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The Covid-19 outbreak has caused a lot of uncertainty for many people and is having a huge effect on businesses, small and large across the United Kingdom. As with much of the general health advice surrounding Covid-19, business owners should focus on matters that are within their control to ensure continuity throughout their business. Consider…

It could be said that the first quarter of 2020 has been somewhat challenging. With the World Health Organisation last week declaring COVID-19 a pandemic, organisations are closely following government advice on how to deal with the new virus. We are hearing a lot in the press about “self-isolation” and people being allowed to “work…

As the awareness and popularity of Lasting Powers of Attorneys steadily grows, business owners are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of putting in place Business Lasting Powers of Attorney to deal specifically with their commercial assets in the event that they were to become seriously ill or lose mental capacity. For business owners (be…

Leading property agent, Savills, has given its residential and commercial property predictions for the coming year. Last week Savills outlook event took place, at which representatives from Savills commercial, rural and residential research teams discussed the investment trends which they expect to exceed market expectations in 2020. Recently the property market as a whole has…

On the 6th February 2020 a rule change came into play meaning the fixed inheritance sum for a surviving spouse rose to £270,000 if there is no Will in place. While the increase of 8% in the statutory legacy is welcome, in today’s society, it can be argued it doesn’t go far enough in protecting…

It’s that time of year again for fresh starts and resolutions. This year, why not make one resolution that you can easily stick to and that will help protect your future and that of your loved ones. Katie Kenealy, an Affiliate of the Society for Trust and Estates Practitioners, explains why estate planning should be…

I’m increasingly seeing, when negotiating and drafting option agreements over land, a new clause finding its way into the drafting, which reflects, perhaps, a growing concern amongst developers that the housing market is heading for a decline. An option agreement will often see the purchase price calculated by reference to a percentage of the open…

The Use and Control of Asbestos Asbestos was commonly used in building materials, insulation and electrical products. Many industries utilised asbestos for its properties, which included its ability to withstand extreme heat and its tensile strength. In 1930, a government-led report linked exposure to high concentrations of asbestos to asbestosis – a serious and long-term…

The last few weeks have provided the people of Wales with much to think about in respect of decisions made by the Welsh Government. The scrapping of the M4 relief road around Newport was regarded as a major decision for the Welsh Government and its approach to life in Wales post-Brexit. On the same day…

Planning permissions predominantly take two forms: An outline permission. This is best thought of as an application that seeks to establish the principle of a proposed development, in terms of its general structure. Once granted, approval of “reserved matters” will follow. These usually relate to access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale. Full planning permission. This…