Registered Providers and high-rise towers: managing remedial works
We have received instructions from a number of RPs who have tower blocks that have failed the tests undertaken by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) for the Department for Communities […]
An Act of housekeeping: revisiting IPS law
The Act largely consolidates existing legislation relating to industrial and provident societies (‘IPSs’), which is currently contained within a number of dusty pieces of primary and secondary legislation. Despite this, […]
Minimum wage and volunteers
We don’t expect any charity sets out with the intention of failing to pay the national minimum wage. However, in our experience many charities do not have sufficiently clear parameters […]
Pension termination debts: Light at the end of the tunnel?
In defined benefit pensions schemes, the risk that there are insufficient funds to meet the costs of paying a pension at a promised level to a retired staff member falls […]
Case Study: Dudley Council – New Build Programme
[media id=933] What was our role? Our work involved three separate projects during 2015: A Development Agreement for the former Dudley Guest hospital site, which is being developed under a […]
Employer-provided living accommodation – change of tax position?
With the budget just days away, it may well be that the Government unveils its response to this shortly. It seems likely that some employees, such as church ministers and […]
Where next on the road to VRTB?
What does it mean? The Secretary of State (“SoS”), under regulations following the HPA16, has the power to make ‘grants’ to housing associations in respect of right-to-buy discounts. This is […]
Protecting disabled employees’ pay – is it a mandatory reasonable adjustment?
Law Under the Equality Act 2010 (the Act) an employer has a duty to make reasonable adjustments to help disabled job applicants, employees and former employees in certain circumstances. It […]
HCA consultation – RPs to “properly” consult tenants if changing their landlord or management arrangements
In response to the coming into force of these “asset freedoms”, the HCA has issued a consultation on an amendment to the Tenant Involvement and Empowerment Standard (TIE Standard). The […]
Probate court fees – a new death tax?
When a person dies, the Government not only levies inheritance tax based on the value of the deceased’s assets, but also a separate fee which is known as a “probate court […]
National Minimum Wage update: Penalties for non-compliance
HMRC confirm that its enforcement policy aims to: prevent employers gaining a competitive advantage over other businesses by unlawfully depressing workers’ pay; encourage employers to voluntarily comply, so that workers […]
Are you pouring good money after bad?
When contractors carry out works or services in a defective manner; the dilemma is how to recover remedial costs without throwing good money after bad?