We are open for business & here to help

Our York & Wetherby offices are open for business and here to help.  Please contact us by phone or email and we will happily arrange an appointment on the telephone or at our offices if necessary to discuss your matter. 

Your commercial property portfolio – time to restructure?

A commercial property portfolio is just like any other investment - to get the best out of it, you need to manage it well, and sometimes it will benefit from being restructured. The unforeseen impact of Covid-19 on the whole of the UK economy has underlined the importance of keeping on top of your property investments, so you are able to move quickly when you want to grab an opportunity or mitigate risk. A good commercial property lawyer will get to know your property portfolio as well as you do.  The more closely we are involved, the more we can do to help you plan your strategy and head off problems before they arise. Careful planning and regular reviews of your property investments will give you the best chance both to prosper in good times and…

Release of lockdown: continuing or ending homeworking

Although lockdown is easing, government guidance advises people to continue to work from home if possible.  Meanwhile, the media is reporting that some employers are deciding to keep staff working from home. Homeworking has advantages; it eases the immediate difficulties of making workplaces COVID-secure and, longer-term, it can significantly reduce the overheads for a business. Employers bringing staff back to the workplace may wish to take stock of recent homeworking arrangements in preparation for any second spike in coronavirus or a localised lockdown. Gillian Reid explains how to get homeworking arrangements in order and looks at particular challenges for managers of remote teams, as well as how to deal with an employee who has had enough of homeworking. Employers ending homeworking arrangements may face a wave of flexible working requests. You should check the Government website…

Varying maintenance payments due to Covid-19 hardship

The coronavirus pandemic has turned most of our world upside down, causing economic hardship for many people and job losses are expected to continue as the furlough scheme comes to an end. ‘If you have lost all or part of your income, your ability to pay or rely upon maintenance payments will be a cause for concern as you seek to manage cash flow,’ says Robert Bellhouse. ‘Uncertainty over child maintenance adds another level of stress for parents who are struggling to cope with home-schooling.’ Maintenance payments typically fall into two categories, spousal maintenance and child maintenance, which we look in turn and outline your options if you are worried about paying or receiving maintenance. Spousal maintenance Spousal maintenance may be paid because of a voluntary agreement during divorce proceedings or by way of a court…

Greater permitted development rights for agricultural property

Since the Town and Country Planning General Permitted Development Order came into force on 6 April 2018, rural communities have had greater development potential when converting agricultural buildings into residential units. In these deeply troubled times, the greater flexibility afforded by these relaxed permitted development rights is good news for the rural community, allowing agricultural businesses to unlock additional value and utility from their land. Farmers should be warned, however, that numerous conditions and prior local planning authority approvals are still required under the new rules, so it is a good idea to consult a professional expert to advise on available options before renovations begin. This blog explains how the enhanced permitted development rights give agricultural businesses more flexibility to adapt existing buildings to create new housing and increase the size of their agricultural buildings without…

Coronavirus, putting your house on the market

Estimates suggest 375,000 property transactions have stalled because of the coronavirus crisis. Recent easing of restrictions means these sales can now progress. What if you were thinking of moving, but had not yet put your house on the market? Some agents are predicting a buoyant market as we come out of lockdown, on the basis that you could benefit from any pent-up demand. It is unlikely that the property market will return to normal straight away so there may be some challenges ahead. What the latest relaxation of restrictions means During lockdown, emergency regulations prevented people from leaving their homes except for a limited number of reasons. However, recent changes have extended these exceptions so people can move home. You may now visit an estate agent and would-be buyers can visit your property. Professionals can visit…

Keeping coronavirus redundancies fair and the alternatives

The Government’s coronavirus job retention scheme (CJRS) has helped many employers keep their staff. But, the winding down of the CJRS and the grim economic forecast mean that employers may need a more flexible workforce and for many sectors, redundancies seem inevitable. Here, we outline alternatives to redundancy and sets out five key elements of a fair redundancy. You should check the Government website for the latest guidance in conjunction with this article, as the guidelines on the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme are changing frequently.  Speak to your solicitor for specific advice for your business. Coronavirus job retention scheme extension The CJRS runs in its current form until the end of June. From July, ‘flexible furlough’ will allow employees to work part-time and be furloughed part-time. From August until the close of…

Settling a dispute about matrimonial finances during the pandemic

If you are in the middle of getting divorced, or contemplating getting divorced, you may be worried about how the present COVID-19 pandemic will impact on your financial security after separation.  If financial arrangements are disputed, how easy will it be to come to an arrangement and move on with your life? Naturally, people have concerns about whether it will be possible to reach an agreement with the various restrictions in place during the lockdown and of course, people are worried about declining asset values, reduced incomes and business uncertainty.’ Our family lawyers have embraced online communications We use all the latest technology to ensure our clients will not be left in financial limbo.  It is still possible to achieve a legally binding financial settlement, even during the pandemic.  We will consult with you over the…

Our offices are open for pre-arranged appointments – we are here to help

All our offices are now open for pre-arranged appointments where a telephone meeting is not possible. Contact us as normal by phone or email to arrange a meeting to discuss your matter but please bear in mind that many of our staff continue to work from home so we can only see you if you have pre-arranged an appointment. Our main priority at this time is to maintain a safe environment for our staff and visitors to our offices so we ask that you assist us with this by following the guidelines set out below. Covid-19 Workplace Risk Assessments We have carried out a Health and Safety Risk Assessment at each of our offices to ensure that we have appropriate arrangements in place. These include: Pre-arranged appointments with at least 30 minutes between each appointment…

When a spouse or partner is abusive during lockdown

Dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic has caused seismic changes to all of our lives, including our family life. During the lockdown we are all forced to isolate in our homes, and for some this forced time together and the disruption to our normal routines can act like a pressure cooker leading to heated disputes.  It has been reported by Refuge, a domestic abuse charity, that there has been a 25 per cent increase in calls for help during the lockdown.  It can be a particularly scary time if you live with a violent or abusive partner. For couples who have separated, we have also seen that difficulties organising child contact arrangements can be a source of abuse. If you find yourself facing abuse, you may feel that at present you have little choice. Robert Bellhouse family…