review of the government’s treatment of people with 3C leave immigration status.

When an applicant is applying to extend their stay in the UK in time, applicants are automatically granted 3C leave so that their existing rights are protected while their application is processed.

Currently, the government does not provide those on 3C leave with proof of their immigration status, which RAMFEL states has led people to have difficulties with employment, study courses and disability benefits.

RAMFEL’s 2022 report found that 17% of people on 3C leave suffered serious detriment. Based on available figures, as many as 40,000 people nationwide could be facing wrongful suspension from work each year.

The report made four recommendations to the government, including providing confirmation of a person’s rights and entitlements whilst on 3C leave.

The High Court will now consider whether the government’s conduct is unlawful.

This case will be heard on 19 and 20 March 2024. If the court considers that the government’s conduct is unlawful, this will put huge pressure on the government to provide people proper proof of their immigration status whilst on 3C leave.

My thoughts

I have seen this so many times with my clients over the years when they have submitted an in-time application to extend their stay in the UK and are waiting for a decision on their application. In my opinion, some employers have been excessively requesting my clients for updates on their application. This has led to me writing a letter to the employers and providing evidence that their application was submitted on-time and that they are automatically granted section 3C leave so that their existing rights are protected while their application is processed.

Having (in their opinion) not received sufficient proof of my clients’ immigration status whilst on 3C leave, some employers have unfairly stopped my clients from working until they receive evidence that their visas have been approved. There are measures put in place for the employers to make their necessary checks if an individual is able to continue to work while their applications are being processed. However, some employers have chosen not to use these measures that have been put in place for the necessary checks to be made.

I believe that the government’s conduct is unlawful. This is another clear example of the government’s hostile environment which aims to prevent those who cannot evidence their immigration status from working and accessing basic services, such as opening a bank account or accessing medical care.

I am happy that this matter has been put forward into the court and I hope that we will see positive changes from this. I have long been in favour of the idea of a document which is provided to people on 3C with leave proof of their status. This would state their existing rights such as employment, study courses and disability benefits which would be protected while their application is processed.

Have questions? Get in touch today!

Call us on 020 7928 0276, phone calls are operating as usual and we will be taking calls from 9:30am to 6:00pm.

Email us on info@lisaslaw.co.uk.

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James Cook

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Walkers poppadoms are actually crisps! Zero rated VAT should not apply to the product, rules tribunal

When is a poppadom not a poppadom? Well, according to the First-tier tribunal it’s when it’s actually a potato crisp. Sensations Poppadoms, a potato-based snack made by Walkers, was recently the subject of a tribunal deciding whether the product should benefit from zero rated VAT, the sales tax applied in the UK to certain products.

HMRC had originally decided in June 2021 that Sensations Poppadoms should be subjected to standard rated VAT (20%). This resulted in Walkers filing an appeal against the decision.

Let’s examine the basic rules regarding VAT on snack products, as well as the details of the case.

What are the rules regarding VAT on snack products?

This is a complex topic. VAT is generally not applied to food with the exception of certain products. These include products within Note 5 which are (similar to potato crisps, potato sticks, potato puffs) made from the potato, or from potato flour, or from potato starch” which are packaged for “human consumption without further preparation”. These were two of the main factors considered by the tribunal when it came to deciding whether the Sensations Poppadoms should be standard or zero rated. The similarity of the products to potato crisps, as well as their fiscal neutrality, was also considered when deciding whether the snacks should be standard VAT rated or not.

Let’s take a look at each of the individual factors and find out why the First-tier tribunal came to the conclusion that they did.

Decision

Human consumption without further preparation

Part of Walkers’ reasoning for the products not qualifying for “human consumption without further preparation” is their claim that the products were designed to be eaten with chutneys, dips, pickles, or as a side to the meal. On this basis, the products did require further preparation before being eaten. The reason they were arguing this is that products which qualify for human consumption without further preparation are usually standard VAT rated.

But is this a convincing argument? The tribunal found that there was nothing on the packaging to indicate that any preparation was required. Furthermore, their own packaging showed people eating them straight from the packet without any preparation.

As a result of this, the tribunal found that the products were indeed packaged for human consumption without further preparation.

Potato content of the products

On this factor, the tribunal was provided a detailed list of the ingredients of both the Lime and Coriander flavour, as well as the Mango and Chilli flavour Sensations Poppadoms. Both flavours were found to contain around 17.5-18% potato granules, 17.5-18% potato starch, as well as 4.25% modified potato starch. The Tribunal noted that the consumer packaging for the poppadoms didn’t make any mention of modified potato starch in the ingredients list. The proportions of the potato granules and potato starch were also rounded down to the nearest whole number.

Walkers disputed the idea that potato granules should be included when determining whether a foodstuff should be considered under HMRC’s VAT rules. As a result of this, they submitted that the products should be regarded as only having 17% potato. Nevertheless, witness evidence submitted by HMRC contended that potato granules are pre-cooked dehydrated potatoes which should come under the term “the potato” as referred to under Note 5 mentioned earlier.

After considering all of the evidence, the Tribunal found that the products actually contain approximately 40% potato-derived ingredients. These took the form of potato granules, potato starch and modified potato. The proportion of potato in comparison with other ingredients was therefore considered significant in comparison with the products’ other ingredients. Despite this, although the Sensations Poppadoms contained enough potato-derived ingredients to be considered that they were made from these ingredients, the FTT noted that in isolation, this does not determine their similarity with potato crisps.

Similarity to potato crisps

But what about the similarity of Sensations Poppadoms to potato crisps? This would also have an important bearing on the FTT’s decision. The Tribunal referred to a decision made by the Court of Appeal in HMRC v Proctor & Gamble UK [2009] EWCA Civ 407 which considered whether Pringles are similar to potato crisps.

While Walkers posted the question of traditional poppadoms are or are not similar to potato crisps, the tribunal found that this was not relevant to the appeal. Instead, they made the point that the question posed by statute was whether the products which are the subject of the appeal are similar to potato crisps.

The marketing was also used by the tribunal in order to determine the similarity of Sensations Poppadoms to potato crisps. Walkers argued that the products were called “poppadoms, unlike potato crisps.” However, the tribunal held that it nominative determinism is not a characteristic of snack foods, and that weight is not given to the names of the products for determining whether they are potato crisps. For example, no one would argue that “Monster Munch” is a food which is principally for monsters.

In terms of similarity, it was concluded that the ingredients, packaging, appearance and texture meant that the products could be considered as similar to potato crisps.

Fiscal neutrality

Finally, on the issue of fiscal neutrality, the idea that a tax should not distort economic behaviour, the FTT decided that applying the standard rate of VAT to the Sensations Poppadoms would not breach this principle. The fact that Walkers decided to market their product which was made from potato-based ingredients as a poppadom does not mean it should be treated the same as a poppadom not made from potato-based ingredients.

As a result of the above considerations, the tribunal found that the products are within Note 5 and therefore standard rated for VAT purposes. The appeal was therefore dismissed, however Walkers does have the right to appeal against the decision.

Our thoughts

While at first glance this might seem like a fairly trivial case, it provides important lessons for businesses in the food industry. Food and drink products which are for human consumption are usually zero-rated, however foods which may be deemed ‘less healthy’ are nearly always standard-rated (20%). This explains why the point over whether the Sensations Poppadoms were similar to potato crisps was such a bone of contention. Walkers will now be required to pay VAT on its range of Sensations Poppadoms.

If you want to learn more about how VAT rates are decided for food and drink products, click here.

Have questions? Get in touch today!

Call us on 020 7928 0276, phone calls are operating as usual and we will be taking calls from 9:30am to 6:00pm.

Email us on info@lisaslaw.co.uk.

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James Cook

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Welcome Matthew

It gives us great pleasure to welcome Matthew Wee to Lisa’s Law. Matthew joins the conveyancing team as a legal assistant, and we are delighted to have him here.

In terms of his background, Matthew is an LLB graduate of the University of Essex, having qualified with a First class with honours. His previous work experience includes being a Researcher at the University of Essex, as well as working as a member of the Conveyancing team at Zhong Lun Law Firm in London.

Matthew is fluent in both Mandarin and English, and can also understand and speak Cantonese at a conversational level.

In terms of his hobbies, Matthew loves to read and enrich himself in the arts – specifically in History and Philosophy. He also has a great affinity for languages, as he is actively studying Korean and Latin in his free time.

Have questions? Get in touch today!

Call us on 020 7928 0276, phone calls are operating as usual and we will be taking calls from 9:30am to 6:00pm.

Email us on info@lisaslaw.co.uk.

Use the Ask Lisa function on our website. Simply enter your details and leave a message, we will get right back to you: https://lisaslaw.co.uk/ask-question/

For more updates, follow us on our social media platforms! You can find them all on our Linktree right here.

James Cook

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Financial requirements for skilled worker and family visas to increase in April – apply now

Recently, the government has introduced some changes to the skilled worker visa and the family visas. These changes have been introduced after the UK has experienced unprecedented levels of immigration.

Due to humanitarian reasons and duties, the UK has accepted a lot of people coming from countries like Ukraine, Hong Kong and Afghanistan. It has also experienced a growth in health and care worker visa, student and dependent applications. Net migration for the year up to June 2023 was 672,000, a huge increase on pre-pandemic levels.

The government has claimed that they may not be able to sustain public services and housing if the level of migration does not come down. As a result, they have taken actions to remedy this.

Skilled worker visa

On 4 April 2024, the salary threshold for the skilled worker visa will increase from £26,200 to £38,700 for those arriving on the skilled worker visa route. This means visa holders who are already on the skilled worker visa route on or before 3 April will not be subject to such changes.

This will only affect visa applicants who are applying to work in the UK for the first time or visa applicants who are switching to the skilled worker visa route. It is important to note that people coming on the Health and Care worker visa will be exempt from this threshold. This is because the government wants more healthcare workers to come to the UK in order to provide the staff that our care sector and NHS needs.

We recommend visa applicants to submit their applications latest by 3 April so that they will not be affected by such changes.

Family visas

For family visas, the government is increasing the minimum annual income requirement from £18600 to £38700. However, these changes will be incremental. The government will raise the income to £29000 on 11 April. The income threshold will be raised again to £34500 (no set date from the government) and finally to £38700 in early 2025.

To avoid such a raise, we suggest that applicants make an application on or before 11 April.

The government has also prevented students from bringing their dependants to the UK unless they are studying a multi-year postgraduate research degree to help bring down the migration level. Furthermore, they will also remove the right for care workers to bring dependants to the UK starting from 11 March 2024. This means that although they are not affected by the salary threshold, this change might affect the care workers who intend to come to the UK to work.

However, the government states that they want to ensure the applicants who come to the UK would genuinely support the social care system instead of how in their view people have often abused the route. Therefore, we suggest health and care worker applicants to apply for their dependants to come to the UK latest by 11 March.

If you have any questions regarding any of the above, please feel free to contact us and we would be happy to help.

Have questions? Get in touch today!

Call us on 020 7928 0276, phone calls are operating as usual and will be taking calls from 9:30am to 6:00pm.

Email us on info@lisaslaw.co.uk.

Use the Ask Lisa function on our website. Simply enter your details and leave a message, we will get right back to you: https://lisaslaw.co.uk/ask-question/

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James Cook

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Tax residency – how does this affect the taxes you must pay in the UK?

When you move to the UK, or spend part of your time in the UK, tax might not be at the forefront of your mind. Despite this, it probably should be. Thinking about tax now can save you from a costly tax bill later. Whether you have to and/or what you will need to pay tax on in the UK depends on a few key factors. Among these factors is your UK tax residency status.

At its core, tax residency in the UK is a relatively simple concept. In its simplest terms, if you reside in the UK for 183 days or more in a tax year then you are automatically a tax resident. Nevertheless, there are other factors which may or may not affect this that can complicate matters. In today’s article, we will seek to explain this and help you to establish whether you are a tax resident.

Being a tax resident means that you are generally liable for all income on UK-based employment, as well as non-UK employment and other possible sources of worldwide income and gains.

Being a non-resident means that you generally only pay tax on specific UK-source income and that UK tax is not paid on foreign income.

What determines your tax residency status?

The Statutory Residence Test (introduced in 2013) is the primary means of determining whether someone is resident in the UK for tax purposes. It contains a number of components which are used to determine whether you are a resident for UK tax purposes.

As well as being a resident if you spent 183 or more days in UK in the tax year, you may also be resident if:

your only home was in the UK for 91 days or more in a row – and you visited or stayed in it for at least 30 days of the tax year
you worked full-time in the UK for any period of 365 days and at least one day of that period was in the tax year you’re checking
You meet the sufficient ties test, including family, accommodation, work etc, spent 90 days or more in either of the previous two tax years, or spent more days in the UK than any other country

The number of ties you have with the UK and the length of time you have spent in the UK will determine whether you are a tax resident. This means that the more ties, the fewer number of days you will need to be in the UK to qualify as a tax resident. However, if you spend fewer than 46 days in the UK and were not a resident in the previous three tax years, then you will normally be non-resident. This means that even if a foreign citizen has immigration permission to reside in the UK, they may not in fact spend enough time in the UK to be a tax resident.

So, we have now established some of the general rules that determine whether you will be taxed in the UK as a resident. Now, let’s take a look at what income will be taxed and how it will be taxed.

How will my income be taxed?

Being resident in the UK means being liable to pay income tax and capital gains tax. While the former is fairly self-explanatory, capital gains tax refers to tax on the profit of an asset you sell or dispose which has increased in value. You could pay it on personal possessions worth £6000 or more other than your car, as well as a second home, business assets etc.

Being a resident in the UK means that you will generally be required to declare and pay income tax on all income from outside the UK. Furthermore, UK land and buildings may also be subject to capital gains tax and is not something which is affected by residence status.

The exceptions to the above are those who are remittance basis users, which prevents non-UK income and assets being subject to UK tax as long as they are not brought into the UK directly or indirectly. This is only available to those who are not domiciled in the UK, but are resident here. Click here for more information about remittance basis.

Income tax

Being employed means that you will be subject to income tax, which for the vast majority of people in the UK is paid at source via the PAYE (pay as you earn) system. This is quite simple as it will be done for you by your employer, however it is still worth checking that your tax code is correct. For others, including those who are self-employed, you will not be taxed at source, and may have to complete a self-assessment tax return with HMRC on an annual basis. The deadline for the 2022/2023 tax year is 31^st January 2024.

Capital gains tax

Capital gains will also be taxed in the event that you are tax resident in the UK and sell foreign assets subject to the capital gains tax, such as property or investments. This will be paid on the value of any gain which exceeds £6,000 until April 2024. Those who are remittance basis users will only pay capital gains tax on any foreign gain which is remitted to the UK but they will lose the annual exemption amount.

Our thoughts

It is always worth speaking to a tax expert when moving from another country to the UK beforehand. The tax laws here can seem confusing to a newcomer, and by speaking to someone this ensures that any nasty surprises are avoided later on! Lisa’s Tax specialises in providing tax consultancy to individuals, us today to learn more.

Have questions? Get in touch today!

Call us on 020 7928 0276, phone calls are operating as usual and will be taking calls from 9:30am to 6:00pm.

Email us on info@lisaslaw.co.uk.

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James Cook

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Illegal Renting in the UK: Landlords Hit with Increased Fines

Landlords or agents engaging in illegal renting—renting a property to a person in the UK illegally—are liable for a fine. This measure was introduced as part of the UK’s hostile environment approach, making it difficult for those in the UK illegally to live and work there.

Section 22 of the Immigration Act prohibits any landlord or agent from renting a property to a person without a visa. This includes renting to individuals who may have had a valid visa initially but, at some point during the tenancy, no longer possess one.

It’s important to note that the above section of the act applies to those who have issued a residential tenancy agreement.

Previously, the fines for landlords or agents in breach of the act were a maximum of £3,000 per occupier. However, amendments have now been made to the Immigration Act 2014, increasing the maximum fine to £20,000 per occupier.

This change will come into force on 13th February 2024. However, it will not apply to any contravention that occurred solely before this date.

The UK Home Office has stated: “You could be sent to prison for 5 years or get a fine for renting property in England to someone who you knew or had ‘reasonable cause to believe’ did not have the right to rent in the UK.”

This includes if you had any reason to believe that:

they did not have leave (permission) to enter or stay in the UK
their leave had expired
their papers were incorrect or false

You can also be fined if both of the following apply:

you rent your property to someone who is not allowed to stay in the UK
you cannot show that you checked their right to rent

The government is cracking down on landlords and agents that do not conduct checks when letting a property to tenants. The change shows the importance of ensuring that clear records are held of your tenant’s immigration status and continuing to keep up to date records throughout the tenant’s occupation.

Have questions? Get in touch today!

Call us on 020 7928 0276, phone calls are operating as usual and will be taking calls from 9:30am to 6:00pm.

Email us on info@lisaslaw.co.uk.

Use the Ask Lisa function on our website. Simply enter your details and leave a message, we will get right back to you: https://lisaslaw.co.uk/ask-question/

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lisaslaw@web

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Legal assistant achieves training contract

We are delighted to share the news that our colleague, Fiona Huang, has begun her training contract as a Solicitor!

Fiona has worked incredibly hard since joining Lisa’s Law just under a year ago and fully deserves the opportunity. We are excited for Fiona to complete her training contract and look forward to watching her progress.

Fiona originally did her bachelor’s degree in Shenyang, China, at Northeastern University between 2014 and 2018. She then completed her MA Law degree at University of Bristol. Following this, she achieved a distinction in her Legal Practise Course in November 2022.

Prior to joining Lisa’s Law, Fiona worked for a law firm in Bangkok as a project manager for the litigation team, as well for a Chinese start-up company as an in-house legal advisor.

Fiona is fluent in both Chinese and English. In her spare time, she likes to go for walks with her dogs. She also enjoys cooking and reading.

Have questions about this article? Get in touch today!

Call us on 020 7928 0276, our phone lines are open and we will be taking calls from 9:30am to 6:00pm.

Email us on info@lisaslaw.co.uk.

Use the Ask Lisa function on our website. Simply enter your details and leave a message, we will get right back to you: https://lisaslaw.co.uk/ask-question/

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James Cook

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Great news for Sponsor Licence holders – no more extension applications

A sponsor licence allows businesses and organisations to hire employees in the UK from abroad. A sponsor licence is presently valid for 4 years, and the business or organisation would have to make an application to extend thereafter.

The Home Office has confirmed that the requirement to extend a sponsor licence will be removed. To prepare for this, all sponsor licence holders with a licence expiring on or after 6th April 2024, will be automatically extended by 10 years. No action will be needed to be taken by the business/organisation.

If you have received a notification from the Home Office to renew your licence, you can ignore it. If you have already made an application to extend your sponsor licence, which is expiring on or after 6th April 2024, then the Home Office will contact you to arrange a refund of your renewal fee.

Please note that if your sponsor licence expires between 25th January 2024, and 6th April 2024, then to remain as an approved licence holder, you will need to renew your licence and pay the renewal fee.

This is a much-welcomed change, allowing businesses and organisations to remove the uncertainty of applying for a renewal every 4 years.

Should you have any queries, then please do not hesitate to contact us.

Have questions? Get in touch today!

Call us on 020 7928 0276, phone calls are operating as usual and will be taking calls from 9:30am to 6:00pm.

Email us on info@lisaslaw.co.uk.

Use the Ask Lisa function on our website. Simply enter your details and leave a message, we will get right back to you: https://lisaslaw.co.uk/ask-question/

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lisaslaw@web

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