Articles

Climate change is reshaping the property market. Increasingly frequent flooding, storms, heatwaves, and coastal erosion are already affecting properties across the UK. The Environment Agency estimates that one in four properties in England could face flood risk by 2050.

These risks go beyond environmental concerns: they create significant legal, financial, and operational challenges for investors, developers, and occupiers. The Law Society now advises solicitors to treat climate risk as a core element of due diligence in property transactions.

Last month the Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA") proposed an industry-wide compensation scheme for motor finance customers who were affected by unfair commission arrangements between 2007 and 2024. The total cost to firms of implementing and administering the scheme is estimated to total £11 billion, with consumers expecting to be compensated an average of around £700 per agreement.

The government has asked the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to produce a costs assessment to help decide whether a full regulatory impact assessment is required before approving the draft Code of Practice on services, public functions and associations.

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has overturned an Employment Tribunal’s decision after new evidence came to light that undermined the credibility findings on which the Tribunal’s conclusions were based.

From 1 December 2025, the maximum period for Acas early conciliation will increase from 6 weeks to 12 weeks to help ease pressure on Acas.