Category: For Businesses
Preparing for ‘post-lockdown’
Many businesses and their employees have surprised themselves with their ability to adapt so swiftly to life in lockdown over the past 12 month. But many simply cannot function until lockdown is relaxed or are at the very least anxious to return to some kind of ‘business as usual’. So, as business owners what exactly... Read more »
What’s CRAR anyway? some basic understanding on Commercial Rent Arears Recovery
The temporary new measures in the current pandemic situation, and some changes are now being made to the use of Commercial Rent Arrears Recovery (CRAR) regime too. Q: What’s CRAR anyway? The CRAR regime came into force in 2014 to recover rent in relation to commercial premises. It replaced the old common law right to... Read more »
Covid-19 – Issues for Directors around wrongful trading
It is nearly a month since the announcement on the 28 March by the Government that it would be temporarily suspending the provisions relating to wrongful trading. At the time of writing the legislative provisions have not yet been debated. The objective of the government at the time was “to help UK companies which need... Read more »
Advice for Employers – The redundancy process
Some of you may be faced with making redundancies as the global pandemic of COVID-19 has wreaked havoc through what used to be our normal. How you make people redundant is important, it is imperative that the process is carried out fairly and in accordance with employment law to avoid any claims of unfairness. The... Read more »
Tenants not paying rents but you cannot evict them. So, Landlords, What to do?
A landlords reminder The new Coronavirus Act 2020 (the “Act”) temporarily prevents the landlords from repossessing their own properties when their business tenants fail to pay rents during the “relevant period” to 25 March 2022 (as at June 2021). This period might be extended in future. By saying “rents”, they include any sum payable under the... Read more »
The obligations of business property tenants during the Covid-19 pandemic
Since the introduction of the Coronavirus Act 2020 (the “Act”) on 25 March 2020, many may think that tenants should be able to stay on, even when rent is not being paid on time during the current Covid-19 situation. Well, it is possible. The Act provides a tenant some protection from the landlord’s repossession of... Read more »
Do I still have to pay rents for my business premises?
Q: I need to close my business premises because of COVID-19, do I still have to pay the rents to my landlord? Generally yes, but you should first:- Identify what factors are contributing to the closure of your business premises. For example:- Your business is among those “non-essential business premises” according to the government’s present... Read more »
Contracts, Force Majeure and Covid-19
As we make our way through these uncertain times, this may be the first time you have heard the phrase ‘force majeure’ used in terms of business (and consumer) contracts. So, what is it? And how does it help/hinder me? What is it? In layman’s terms, force majeure is something which can be used by... Read more »
How to maintain cash flow during these unprecedented times
Maintaining cash flow will be one of the keys to survival during these uncertain times, and the debt recovery team at Cognitive Law has put together the following guidance: 1. Have an effective credit control procedure in place and stick to it. Send out payment reminders before your invoice becomes overdue. 2. Retain an efficient... Read more »
Starting up in business together – forget these at your peril!
You’ve found a potential business partner. Maybe even your spouse or another family member. You’re bubbling with ideas as to how you can work together to produce a fantastic new product or service. It’s an exciting time and ‘the legals’ often get forgotten as no one can imagine anything ever being needed and besides, it’s... Read more »