Employer furlough schemes

The practicalities and processes regarding disrepair claims will undoubtedly be affected. Housing providers will have to adopt a risk-based approach and consider government guidance to handle claims going forward. Key points to consider are:

• Compliance with the Pre-Action Protocol for Housing Conditions Claims (particularly disclosure)
• The practicalities of inspection
• Non-urgent repairs

An obvious cost cutting measure is to reduce salaries, either temporarily or permanently. If you are to seek a reduction in salaries, this should be done fairly – either across the board or by selecting teams/individuals based on objective business reasons.

Note that this cannot be imposed without significant risk. Without agreement, this would need fair selection and consultation.

Ultimately closing a service will be a decision that is taken at the highest level and that decision will depend on risk appetite.  Often these types of higher risk are mitigated by way of insurance but that still depends on an insurer being willing to accept that risk. This decision will depend on accepting a known risk and its consequences.

The current guidance issued by Mr Justice Hayden confirms that remote hearings may be conducted using the following facilities and that this will be the default position until further direction:

• By way of an email exchange between the court and the parties;
• By way of telephone using conference calling facilities;
• By way of the court’s video-link system, if available;
• The use of the Skype for Business App installed on judicial laptops;
• Any other appropriate means of remote communication, for example BT MeetMe, Zoom or FaceTime.

As a result of the CJRS being extended, the Job Retention Bonus will no longer be paid in February 2021.