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On 27 April 2020, the UK government announced that, between 4 May 2020 and 4 November 2020, UK-based businesses which have been negatively affected by coronavirus will be able to apply for a loan of up to 25% of their annual turnover, with a minimum loan of £2,000 and a maximum loan of £50,000, under the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS). 

Loans will be repayable over a maximum...

One of the darkest outcomes of the lockdown has been the rise in domestic abuse. The UN has predicted that 6 months of lockdown could result in an additional 31 million cases of domestic violence globally. It is important to note that domestic violence is not the only, nor the most prevalent, form of domestic abuse. In England and Wales, there is currently no legal definition for domestic...

Times are tough for employers. Many have used the government’s Job Retention Scheme to furlough employees, whilst others have found ways to continue operating, but often with reduced workloads and falling income.

The Job Retention Scheme was introduced to provide an alternative to redundancy where businesses cannot maintain their workforce due to the coronavirus.  It offers...

We are enduring an unprecedented period of disruption as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. One matter which is of particular concern to our clients is whether or not they have a Will in place which best fits their circumstances and wishes. They may not have a Will at all, or they may have one which is out of date and needs revising. Making a Will is vital to ensure that your assets pass as...

The unprecedented disruption caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is putting more pressure on commercial tenants than ever before as they are left with decimated income streams and a continuing obligation to pay rent. In a move to protect high street retailers and other companies, the UK government has introduced temporary new measures to prevent heavy-handed commercial landlords...

As the government restrictions on business operation and social interaction get renewed for a further period of at least three weeks, with many experts warning it may last significantly longer, we consider whether COVID-19 is likely to engage the legal concepts of ‘frustration’ and ‘supervening illegality’ in the context of property contracts in England and Wales.

Force...

Coronavirus has presented many businesses with less or no work, leaving those businesses with the difficult decision of what to do with their employees. 

Two possible options are laying employees off  (providing them with no work and no pay for a period while retaining them as employees) or placing them on short-time work (providing them with less work and less pay for a period,...

Last updated: 17 April 2020

Please note, the following information has been prepared from the latest HMLR update on 16 April 2020 and replaces our earlier update on 31 March 2020, but may still be subject to change. For the latest information direct from HMLR, please click here.

The Land Registry has announced that their essential property transaction services, such as index map...

After many months and sometimes years of planning and negotiating, you may feel a weight has been lifted when a financial agreement or order has been reached. Often, there are significant compromises to be made by everyone involved, and whilst you may not feel that the order is exactly what you had hoped for, you may feel you can live with the terms agreed. You begin to look forward to moving...

The effects of COVID-19 on the workplace continue to be addressed. 

Holiday is one area that will be affected in some workplaces, especially those where holiday cannot be taken owing to the need to provide essential services or due to the workforce being reduced to critical levels through illness. The government has recognised this and made amendments to the Working Time Regulations 1998....