230,000 could lose homes as eviction ban ends in England and Wales – The Guardian

Posted August 19th, 2020 in coronavirus, debts, housing, landlord & tenant, news, rent, repossession, statistics by sally

‘A man whose partner died of coronavirus after they moved into their dream flat is among 230,000 people who face having to leave their homes when the government lifts its ban on evictions in England and Wales this weekend.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 19th August 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Where to now? End of eviction ban leaves tenants fearing for future – The Guardian

‘Soon landlords will be able to take action against renters again, which many fear could lead to a rise in homelessness.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 9th August 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Watchdog warns UK high-cost lenders about exploitation – The Guardian

Posted August 7th, 2020 in advertising, complaints, consumer protection, debts, interest, loans, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘The UK’s financial watchdog has warned high-cost lenders about irresponsible repeat lending and exploitative marketing that risks pushing vulnerable borrowers into a cycle of debt.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 6th August 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Insolvent Companies and Adjudication: Bresco Services Limited v Michael J Lonsdale [2020] UKSC 25 – Hardwicke Chambers

‘Adjudication is a quick and comparatively cheap method of dispute resolution and for those reasons is attractive to insolvent companies seeking to recover debts. However, a respondent was likely to be able to restrain the insolvent company from referring the matter to adjudication on the basis that it would be futile to do so, since any positive decision was unlikely to be enforced as a result of the very fact of the company’s insolvency. Therefore, any award lacked practical utility. Following the decision of the Supreme Court in Bresco v Lonsdale, that is no longer the case.’

Full Story

Hardwicke Chambers, 17th June 2020

Source: hardwicke.co.uk

The Court of Appeal considers the consequences of failure to serve a registration order under the Lugano Convention: Islandsbanki Hf & Ors v Stanford [2020] EWCA Civ 480 – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted June 26th, 2020 in appeals, bankruptcy, chambers articles, civil procedure rules, debts, news by sally

‘Oliver Hyams and Amy Held investigate the recent case of Islandsbanki Hf & Ors v Stanford [2020] EWCA Civ 480.’

Full Story

Hardwicke Chambers, 23rd June 2020

Source: hardwicke.co.uk

Energy customers face bailiffs as Ofgem allows debt collecting again – The Guardian

Posted June 23rd, 2020 in coronavirus, debts, energy, news, regulations by sally

‘Gas and electricity customers face the prospect of debt collectors chasing up unpaid bills after the energy industry regulator told suppliers they no longer had to offer unlimited coronavirus payment holidays.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 22nd June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

COVID-19 Topics: The Basics of Individual Insolvency – Thomas More Chambers

Posted June 12th, 2020 in bankruptcy, chambers articles, coronavirus, debts, insolvency, news by sally

‘Beyond the medical and physical toll that Covid-19 is taking on sufferers and their families, the economic crisis with lockdown is also expected to lead to a surge in corporate and individual insolvencies. Individuals in particular are likely to be unfamiliar with their options when facing insolvency and with the procedures that aim to balance the twin goals of granting individuals relief from their debt whilst fairly distributing the individual’s assets to creditors.’

Full Story

Thomas More Chambers, 29th May 2020

Source: www.thomasmore.co.uk

Insolvency in the English Football League: impact on players and staff – Littleton Chambers

Posted June 11th, 2020 in contract of employment, coronavirus, debts, insolvency, news, remuneration, sport by sally

‘In relation to the EFL, there have been dire warnings that in the absence of a substantially increased contribution from the Premier League, up to 60 clubs could go out of business.’

Full Story

Littleton Chambers, 2nd June 2020

Source: littletonchambers.com

Master of Rolls sets up working group as concerns expressed about end to stay on housing possession claims – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Master of the Rolls, Sir Terence Etherton, has established a cross-sector working group to address concerns about the consequences of the current stay on housing possession claims ending.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 5th June 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Tenant eviction ban in England and Wales extended by two months – The Guardian

‘The government has extended its ban on evictions in England and Wales by a further two months, prolonging the breathing space for thousands of tenants who have struggled to pay the rent during lockdown.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 6th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

High Court judge hands down ruling on secure flexible tenancies and possession during fixed term – Local Government Lawyer

A landlord cannot determine a flexible tenancy prior to the expiry of its fixed term without a forfeiture clause even in the event of default by the tenant, the High Court has ruled.

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 4th June 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Thousands of UK tenants face losing home when eviction ban ends – The Guardian

Posted June 5th, 2020 in coronavirus, debts, housing, landlord & tenant, news, rent, repossession by sally

‘Thousands of tenants who have struggled to pay rent during the pandemic lockdown face the prospect of losing their home from the end of the month when the government’s temporary ban on evictions ends, housing campaigners have warned.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 4th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Promontoria (Oak) Limited v Emanuel [2020] EWHC 563 (Ch) – Tanfield Chambers

Posted May 29th, 2020 in assignment, debts, land registration, mortgages, news, repossession by sally

‘In a possession and money claim brought by the registered assignee of a legal charge, the Appeal Judge found that the Claimant was entitled to possession as the registered title holder of a legal charge, despite his allowing the Defendant’s appeal and holding that the Claimant had not proved that a valid assignment of the debt had occurred at trial.’

Full Story

Tanfield Chambers, 28th May 2020

Source: www.tanfieldchambers.co.uk

FCA warns banks not to put pressure on clients during Covid-19 crisis – The Guardian

‘The City watchdog is cracking down on UK banks that have been preying on corporate clients seeking financial help during the Covid-19 crisis.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 28th April 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Further Consumer Credit Debt Moratorium – Henderson Chambers

Posted April 28th, 2020 in consumer credit, coronavirus, debts, financial regulation, news by sally

‘Following last week’s moratorium imposed by the Financial Conduct Authority in relation to credit card debts, overdrafts and personal loans, the FCA is imposing a similar moratorium on hire-purchase (annoyingly referred to by the trendy term ‘rent-to-own’), high-cost short-term credit (payday loans), buy-nowpay-later deals (BNPL) and pawn agreements.’

Full Story

Henderson Chambers, 24th April 2020

Source: 3yf6pp3bqg8c3rycgf1gbn9w-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com

Not signed, not sealed, not delivered – Nearly Legal

‘A first instance county court judgment on a possession claim, but with a range of interesting issues. The Ratcliffes were the landlords, Ms Patterson was the tenant and Mr Porter a guarantor, who played no part in proceedings. The tenancy was an assured shorthold tenancy with the most recent fixed term beginning in June 2018. Rent arrears accrued (on which more later) and the Ratcliffes brought a claim for possession under grounds 8, 10 and 11 Schedule 2 Housing Act 1988.’

Full Story

Nearly Legal, 26th April 2020

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Commercial property landlords banned from demanding rent arrears – The Guardian

Posted April 24th, 2020 in coronavirus, debts, landlord & tenant, news, rent, repossession, winding up by sally

‘Commercial property landlords in the UK have been temporarily banned from taking legal action against tenants who have not paid their rent, to protect retailers and other businesses from “aggressive rent collection” during the coronavirus crisis.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 23rd April 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Three Month Moratorium on Consumer Credit Debts – Henderson Chambers

‘The Covid-19 crisis has led the Financial Conduct Authority to issue authoritative guidance to consumer credit lenders which will oblige them to grant a three month moratorium on debts and to reduce interest costs.’

Full Story

Henderson Chambers, 9th April 2020

Source: 3yf6pp3bqg8c3rycgf1gbn9w-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com

Further Lessons from Lehman Bros: The Court’s Control of Office Holders – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted March 20th, 2020 in administrators, appeals, banking, chambers articles, coronavirus, debts, insolvency, news by sally

‘When major financial institutions go to the wall the ensuing legal squabbles over the carcases often provide rich seams that can be mined to provide judicial clarification of the law for the benefit of all. The spectacular collapse of the Lehman Brothers empire is no exception and the latest chapter does not disappoint. In Lehman Brothers Australia Ltd (In Liquidation) v Macnamara & Ors (Joint Administrators of Lehman Brothers International (Europe) (In Administration)) [2020] EWCA Civ 321, the Court of Appeal (Patten, David Richards, Newey LJJ) has provided some timely and useful clarification on the correct test for the court to apply when considering the exercise of its inherent jurisdiction to control its officers within the principle of Re Cordon, Ex p. James (1873-74) LR 9 Ch App 609 or through the more specifically targeted statutory provisions for such control, as for example those in para 74 of Schedule B1 to the Insolvency Act 1986 (IA 1986) with regard to administrators. In the present climate induced by Coronavirus (COVID-19), any clarity that makes the necessity of going to court less likely is to be doubly welcomed.’

Full Story

Hardwicke Chambers, 17th March 2020

Source: hardwicke.co.uk

FCA: credit card firms must stop suspending all users in debt spiral – The Guardian

Posted February 4th, 2020 in consumer credit, debts, financial regulation, interest, news by sally

‘Britain’s financial watchdog has warned credit card firms against the blanket suspension of cards of consumers who are stuck in a debt spiral, telling them to reduce or waive interest and other charges instead.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 3rd February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com