New Build HomeBuy is a low cost home ownership option. It was introduced to help people who cannot afford to purchase a property outright and allows them instead to purchase initial shares of between 25–75 per cent. New Build HomeBuy was formerly known as Shared Ownership and is still commonly referred to as both. However,… Learn more
The case of Ashcroft v Barnsdale is an object lesson in how it can sometimes be worth crying over spilt milk. The case involved a deed of variation, which changed the terms of a will. By way of background, it is possible for the effect of a will to be varied within two years of… Learn more
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has published a report recommending far-reaching reforms of the corporate insolvency regulatory regime. In the report, the OFT said that landlords, as unsecured creditors, are unfairly disadvantaged in insolvencies compared to secured creditors (such as banks) and should be given greater powers to influence the fees charged by insolvency… Learn more
It appears that repercussions from the recent takeover of Cadbury PLC by Kraft Foods are still being felt following the publication of a government command paper setting out its position with regards to takeover regulation. The paper follows a report compiled by a committee of the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS Committee) which… Learn more
Background The statutory remedy for a company member who considers that the company’s affairs are being conducted in an unfairly prejudicial manner is contained in section 994 of the Companies Act 2006. This section allows a member to bring an action on the ground that: the company’s affairs are being or have been conducted in a manner… Learn more
That’s what the latest offering from the Treasury looks like it is asking. “Government invites views on tax policies” at first glance looks like a great opportunity for all. In practice, it’s rather less exciting. Getting technical, there are nine consultation / discussion documents which invite views from the public and professions on: PAYE reform… Learn more
The prognosis is not good for HMRC’s latest venture in it’s targeted professionals programme which was designed to bring doctors and dentists who owed tax out of the woodwork with the promise of reduced penalties. Those who make disclosure and pay tax get a clean bill of health for the future. Those who don’t are… Learn more
The Information Commissioner’s Office – the UK’s information regulator – is set to get tough with public bodies that fail to comply with the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The Act gives people anywhere in the world the right to see information held by more than 100,000 UK public bodies about the way in which… Learn more
The Advertising Standards Authority has upheld a complaint that ASDA’s advert was misleading because it was highlighting the benefits to consumers of its 100 day guarantee. It was misleading because consumers had up to six years at law to make a complaint if a product did not comply with statutory rights under the Sale of… Learn more
About 30 public sector staff have been sacked in the last year for inappropriately snooping on personal data that had come from the Department for Work and Pensions’ Customer Information System. The database contains details of everyone in the UK and is one of the largest databases in Europe. In total, 180 users are known… Learn more