Squatter’s rights: can you stop a squatter obtain ownership of your land?

If someone is occupying land that is registered to you, can they acquire rights over it and successfully apply to be registered as the owner? We are often asked this question by property owners where the boundaries between two properties on the ground do not match what is shown on the plans; sometimes this only becomes apparent where one of the property owners is looking to sell or develop and they then discover that there is an area of disputed land owned by one party but occupied by the neighbour (the squatter). There are two possible scenarios for registered land: the first is where ‘the squatter’ has been in uninterrupted ‘adverse possession’ of the disputed land for at least 12 years before 13 October 2003. This squatter can apply to be registered as proprietor and must…

Updated Acas guidance on sickness absence management

On average, each employee in the UK took off 5.7 days due to sickness in 2022, according to figures published by the Office for National Statistics. The estimate of working days lost to UK employers due to sickness or injury reached a new high of 185.6 million in the year. ‘This follows a relatively stable period in the ten years up to the pandemic,’ says Kalpesh Nakeshree, Head of Employment law with Ware & Kay. ‘Sickness absence presents a host of problems for employers, including loss of productivity and increased pressure on colleagues who are covering for the absent employee. Sickness and absence need to be managed well or employers could be exposed to a number of claims such as for disability discrimination, unfair dismissal or personal injury.’ Acas recently updated their helpful guidance on…

What is conveyancing?

Real estate transactions involve a complex legal process known as conveyancing. In this guide, we aim to shed light on the essential aspects of conveyancing. Should you have further inquiries or require personalised legal assistance, our team of experienced solicitors is ready to assist you. Call us today on 01904 716000 (York) or 01937 583210 (Wetherby) or 01653 692247 (Malton), or complete our online contact form. What is Conveyancing? Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring property ownership from one party to another. This comprehensive process involves several key steps to ensure a smooth and legally sound transfer. Below are the fundamental aspects of conveyancing. Pre-Contract Stage There are multiple steps early in the conveyancing process. This includes a Title Check, where your solicitor thoroughly checks the property's title to ensure that the seller has the legal right to sell. Your team will…

How do settlement agreements work in the agricultural sector?  

Farming is a demanding business – especially in these financially troubled times – and you need every staff member to be working at the top of their game. If you have an employee who is frequently late or calling in sick, or who is stirring up trouble with constant complaints, it can have an effect on the wellbeing of your livestock, the morale of other workers, and on your profit margin. Strict UK employment laws usually restrict your ability to simply sack a troublesome full-time employee without a long, arduous legal process. However, if you have an employee who is not performing as they should, or has raised a troublesome grievance in the workplace, a settlement agreement can be a useful way of terminating their employment, or resolving a dispute, without fear of repercussions, as Kalpesh…