COVID-19: LATEST BUSINESS TENANCY REPRIEVE

A landlord of business premises has a legal right to forfeit the lease of those premises and go into them where the tenant is behind with the payment of rent. That right was effectively paralysed in England by section 82 of the Coronavirus Act 2020 until 30 June 2020. The paralysis is being extended until 30 September 2020 by the Business Tenancies (Protection from Forfeiture: Relevant period) (Coronavirus) (England) Regulations 2020 SI 2020/602 made today 19 June 2020. This protection for tenants generally applies only to tenancies to which Part 2 of the Landlord and tenant Act 1954 applies.

Divorce Law Reforms: VERY LATEST

The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill was passed in Parliament yesterday. It now awaits Royal Assent any time now before it becomes law. But hold on tightly, please. Before you can take advantage of it, regulations about how it will work in practice have to be drawn up and that will be a massive task. My best current bet is that we will have to wait until around this time next year before these regulations have been made and the new law is fully in operation. For the meantime, it's the Blame Game.

For what the Bill is about feast you eyes on https://www.breakinglaw.co.uk/search/label/divorce

COVID-19: FACE MASKS ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT: NEW LAW FOR ENGLAND

For an explanation of the face mask on public transport regulations made yesterday and in force today see
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/592/pdfs/uksiem_20200592_en.pdf

COVID-19:EASING OF RESTRICTIONS: LINKED HOUSEHOLDS: NEW LAW

For a digestible (just about) explanation of the new COVID-19 relaxations in England, see

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/588/pdfs/uksiem_20200588_en.pdf

The relevant regulations are in the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (Amendment) (No 4) Regulations 2020 SI 2020/588 which were made today and laid before Parliament at 2.20pm this afternoon. Most of the regulations come into force tomorrow 13 June 2020.

COVID-19: POSSESSION MORATORIUM EXTENDED

The freeze in England and Wales on property possession proceedings being progressed in the courts and possession orders being enforced by county court bailiffs or High Court enforcement agents is being extended until 23 August 2020. Proceedings and orders against trespassers are excluded. The Civil Procedure (Amendment No 2) (Coronavirus) Rules 2020 SI 2010/582 are responsible and cover the same ground as the amended CPR PD 51Z.