Portner

  The government has announced significant reforms aimed at abolishing the traditional leasehold system for flats, transitioning instead to a commonhold model. This move seeks to address longstanding criticisms of the leasehold system, which has often been viewed as outdated and unfair to homeowners. In this article, senior associate Joe Genco examines the government’s proposed reforms. Understanding freehold, leasehold and commonhold Property ownership in England is primarily divided into freehold and leasehold tenures. Freehold ownership is perpetual, while leasehold ownership (the default for flats) is time-limited. Under the leasehold system, homeowners purchase the right to occupy a property for a specified period (typically 99, 125 or 999 years), but the freeholder owns the land and building. This arrangement can lead to issues such as escalating ground rents, high service charges and limited control over property management. In contrast, commonhold offers a form of...

  A new duty that came into force in October 2024 requires employers to take “reasonable steps” to prevent the sexual harassment of employees. In this article, consultant Karen South explains the new rules and also looks at the guidance for employers on developing appropriate plans and policies What does the new duty add to the existing law relating to sexual harassment? Sexual harassment in the workplace is already prohibited by the Equality Act 2010. It takes place when a person is subjected to unwanted conduct of a sexual nature, and such conduct violates that person’s dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment. Examples of conduct of a sexual nature include sexual comments or jokes, making promises in return for sexual favours and unwelcome kissing, touching or hugging. The effect of the conduct is determined from the person’s subjective point of view; the harasser’s intentions are irrelevant. Am employer can be held v...