Commercial Client Articles

The Court of Appeal has ruled that an agreement for the disposal of land was not a public works contract at the time the agreement was entered into but, because it contained contingent provisions which would require the developer to carry out development...

In the recent decision in Avon v Childs [2018] UKUT 0204 (LC), the Upper Tribunal provided important guidance on the issue of “Double hatting” which is likely to see an increase in service charge claims started in the county court and impact on...

The accountancy firm Grant Thornton has been ordered to pay damages of £315,345 after providing negligent advice to Manchester Building Society. However, it was not liable for the losses incurred following that advice. The High Court heard that Grant...

Royal Mail has been fined £50m for breaking competition law by abusing its dominant position in the postal delivery market. An investigation by the regulator Ofcom found that it discriminated against Whistl, one of its customers and...

A contractor was liable for delays on a building project even if it was not responsible for all the factors associated with those delays. That was the ruling of the Court of Appeal in a case involving North Midland Building Ltd and Cyden Homes Ltd. The two...

Tenants and leaseholders can now access official guidance on their rights when renting their home. The online rental guides, published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, are part of a continuing crackdown on poor practice by a...

When relying on reports drawn up by professionals, it’s important to ensure that they are liable if their advice turns out to be wrong or incomplete. Failure to do so could prove costly, as illustrated in a recent case involving BDW Trading Ltd and...

Directors could soon be banned from running a business and face large fines if they dissolve their companies to avoid paying employees or making required pension contributions. The crackdown is part of government plans to safeguard workers, pensions and...

A developer has won the right to build in open countryside despite opposition from the local planning authority. The case involved developer George Barlow and Cheshire East Council. Barlow had applied for planning permission to build 10 houses on open...

The National Landlord’s Association (NLA) has criticised government proposals to introduce 3-year minimum tenancies. Ministers say 3-year tenancy terms, with a 6-month break clause, are necessary to help renters put down roots, and to give landlords...