A brain injury can be completely life-altering and is certainly not something to be dismissed. Brain injuries can be so catastrophic that the victim is left entirely dependent on others and for this reason, many claims are actually made by their families and loved ones on their behalf. A brain injury can have a variety of consequences from the short-term to the long-term, ranging from a period of illness while the brain recovers, to lifelong that require complete changes to the victim’s way of life.
When we think of personal injury claims or a road traffic accident, often we think of smaller injuries which, while they can be inconvenient and cause plenty of issues at the time, they ultimately heal and life gets back to normal. But what happens if a personal injury is completely life-changing?
Rising House Prices in Northern Ireland and Falling Property Sales - The Northern Ireland Quarterly House Pricing Index for Quarter 3, 2017, compiled by University of Ulster reveals that house prices have risen by 5.8% on Quarter 2. The latest RICS UK Ulster Bank Residential Market Survey predicts that prices will also continue to rise over the next 12 months. This sounds like good news, doesn’t it? However as the number of properties being sold have fallen of late, Northern Ireland, like other regions in the UK, report shortages in housing supply which is contributing to the rise in prices.
2017 has proved to be a very unique year for the Northern Ireland economy. The Brexit vote had divided opinions and the collapse of our government administration has caused additional uncertainty, which has been intensified further by the recent rise in Base Rate by Bank of England . In this article we explore the impact of the increase in interest rates on homeowners in Northern Ireland.
The important and crucial thing to remember in any conveyancing transaction is Caveat Emptor - Buyer Beware. This article briefly explores the need for a Building Survey, the different types of building survey to consider, how to choose the right survey and a suitable surveyor to be sure that you are buying a house in suitable condition!
You’re probably familiar with the term ‘last will and testament’ being the most recent version of a will. Most people also appreciate that your will details who is entitled to your money, property and possessions after you die and also puts in place measures to take care of loved ones you leave behind. Despite understanding its importance the process of making a will can seem daunting to many, meaning that they put if off unnecessarily or until its too late!
Free Wills Month is an initiative designed to tackle the large number of over 55s who don’t have a recent will in place. The initiative is sponsored by many well-known charities who cover the fees on your behalf. Age NI is one of those charities. Luke Curran & Co are also working in partnership with Southern Area Hospice Services and Cancer Research UK whereby we are waiving our fee for a simple Will if you consider making a charitable donation.
How to Tackle Employee Sickness & Absenteeism in Your Organisation - Sickness is an unfortunate part of life, and some level of absenteeism in the workplace is to be expected. But what can be done to address situations where an employee’s absenteeism is becoming a regular occurrence?
Dealing with a grievance in the workplace is time consuming and distressing for both the employees and management staff involved but is a ‘necessary evil’ to ensure fairness and equality for all members of the company or organisation. What is a Grievance? A grievance is a concern, problem or complaint which an employee raises with their employer and could relate to any aspect of their working life.
As specialists in inheritance and succession planning, TEPs draft wills and trusts, administer estates, act as trustees and advise families on how best to structure their finances to ensure compliance and preserve their assets for future generations. In their professional practice, TEPs often help people at difficult or emotional times, such as after the death of a close family member. TEPs are recognised experts in their field, with proven qualifications and experience. By joining STEP and maintaining their membership they have also shown significant commitment to their continued professional development in this specialist area.
Employment Contracts are essential to get a working relationship between an employer and a new employee off ‘on the right foot’ and to guide the ongoing relationship between both parties. Employment Contracts clarify what is required of employees, how they will be rewarded and demonstrate the employer’s commitment to ensuring their legal obligations are met. Whilst employment contracts aim to protect each party employment disputes do still happen and employers need to take the responsibilities around hiring and managing staff very seriously, particularly given the volume of rights that apply to employees.
Renting property can seem like an easy source of income to the unwary however being a landlord can be challenging, whether you are new to the game or not you must be aware of what to expect and what is expected of you! There are many things you need to know but in this article we will focus on one aspect in particular that we want to bring to your attention to - the need for effective tenancy agreements to ensure that your rent goes into your pocket.
