Coronavirus and the housing market – is it best to hold fire on moving home?

Whether it’s buying your first home, moving to a new location or selling a property that you’ve wanted to get rid of for years, navigating the property market can be a massively stressful and financially significant experience.

With the added complications of the coronavirus, this process is now even more challenging; many people have been discontinuing or pausing their progress on buying and selling properties.

What is the official advice?

The general advice is to stay put if possible. The government has urged people not to move house to try to limit the spread of coronavirus across the UK. This is in-line with other Home Office guidance surrounding the virus, which is all in place to stall the spreading of COVID-19.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick’s department has said:

“Homebuyers and renters should, where possible, delay moving to a new house while measures are in place to fight coronavirus.”

Where deals are already in place, or nearly finalised, the government has said “there is no need to pull out of transactions” but that the health of the people involved in the deal should be the primary concern.

Empty properties are less of an issue:

If a property is vacant, people can continue with the transaction, although they must ensure they are following guidelines with regards to home removals. For example, staying 2m apart from other people involved in the moving process.

Amicable delays are encouraged:

Where the properties in question are still occupied, and would require removal workers, or a large amount of effort to clear the buildings and transport both furniture and people from one home to another, the government has urged people to amicably delay moving dates. This is clearly the most logical option, and should be done if at all possible.

If your home is not yet on the market:

Government advice is as follows:

Getting your home onto the market may be more challenging than usual in this period. There should be no visitors to your home. You can speak to Estate Agents over the phone and they will be able to give you general advice about the local property market and handle certain matters remotely but they will not be able to start actively marketing your home in the usual manner.

If you are thinking about selling, you can use this time to start gathering together all of the information you will need to provide to potential purchasers
Advice for people to stay at home and away from others means you should not invite unnecessary visitors into your home, including: Property Agents to carry out a market appraisal or take internal photographs prior to marketing your home; and Energy Performance Certificate assessors.

Information that you can gather during this isolation period are things such as:

Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
Any planning permission and/or building control certificate for any extension/improvement work carried out to the property
Any warranty for any refurb, extension, improvement work such as electrical work, central heating, roofing, timber treatment, damp proofing, solar panel installation, window or door installation etc
Central Heating – Gas safety register or CORGI
Electricity – Electrical Safety Cert

Viewings are not a good idea

This should not come as a surprise in the current climate. If your property is already on the market, you can continue to advertise it as being for sale but you should not allow people in to view your property.

There should not be any visitors into your home, and you should therefore not let people visit your property for viewings. Your agent may be able to conduct virtual viewings and you could speak to them about this possibility.

Accepting offers

The buying and selling process can continue during the coronavirus but you should be aware that the process is likely to take longer than normal.

You are free to continue to accept offers on your property, however the selling process may take longer due to added complications with the coronavirus.
Advice for people to stay at home and away from others means you should not invite visitors into your home, including prospective buyers or advisors.

Exchanging contracts

Once you have exchanged contracts, you have entered into a legal agreement to purchase that home.

If the property you are purchasing is unoccupied you can continue with the transaction.
If the property you are purchasing is currently occupied, it is recommended that all parties should work to either delay the exchange of contracts until after the period where stay-at-home measures to fight coronavirus (COVID-19) are in place, or include explicit contractual provisions to take account of the risks presented by the virus.

What if an extension goes beyond the terms of a mortgage agreement?

UK Finance have already confirmed that, in order to support customers who have already exchanged contracts for house purchases and set dates for completion, all mortgage lenders are working to find ways to enable customers who have exchanged contracts to extend their mortgage offer for up to three months to enable them to move at a later date.

Banks are concerned

Lenders are very concerned about the effect of the pandemic on valuations, and are less likely to give out loans.

Banks are also worried about granting mortgages during this period of extreme economic uncertainty, as expected.

Lenders such as Virgin Money and Skipton Building Society, have suspended all new mortgage applications for house purchases until the crisis has passed.

Halifax has also stopped offering mortgages to buyers without 40 percent deposits.

We are here to help!

We have a dedicated team of conveyancing specialists ready to advise and guide you through any property issues or questions you have.

Call on 020 7928 0276, or email into info@lisaslaw.co.uk.

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Visa extensions and switches due to coronavirus – who can benefit and how can we help?

In response to the increasing severity of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Home Office have altered their immigration policy to allow those with visa’s soon to expire or without status to apply for extension or switch into other type of visas without having to leave the UK, in order to alleviate mass anxiety surrounding this issue.

New rules allow those with illegal status, visitor visas and others to apply directly to other long-term visas from within the UK.

According to the current immigration laws, people with illegal residence status are not allowed to apply for status in the UK unless they are under special circumstances (such as a person with minor children who are either British citizens or have continuously been living in the UK for 7 consecutive years or longer).

In order to live legally in the UK, these people generally need to leave the UK and then apply for relevant visas from their home countries.

What’s more, even people with valid visas in the UK cannot, in many cases, apply to switch into other types of visas in the UK. For example, people on visitor visas cannot simply and seamlessly switch to other types of visas, like spouse visa or Tier 2 work permit visas. They normally need to apply for such visas in their countries of origin.

What changes with the new policy?

According to the newly issued policy by the Home Office, in the above scenario, people may now apply for the relevant visa directly from within the UK, or apply to switch to another visa or renew their current visa.

However, it is important to remember that although applicants do not need to leave the UK to apply, they still need to meet the other requirements for the relevant type of visas.

For example, a person applying for a spouse visa needs to provide A1 English certificate, evidence showing an annual income of no less than £18,600 for one applicant, adequate accommodation and genuine relationship. Tier 2 work permit applicants need to meet at least the minimum wage specified by the Home Office in the relevant category and B1 English certificate.

It is likely that the following persons will benefit from the new policy on this issue:

Those who illegally reside in the UK, who meet the requirements for applying for a spouse, but do not want to return home to apply.
Visitor visa holders in the UK, who meet the requirements for applying for other visas, such as Tier 2 work visa, sole representative for overseas companies, innovator visa, etc.
Holders of other types of visas who want to switch visas.

All visas are automatically extended until May 31

For visa extensions the official guidance says:

If you’re in the UK and your leave expires between 24 January 2020 and 31 May 2020, your visa will be extended to 31 May 2020 if you cannot leave the UK because of travel restrictions or self-isolation related to coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Home Office’s guidance continues:

You must contact the Coronavirus Immigration Team (CIT) to update your records if your visa is expiring.

You should provide:

your full name (include any middle names)
date of birth (dd/mm/yyyy)
nationality
your previous visa reference number
why you can’t go back to your home country, for example if the border has closed

The Home Office will let you know when your request is received and when your visa has been extended.

This new policy includes those whose visas have expired or are about to expire before May 31.

They do not need to make any application at present. They just need to make a simple registration according to the information provided by the Home Office.

By the policy, during this period, their stay in the UK will be lawful, despite that their visas have expired. It will not have any impact on future status applications.

Of course, if these people are eligible for other visas, they should apply as soon as possible and before their visas expire.

It should be noted that the policy does not provide any protection for those Chinese nationals whose visas had expired before January 28, 2020. They will be treated as overstaying in the UK.

Visitor visas:

If a person’s visitor visa has not expired, but he/she has spent more than the permitted 180 days in the UK, the new policy provides that he/she can continue to stay in the UK lawfully up to 31 May.

Reducing worries and anxieties:

It must be said that the new policy will reduce the anxiety of many, and provide a reasonable application channel, so that those who meet the conditions no longer need to risk their lives, leave the UK and then apply to come back again. They can directly apply from within the UK.

Limited time only:

The policy only offers some respite for a short amount of time, until the end of May. The coronavirus is likely to have a global impact for longer than this time-frame. Ideally, the automatic extension should be for at least six months, not two months. It will not take long before people start worrying their status again.

However, the good thing is, the Home Office have said they will revise these rules and possibly offer further extensions if need be.

As usual, let’s keep our fingers crossed.

We can help!

We are operating as usual and are here to help you in these difficult times, with specialist solicitors on hand to guide you every step of the way.

Call on 020 7928 0276, or email into info@lisaslaw.co.uk.

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Home Office has granted easy visa extensions until 31 May due to coronavirus

The situation for people who are in the UK on an expiring visa and unable to leave because of travel restrictions is a very serious one, which the government has now addressed.

The official guidance says:

If you’re in the UK and your leave expires between 24 January 2020 and 31 May 2020:

Your visa will be extended to 31 May 2020 if you cannot leave the UK because of travel restrictions or self-isolation related to coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Home Office’s guidance continues:

You must contact the Coronavirus Immigration Team (CIT) to update your records if your visa is expiring.

You should provide:

your full name (include any middle names)
date of birth (dd/mm/yyyy)
nationality
your previous visa reference number
why you can’t go back to your home country, for example if the border has closed

The Home Office will let you know when your request is received and when your visa has been extended.

The extensions will last until 31 May, but ministers have said the situation would be kept under regular review in case further extensions are needed.

A dedicated Covid-19 immigration team has been set up within the Home Office to make the process as “straightforward as possible” for visa holders.

Switching visas:

The guidance also includes information on switching visas, it says:

If you’re applying to stay in the UK long-term

During these unique circumstances you’ll be able to apply from the UK to switch to a long-term UK visa until 31 May. This includes applications where you would usually need to apply for a visa from your home country.

You’ll need to meet the same visa requirements and pay the UK application fee.

This includes those whose leave has already been automatically extended to 31 March 2020.

You can apply online. The terms of your leave will remain the same until your application is decided.

ACTING QUICKLY IS KEY HERE, THESE OPTIONS MAY NOT LAST FOR LONG!

We can help!

We are here to help you in these difficult times, with specialist solicitors on hand to guide you every step of the way.

Call on 020 7928 0276, or email into info@lisaslaw.co.uk.

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What support is available for businesses during the coronavirus crisis?

The government has announced details of their support schemes for businesses during this difficult time, as you may have read about in our previous article here.

Businesses of all shapes and sizes may have been forced to close their doors for the foreseeable future in a bid to stop the spread of COVID-19.

While this is for the best, it does leave many business owners and employees worried about their income and hoping this virus will not mean shutting down for good, or finding themselves unemployed.

Many people are not certain on some aspects of the schemes, so this article will explain some of the main options and their eligibility requirements.

Coronavirus job retention scheme:

This is a very important scheme for employers who are forced to consider making redundancies in their firms.

With this scheme, the government will pay up to 80% of a workers usual salary (up to £2,500 per month) for those employees that would otherwise have been laid off during this crisis.

All UK businesses will be eligible to apply, and the government are working urgently to set up a system of reimbursement.

To use this scheme, employers will have to do the following:

designate affected employees as ‘furloughed workers,’ and notify their employees of this change – changing the status of employees remains subject to existing employment law and, depending on the employment contract, may be subject to negotiation. We can advise you on this issue.
submit information to HMRC about the employees that have been furloughed and their earnings through a new online portal (HMRC will set out further details on the information required)

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme:

This is for Small or Medium sized businesses (SME’s), and means they can access to working capital (including loans, overdrafts, invoice finance and asset finance) of up to £5 million in value and for up to 6 years.

Key features of the scheme:

Up to a £5m loan: The maximum value of a facility provided under the scheme will be £5m. The repayment terms will last up to six years.
80% guarantee: The scheme provides the lender with a government-backed, partial guarantee (80%) against the outstanding facility balance. There will be an overall cap for each lender.
No guarantee fee for SMEs to access the scheme: No fee for smaller businesses, instead the lenders will pay a fee to access the scheme.
Interest and fees paid by Government for 12 months: This means smaller businesses will benefit from no initial costs and lower early repayments.
It is very important to remember that the borrower always remains 100% liable for the debt.

You are eligible for the scheme if:

your business is UK based, with turnover of no more than £45 million per year
your business meets the other British Business Bank eligibility criteria (we can advise on this)

How to access the scheme:

The scheme is now open for applications. To apply, you should talk to your bank or one of the 40 accredited finance providers (not the British Business Bank) as soon as possible, to discuss your business plan. You can find out the latest on the best ways to contact them via their websites.

All major banks are offering this scheme. If you have an existing loan with monthly repayments you may want to ask for a repayment holiday to help with cash flow.

Support for businesses that pay little or no business rates:

A Small Business Grant Scheme is being set up to fund local authorities supporting small businesses that already pay little or no business rates because of small business rate relief (SBBR), rural rate relief (RRR) and tapered relief.

This will provide a one-off grant of £10,000 to eligible businesses to help meet their ongoing business costs.

You are eligible if:

your business is based in England
you are a small business and already receive SBBR and/or RRR
you are a business that occupies property

How to access the scheme

You do not need to do anything. Your local authority will write to you if you are eligible for this grant.

Guidance for local authorities on the scheme will be provided shortly, by the Home Office.

Any enquiries on eligibility for, or provision of, the reliefs and grants should be directed to the relevant local authority.

Find your local authority.

Support for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses that pay business rates

Business rates holiday for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses

The government will introduce a business rates holiday for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in England for the 2020 to 2021 tax year.

Businesses that received the retail discount in the 2019 to 2020 tax year will be rebilled by their local authority as soon as possible.

You are eligible for the business rates holiday if:

your business is based in England
your business is in the retail, hospitality and/or leisure sector

Properties that will benefit from the relief will be occupied hereditaments that are wholly or mainly being used:

as shops, restaurants, cafes, drinking establishments, cinemas and live music venues
for assembly and leisure
as hotels, guest & boarding premises and self-catering accommodation

How to access the scheme

Nothing to do now. This will apply to your next council tax bill in April 2020. However, local authorities may have to reissue your bill automatically to exclude the business rate charge. They will do this as soon as possible.

You can estimate the business rate charge you will no longer have to pay this year using the business rates calculator.

Cash grants for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses

For businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors with a rateable value of under £15,000, they will receive a grant of £10,000.

For businesses in these sectors with a rateable value of between £15,000 and £51,000, they will receive a grant of £25,000.

Eligibility

You are eligible for the grant if:

your business is based in England
your business is in the retail, hospitality and/or leisure sector

Properties that will benefit from the relief will be occupied hereditaments that are wholly or mainly being used:

as shops, restaurants, cafes, drinking establishments, cinemas and live music venues
for assembly and leisure
as hotels, guest and boarding premises and self-catering accommodation

How to access the scheme

Nothing to do now. Your local authority will write to you if you are eligible for this grant.

Contact us!

We are open for business and are taking instructions as usual. We are here to advise on any business enquiry you have, as well as all other legal issues.

Call on 020 7928 0276, or email into info@lisaslaw.co.uk.

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Adding to our service list – a great time to instruct!

The coronavirus outbreak is slowing the UK down in many ways, but it is not having an effect on our relentless work ethic and desire to deliver an excellent legal service to our clients.

In fact, quite the opposite! We are welcoming any new cases in the following areas, as well as continuing our cases within immigration and property law:

Business and employment disputes
- Coronavirus affecting your business?
- Unsure about where you stand with employees?
- Need help understanding sick leave and other workplace issues?
- Need to know your employers / employees’ rights?
- Need help to resolve sales and contractual terms disputes for delays and breaches?

We can help!

Banking and claims disputes
- Feel like you are getting treated unfairly?
- Had disagreements with banks / lenders?
- Feel like you have been overcharged?
- Been dealt unfair terms?
- Want to make a claim through Courts and/or Ombudsman?

We can help!

Medical disputes
- Complaints and claims against medical practitioners and hospitals
- Want to sue for negligence?

We can help!

Family Law:
- Assistance with divorce arrangements
- Financial remedy
- Clean break agreements
- Child arrangement orders
- Residence enquiries
- Child abduction cases

We can help you, whatever the matter.

Get in contact now for a free 15 minute consolation with one of our specialist solicitors.

Contact us today!

We are open for business and are taking instructions as usual.

Call on 020 7928 0276, or email into info@lisaslaw.co.uk.

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COVID-19 Update from Lisa’s Law Solicitors

As the situation with COVID-19 becomes increasingly serious, we want to let our past, current and future clients know how we are operating and adapting to ensure a fantastic legal service is still delivered to all those who instruct us during this time.

Usually, we work from three London based offices. However, due to government advice and a need to keep employees and clients safe, the majority of our staff have begun to work remotely. Emails and phone calls are responded to as usual; we are still able to work as normal.

Current methods of communication:

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, or email your personal caseworker. Our caseworkers are tending to their cases with the same professionalism and efficiency as always.
Use the new 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/

Brand new mobile app:

We have developed a new app which will be available within 1 weeks’ time. We will be advertising it heavily on release. It will be completely free to download, easy to use and available on iPhone and Android smartphones.
You will be able to launch a new enquiry with us, check activity on your existing cases, and scan your documents directly to us. All from the comfort of your own home. It is like having a lawyer in your pocket!

Here no matter what:

Lisa’s Law prides itself on its client care and excellent service. We want everyone to know that we are here no matter what, and have adapted to meet our clients’ needs – we will always adapt no matter the circumstance. You can count on us.

With the communication technology already in place, and the app just around the corner, we are fully confident we can continue to provide the fantastic service our existing clients have come to expect, and prove to future clients that we are the best firm for the job.

If you need anything, we are here for you as always.

Thank you,

Lisa’s Law Solicitors.

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Has your business been affected by Coronavirus? We can help you receive Government Aid!

Coronavirus has hit the business world hard, and everyone is understandably very worried.

Rishi Sunak has pledged £330bn worth of aid and cuts to help businesses through these uncertain times.

We value all of our clients greatly, and we know that many of them own businesses of various sizes – we will not stop until you get the essential aid you need.

Likewise with new clients, we are prepared to take on everyone who requires legal assistance during these tough times, we will be a pillar for you to lean on.

We are here to get you what you are entitled to!

As the coronavirus is an economic emergency as well as a health one, businesses of all sizes can apply for financial aid.

What is available?

Smaller businesses will be able to access cash grants of up to £25,000 to see them through the crisis.

These grants will be given alongside business rate reductions, meaning that owners will pay less or in some cases nothing at all for use of their business property.

When will it be available?

Sunak said during the coronavirus update yesterday that these measures will be in place next week.

We will be ready to help you get your aid, and will only charge if your case is successful.

Dealing with us is a win-win situation for businesses who need help amid the corona outbreak.

Our fees:

We are keeping the cost of this service to an absolute minimum so that the clients can get the maximum benefit.

Our charge will be as follows:

£150.00 plus VAT on instructions,

Followed by 10% of whatever grant we have claimed or reduced business rate for clients plus VAT, up to a maximum of £500.00 plus VAT.

If we fail to reduce any business rate, or claim any grant, we will refund the £150.00 plus VAT

Please note that, whatever the outcome, we will only charge £500+VAT as an absolute maximum for these cases.

Contact us today!

We are open for business and are taking instructions as usual.

Call on 020 7928 0276, or email into info@lisaslaw.co.uk.

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Budget 2020 – Tackling Coronavirus and Helping the Vulnerable?

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak today unveiled the new Conservative government Budget for 2020.

Sunak’s speech was made confidently despite the added pressure of the coronavirus outbreak and he promised to invest massive amounts of money into the NHS, UK businesses, and environmental issues amongst other things.

This article will focus on what the 2020 Budget does to combat the immediate threat of the coronavirus and how some of the changes are aimed at supporting smaller businesses, those on low-wages and the self-employed.

COVID19: Budget adjustments

Sunak dedicated the first part of his speech to the coronavirus, assuring the public that the main concern of the government is to make sure everyone is ‘healthy and financially secure’ during this tough time.

He re-told some statistics that most of us have heard before, but are no less worrying – such as the fact that one fifth of the UK’s workforce may be off sick due to the coronavirus.

Sunak is setting aside an initial £5bn for the NHS, to make sure that it gets what it needs during this viral outbreak. This money will go towards supporting staff, buying supplies and potentially bringing back recently retired medical staff to help deal with the situation.

More money will be allocated to the NHS if necessary.

Statutory Sick Pay

The coronavirus means more people than usual will be unable to work, that is a simple fact.

Boris Johnson has already announced that SSP will be available to those who must stay home due to having coronavirus symptoms from the first day of sickness (rather than from the usual fourth day of sickness).

Sunak has now confirmed that those choosing to self-isolate, even if they are showing no symptoms, will also be able to claim SSP. This is extended to the self-employed as well.

Also, contributory employment Support Allowance benefit claimants will be able to claim sick pay on day one, not after a week.

What’s more, Sunak has promised that firms with fewer than 250 staff will be refunded for sick pay payments for two weeks.

Hardship fund

Sunak announced a £500 million hardship fund which is to be used by local authorities to help vulnerable people in their areas.

Big news for small businesses

A massive announcement was that business rates will be abolished for firms in the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors with a rateable value below £51,000. This means that these businesses will not need to pay tax on occupying the building which they operate out of. This will be a significant saving for these firms, and will definitely help in terms of making money back up from the losses incurred due to coronavirus.

Where even smaller businesses already do not pay this tax, they will be able to apply for a £3,000 cash grant to aid them through this time.

Coronavirus temporary loan scheme

The temporary scheme, which will cover the cost of salaries and bills, will offer loans of up to £1.2 million to support small and medium-sized businesses.

The government will cover up to 80% of these loans with no fees, meaning banks can lend to businesses with confidence.

Sunak said: “This will unlock up to £1bn of attractive working capital loans to support small businesses, with more as needed.”

Personal taxes and wages

The National Insurance Contributions tax (NIC) threshold will rise from £8,632 to £9,500 – saving people just over £100 a year.

Isolated areas to get better internet connection:

People living in areas which are currently experiencing poor connectivity will see a £5bn investment to improve their service, which the government hopes will improve communication and opportunity within such areas.

Other points to note:

Fuel Duty to be frozen for the 10th consecutive year
Duties on spirits, beer, cider and wine to be frozen for the coming tax year
Business rate discount for pubs will be £5,000, up from £1,000
From January next year there will be no VAT whatsoever on women’s sanitary products.
A new ‘plastics packaging tax’, charging manufactures and importers £200 per tonne on packaging made of less than 30% recycled plastic.

Contact us

These are just some of the main points we have taken from today’s Budget 2020 speech. If you have any questions about how these changes might affect you, or if you need any other legal advice please get in contact today.

Call on 020 7928 0276, or email into info@lisaslaw.co.uk.

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Containment Phase to Continue – Cobra Coronavirus Meeting Confirms

Boris Johnson held another Cobra meeting today to discuss the coronavirus and how the UK plans to handle it.

Those at the meeting, which included leading health experts, Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty and senior politicians, concluded that the UK should remain in the ‘containment’ phase of its plan.

This means that measures to delay the virus’s spread with “social distancing” tactics will not be introduced yet. This would include closing schools, cancelling large events and encouraging people to work from home.

However, it has been accepted that coronavirus is going to spread ‘in a significant way.’

Sporting events

Some sporting events may have to take place without regular crowds, with people watching on television instead. This has already been taking place during football matches in Italy, and the Six Nations Rugby tournament may be affected once again with the match between France and Ireland likely being postponed.

Travel

Some airlines, including British Airways, Ryanair and EasyJet have cancelled flights to areas that have been affected, such parts of Italy and China.

People travelling from locked-down areas have also been advised to self-isolate if they returned to the UK in the last 14 days – even if they have shown no symptoms.

Travellers from the rest of Italy are only told to self-isolate and call 111 if they have a cough, fever or shortness of breath.

People who have been coming back to the UK from various places, including Italy, have commented on the inconsistent screening measures being conducted at airports. Screenings were taking place on those returning from China when the virus was first beginning to become a major cause for concern, so it seems logical for that to continue for people coming from locations recently deemed significantly affected.

News for UK apprentices

The ‘break in learning’ rule is due to be suspended for trainers who need to take time off due to the coronavirus, the Department for Education has revealed.

Usually, a financial penalty must be paid if an apprentice is unable to learn due to their trainer being absent, but now the coronavirus has forced many people to self-isolate and be cautious where possible, the funding will be protected.

The Department for Education released the latest guidance, which applies to apprentices who have reached gateway and those who have experienced gaps in training to Covid-19 related illness, today.

It stated: “The normal breaks in learning process should be followed and therefore we only need notifying once a break in learning has exceeded four weeks.”

As it stands, four people in the UK have died from Coronavirus and 319 people have tested positive for the disease.

Read our recent articles on the virus here:

Coronavirus Crisis – Your Rights as a Worker

Money worries and travel chaos – Coronavirus saga continues

Contact us:

We are here to help through these uncertain times. If you have any questions feel free to get in contact on 020 7928 0276 or email into info@lisaslaw.co.uk.

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March 5, 2020
Coronavirus, Flybe, News, Policy, Travel

Money worries and travel chaos – Coronavirus saga continues

The number of people in the UK who have tested positive for the coronavirus now stands at 115, and that number is only going to get higher as the days go by.

The outbreak has caused much uncertainty and disruption, especially regarding travel, work and school life.

It has been predicted that, in very unfortunate circumstances, a fifth of the entire UK’s work force could be off work at the same time.

Boris Johnson attempted to shine a light in the darkness yesterday by revealing that everyone who has to stay home to prevent the illness from spreading will be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), saying that ‘nobody should be out of pocket for doing the right thing.’

How much is SSP?

Statutory sick pay (SSP) is £94.25 per week and can be paid for up to 28 weeks. To qualify, a worker must earn at least £118 per week and it is traditionally paid from the fourth day of sickness. In the case of the coronavirus, however, SSP will be paid from the first day a worker is off work.

This is good news for most people, but for the self-employed and those on very low wages it is not going to make very much difference.

Money worries

While nobody can deny that SSP is a good thing for most people, it will certainly mean people have less money than they normally would if they were able to work regularly.

Some people may be worried that they will not be able to pay their rent, or make their mortgage repayments. If this is the case, the normal consequence will be that people will lose their homes. They may be repossessed by either landlords or lenders.

In the case of the coronavirus, where so many people are likely to be effected, it is our view that such things are unlikely to happen. Proceedings to seek repossession of properties by landlords on ground of rent arrears are normally carried out under section 8 of the Housing Act 1988. To succeed, landlords will need to prove that it is reasonable for them to repossess the properties. In the event of coronavirus, it is unlikely that the Court will believe that tenants have acted unreasonably by not paying rent due to less income.

Likewise with mortgage repayments, if a person can show that they would have been able to make the payments if not for circumstances created by the coronavirus, it is unlikely that a repossession of their house would take place.

Travel problems

Travelling around has become a real issue, especially in places rife with coronavirus such as China, Iran and Italy.

People will be wondering what they are entitled to when it comes to cancelling their flights. It is not as simple as it seems, there are quite a few possible situations. It all depends on each person’s specific situation.

For example, if you had a flight booked to Wuhan (the region of China where the coronavirus is thought to have originated), it is likely you will get a refund on your ticket as there is an outright ban on going there at the moment.

However, if you had a flight booked to Rome in Italy, but are now not wanting to go due to fears around the coronavirus, you may not get a refund as there is not a ban on going there, and rather you have just changed your mind about going, on paper at least.

Read more about your rights during this time in our recent article: Coronavirus Crisis – Your Rights as a Worker

The collapse of Flybe

The longstanding airline Flybe has gone into administration and has cited the coronavirus outbreak as playing a key factor in its downfall.

Will the cost of that flight be refunded?

A refund from the airline is highly unlikely. Most Flybe travellers bought flight tickets separately, not as part of a package holiday.

That means most will have to rely on a refund from their credit or debit card provider, or possibly by claiming from their travel insurance. It is truly unfortunate for them.

Is a refund through insurance likely?

Well, nearly half of travel insurance policies (49%) have scheduled airline failure cover as standard, with another 19% having it as an optional add-on which costs extra.

The remaining 32% of policies do not have scheduled airline failure cover, so people on these kinds of policies will be unlikely to get a refund.

How about the debit/credit option?

Those who paid more than £100 on flights directly with Flybe on a credit card should be able to claim a refund for the flight from their card provider. This is known as section 75 protection and is part of the Consumer Credit Act.

For cheaper purchases, or if a debit card was used, it is possible to claim from the card provider under the chargeback system, although this is not a legal right and not always successful.

Other routes:

British Airways are offering £50 flights to some Flybe ticket holders, and train operators are offering free tickets to certain destinations as well. These are all subject to availability.

Read more about your rights during this time in our recent article: Coronavirus Crisis – Your Rights as a Worker

Contact us!

We are here to help through these uncertain times. If you have any questions feel free to get in contact on 020 7928 0276 or email into info@lisaslaw.co.uk.

lisaslaw@web

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