Latest News From Complete Clarity Solicitors

The appointments of Sheriff Principal Mhairi Stephen QC as the President of the new Sheriff Appeal Court and Sheriff Principal Craig Scott QC as Vice President have recently been confirmed by the Lord President.

The National Landlords Association (NLA) has spoken out against a recent Citizens Advice study that claims 740,000 households in England live in privately rented homes that present a severe threat to tenants' health.

A couple from Uddingston in Lanarkshire have successfully used the High Hedges (Scotland) Act to resolve a dispute with their neighbour over the size of leylandii trees in her garden, reports the Daily Mail.

The Scottish Government has launched a consultation over plans to overhaul legislation governing the private rental sector.

Legislation that implements reforms recommended by the Law Commissions of England and Wales and of Scotland to modernise and simplify insurance contract law across the UK has received Royal Assent.

The UK Government has announced its intention to introduce tough new laws and bulk up existing codes of practice to tackle the issues of late payment and other unfair payment practices.

The issue of rent arrears continues to be a major problem for landlords in the UK, according to a recent study by the National Landlords Association (NLA).

New EU rules came into force on 10th January that are designed to help businesses and consumers resolve cross-border legal disputes more easily and save an expected €48 million each year across the EU.

The Scottish Government has launched a new consultation over plans to give tenants more security of tenure.

New rights came into force on 1st October 2014 that give consumers greater powers to challenge rogue traders and get their money back.

As many as a quarter (27%) of people have had a problem with nuisance neighbours in the past year, according to new research from consumer rights organisation Which?.

In a decision that has been welcomed by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the Supreme Court has recently ruled that a consumer who entered into a doorstep selling contract was entitled to cancel his contract and get his money back when a trader failed to tell him about his legal right to cancel.

The failure to carry out basic checks on prospective tenants is leaving many UK landlords exposed to potential risks and problems, according to insurance company AXA.

Last week saw the official opening of Aberdeen’s Civil Justice Centre and Commercial Court, in a ceremony that was attended by Scotland’s most senior judge, the Lord President and the Cabinet Secretary of Justice Kenny MacAskill MSP. The new court is located in the building previously occupied by the Justice of the Peace Court.  

A bill has been introduced to the UK Parliament that will update the 100-year-old rules governing contracts between businesses and insurers.

There has been a 38% increase in issues caused by people without rent arrears being threatened with eviction from a private sector rented home, the Citizens Advice has said.

In a move that could help to reduce the number of disputes in the property letting sector, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published guidance for lettings professionals to help improve their understanding of, and compliance with, consumer protection law.

The Scottish Government has recently published its response to Sheriff Principal Taylor’s review on the expenses and funding of litigation, in which it sets out plans to introduce legislation that it says will create an accessible, affordable and equitable civil justice system for Scotland.

There is a big difference in the level of fees being charged by councils for processing applications made by residents under the High Hedges (Scotland) Act, the Herald has reported.

A new Bill to simplify contract law in Scotland has been introduced to the Scottish Parliament.