Back Pain Growing Problem for UK Employees
A recent study by Nuffield Health shows approximately three million UK employee/workers experience problems with back pain and are, either, unable to work or are on long-term sick leave as a result. Additionally and worryingly, somewhere in the region of six million individuals working in the UK have back pain that is undiagnosed. While a […]
Scotland’s Seaside Towns See Increased Property Prices
Some of Scotland’s seaside towns have seen property prices double since 2005, according to research from Bank of Scotland. Fraserburgh once again has experienced the biggest rise, with a 109% increase from an average price of £63,540 in 2005 to £132,920 in 2014. Lerwick (102%) and Peterhead (102%) have also doubled their house prices since […]
Private Landlord Report Attracts Criticism
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. The report says that these properties have category 1 hazards – the most serious of problems. The report also claims that: 16% […]
UK Sees Rise in Properties for Sale
There has been a 5% increase in the number of properties entering the UK market during the first three months of 2015 compared to the same period of 2014. The latest figures from Experian’s Property Index show that between January and March, the number of homes that entered the market for sale hit their highest […]
Edinburgh Firm Fined For Failure to Protect Worker
A local pharmaceutical firm has appeared in Edinburgh Sheriff Court where it pleaded guilty to safety failings after an employee was exposed to hazardous substances. The court heard that between April 2004 and January 2010, the company, which manufactures basic pharmaceutical products, failed to review and ensure the health, safety and welfare of their employee, […]
Strong Start for Property Market in East Central Scotland
The property market across East Central Scotland saw a very positive start to 2015, according to the ESPC. Its latest report shows that there was an 11% rise in house prices for the first quarter of 2015 compared to the previous year, taking the average house price to £207,618. One section of the market that […]
Neighbours Resolve Dispute over High Hedges
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 couple obtained an order under the legislation that four trees, varying in height from 33ft to 49ft, be reduced to […]
Do UK Employees Now Need to Work Past 65?
The majority of employees in the United Kingdom now expect to work past the age of 65, if recent research from Canada Life Group Insurance is to be believed. The survey found that approximately 61 per cent of UK employees expect to work beyond the ‘normal’ retirement. Interestingly, this percentage changes depending on the age […]
Supply Constraints Drive Prices in Scotland
There has been steady growth in house sales and buyer enquiries in Scotland during March, and the number of properties coming onto the market continued to lag behind demand, pushing prices rapidly upwards. According to the latest RICS UK Residential Market Survey, the supply versus demand imbalance across Scotland led to 21% more surveyors reporting […]
MEPs Back Small Debt Recovery Plans
The European Parliament’s legal affairs committee has given its backing to plans to improve and broaden the use of a simplified procedure for low-value cross-border claims to recover money from abroad. The proposed changes would cut costs and paperwork for both consumers and businesses, and also make the procedure available for more cases, cap court […]
