Latest news with #legalresponsibility
BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
Cotswolds fly-tipping crackdown holds homeowners accountable
An initiative to crack down on homeowners using rogue disposal operators has been launched by an authority in response to the problem of fly-tipping.'Your rubbish, Your Responsibility', launched by Cotswold District Council, is a way of reminding residents of their legal responsibilities when paying someone to get rid of their Lea, the councils enviro-crimes programme officer, said when fly-tipping is reported the rubbish will be searched to find the original owners, who can then be handed a £600 Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN).A spokesperson for the authority said residents must ensure anyone removing their waste must have the right licence. Mr Lea said with fly-tipping it is very hard to find the person or company who took away the waste and disposed of it illegally."These individuals use Facebook and social media and it's very difficult for officers from any council to find or identify them or where they are from," he if fly-tipped waste cannot be tracked back to them, the householder will be looked at for accountability and if waste has been dumped illegally it "could end up costing them hundreds of pounds in fines". 'Dangerous and illegal' Cllr Andrea Pellegram, cabinet member for environment and regulatory services, said: "Everyone has a duty of care when it comes to waste disposal, and it's vital that residents take that responsibility seriously."Fly-tipping is not just illegal – it's dangerous and a blight on our countryside, our streets, and our environment. By carrying out simple checks before handing over your waste, you help protect your community and avoid a costly fine."A contractor must have a waste carrier's licence reference beginning with CBDU and ending with 1 to 6 numbers. Legitimate and responsible contractors should provide this reference in their advert or upon request, she said. Homeowners are also advised to make note of vehicle registration numbers, phone and business contact and make sure they know where the waste will be disposed of.
Khaleej Times
13-07-2025
- Automotive
- Khaleej Times
UAE traffic fines: Who pays penalties if car ownership is not transferred?
Question: I sold my car to a friend for Dh10,000, but we did not complete the ownership transfer. Subsequently, I began receiving messages about traffic fines incurred on the vehicle. I asked my friend to pay the fines, but he refused. Due to the car's poor condition, I ended up selling it for just Dh1,500 to cover some of the fines. However, I have recently discovered that there are still outstanding fines totalling Dh12,000 registered against the car. My friend continues to refuse any responsibility for these penalties. From a legal standpoint, what options are available to me in this situation? Please guide. Answer: In the UAE, until the concerned authority formally transfers the vehicle's ownership in the name of a new owner, a registered (current) owner remains legally liable for all obligations against the vehicle, including but not limited to traffic violations. This is in accordance with Article 22 (1) of the Federal Decree-Law No. (14) of 2024 On Traffic Regulation, 'Any transfer of ownership of a vehicle shall be registered with the Licensing Authority through the means approved by it. The owner of the vehicle in whose name the Vehicle Licence is registered shall remain liable for the obligations arising from the use of the vehicle until the Vehicle Licence is registered in the name of the new owner in accordance with the procedures followed by the Licensing Authority in this regard.' Furthermore, from the perspective of traffic enforcement and administrative liability, the fines incurred during your friend's use of the vehicle are associated with the vehicle, which makes you liable to pay as the registered owner. In addition, it is assumed that you and your friend entered into a contract for the sale of the vehicle. In light of this contractual relationship and given that your friend took possession of the vehicle and used the vehicle after entering into a sale contract, he may be held liable to you for the traffic fines incurred during that period. This liability arises notwithstanding the absence of formal ownership transfer, as the existence of a binding contract may give rise to enforceable legal obligations between the parties to a contract under UAE civil law. In the UAE, if a contract is entered into between all parties named in a contract, it is a legal obligation of each party to perform their respective obligations in accordance with the provisions of the contract. This is by Article 246 (1) of the Federal Law No. (5) of 1985 On the Civil Transactions Law of the United Arab Emirates, which states, '1. The contract shall be implemented, according to the provisions contained therein and, in a manner, consistent with the requirements of good faith.' Anyone who causes harm to another is liable to compensate for that harm. This is in accordance with Article 282 of the UAE Civil Code, 'Any harm done to another shall render the actor, even though not a discerning person, liable to make good the harm.' You may consider filing a claim against your friend for the financial losses you incurred as a direct result of his failure to meet his obligations under the sale contract, particularly relating to his use of the vehicle and the resulting fines. By the aforesaid provision of the law, you remain liable for the outstanding traffic fines to be paid to the concerned authority as the vehicle continues to be registered in your name.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Brazil's Supreme Court justices agree to make social media companies liable for user content
The majority of justices on Brazil's Supreme Court have agreed to make social media companies liable for illegal postings by their users, in a landmark case for Latin America with implications for relations with the U.S. (AP Video: Lucas Dumphreys)
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘Could I be on the hook for rent costs for the Ukrainian family I sponsor?'
Do you have a legal question to put to Gary? Email askalawyer@ or use the form at the bottom of the page. Hello Gary, I sponsored a Ukrainian family (granny, mum and daughter) under the original government scheme set up after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. As we are empty nesters, they lived in spare bedrooms in our house for a year until they secured their own accommodation. They are wonderful, hard-working people, and we are all now friends – particularly me and the mum. The mum now wants her husband and his dad to move to the UK and they have asked me to sponsor again. This time we are not being asked to accommodate them. However, I am worried I will have legal responsibility for their rent if I agree to sponsor and they live elsewhere. Presumably, the family already settled in the UK will have to move to bigger place, or they will rent separate houses. Whatever they end up doing housing-wise, as the UK sponsor what would be my legal responsibilities in these circumstances? – Angela, by email Dear Angela, First, I must acknowledge the act of great compassion for you to sponsor and accommodate the original trio of granny, mum and daughter in 2022. That said, you are right to be wary of any legal implications and ongoing financial responsibility of signing up again, in circumstances which are fundamentally different in that the persons seeking sponsorship this time are not going to be living with you. Under the original Homes for Ukraine scheme, which was launched by the UK government in March 2022, a so-called 'sponsor' such as yourself is not legally responsible for ongoing financial or housing support beyond the initial arrangement to accommodate for at least six months upon arrival in the UK. The exception to this is if you voluntarily enter into a private agreement that says otherwise, such as signing up to be guarantor of rent payments under a tenancy agreement, or becoming a co-tenant. In each case, my advice is do not do that, unless you have the means to pay the rent. This means that after the original trio moved out of your home and started renting a house, you had no ongoing legal responsibility or liability for rents or other debts. In that sense it was 'job done' – your relationship as sponsor was over and you could now simply be friends. At its heart, the Homes for Ukraine scheme is a way for persons displaced by the war in Ukraine to enter the UK legally under a visa. Initially, visa holders were granted up to three years' leave to remain. From early 2025, it has been possible to apply for an 18-month extension to allow rights to work, study and access public services. At present, there is no direct route to permanent residency for those like your trio already here under the original scheme. The logic for this is the Government says at some point Ukraine will be a safe place to return to. I mention this because if one or all of your original trio could become permanent residents – perhaps under the skilled worker route, if eligible – their position would be much more secure. However, as of February 2024, only a UK national can sponsor a Ukrainian under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme. So, as it stands, the existing trio from Ukraine cannot sponsor the rest of their family to come over to the UK. Which is where you come in again. If you want to. And while I imagine you feel a moral obligation to sponsor the husband and his dad – not least because of your friendship with the trio, who have been part of your life now for three years – it is important to understand the essential requirements of the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Under the scheme, you are expected to provide accommodation to the individuals you are sponsoring, such as a spare room in your house or separate self-contained accommodation rent-free for a period of at least six months. Your question is: if the husband and his dad live elsewhere, will you be responsible for their rent? The legal answer to that question is no you will not. But the more fundamental issue is if the person you sponsor rents elsewhere instead of living in accommodation you provide, that falls outside of the scheme itself. Under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, there is a £350 to £500 monthly thank you payment, which you would forfeit if you do not provide rent-free accommodation. But, more worryingly for you and the Ukrainians concerned, the conditions of the visa would not be fulfilled. You must give accurate information on any forms you are asked to complete as a sponsor. Therefore, you must say if you are providing accommodation or not. Providing false information on a visa application constitutes a criminal offence under UK law. Convictions can result in fines, imprisonment, or both, depending on the severity of the offence. So, while you may not be liable for the rent or other debts of the Ukrainians, there is a financial implication if you do not accommodate them for the initial six months they are in the UK. In my view, all this means you must say to your original trio that you may only help with their other family members moving over only if you can all be totally transparent that they will be living together in a rented house, that you will not be accommodating anyone, and that you will not be guaranteeing any rent payments or otherwise taking on any responsibility for their financial responsibilities. It will then be up to the Government whether to grant a visa or not. Ask a Lawyer should not be taken as formal legal advice, but rather as a starting point for readers to undertake their own further research. 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Telegraph
04-06-2025
- General
- Telegraph
‘Could I be on the hook for rent for the Ukrainian family I sponsor?'
Do you have a legal question to put to Gary? Email askalawyer@ or use the form at the bottom of the page. Hello Gary, I sponsored a Ukrainian family (granny, mum and daughter) under the original government scheme set up after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. As we are empty nesters, they lived in spare bedrooms in our house for a year until they secured their own accommodation. They are wonderful, hard-working people, and we are all now friends – particularly me and the mum. The mum now wants her husband and his dad to move to the UK, and they have asked me to sponsor again. This time we are not being asked to accommodate them. However, I am worried I will have legal responsibility for their rent if I agree to sponsor and they live elsewhere. Presumably, the family already settled in the UK will have to move to bigger place, or they will rent separate houses. Whatever they end up doing housing-wise, as the UK sponsor what would be my legal responsibilities in these circumstances? – Angela, by email Dear Angela, First, I must acknowledge the act of great compassion for you to sponsor and accommodate the original trio of granny, mum and daughter in 2022. That said, you are right to be wary of any legal implications and ongoing financial responsibility of signing up again, in circumstances which are fundamentally different in that the persons seeking sponsorship this time are not going to be living with you. Under the original Homes for Ukraine scheme, which was launched by the UK government in March 2022, a so-called 'sponsor' such as yourself is not legally responsible for ongoing financial or housing support beyond the initial arrangement to accommodate for at least six months upon arrival in the UK. The exception to this is if you voluntarily enter into a private agreement that says otherwise, such as signing up to be guarantor of rent payments under a tenancy agreement, or becoming a co-tenant. In each case, my advice is do not do that, unless you have the means to pay the rent. This means that after the original trio moved out of your home and started renting a house, you had no ongoing legal responsibility or liability for rents or other debts. In that sense it was 'job done' – your relationship as sponsor was over and you could now simply be friends. At its heart, the Homes for Ukraine scheme is a way for persons displaced by the war in Ukraine to enter the UK legally under a visa. Initially, visa holders were granted up to three years' leave to remain. From early 2025, it has been possible to apply for an 18-month extension to allow rights to work, study and access public services. At present, there is no direct route to permanent residency for those like your trio already here under the original scheme. The logic for this is the Government says at some point Ukraine will be a safe place to return to. I mention this because if one or all of your original trio could become permanent residents – perhaps under the skilled worker route, if eligible – their position would be much more secure. However, as of February 2024, only a UK national can sponsor a Ukrainian under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme. So, as it stands, the existing trio from Ukraine cannot sponsor the rest of their family to come over to the UK. Which is where you come in again. If you want to. And while I imagine you feel a moral obligation to sponsor the husband and his dad – not least because of your friendship with the trio, who have been part of your life now for three years – it is important to understand the essential requirements of the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Under the scheme, you are expected to provide accommodation to the individuals you are sponsoring, such as a spare room in your house or separate self-contained accommodation rent-free for a period of at least six months. Your question is: if the husband and his dad live elsewhere, will you be responsible for their rent? The legal answer to that question is no you will not. But the more fundamental issue is if the person you sponsor rents elsewhere instead of living in accommodation you provide, that falls outside of the scheme itself. Under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, there is a £350 to £500 monthly thank you payment, which you would forfeit if you do not provide rent-free accommodation. But, more worryingly for you and the Ukrainians concerned, the conditions of the visa would not be fulfilled. You must give accurate information on any forms you are asked to complete as a sponsor. Therefore, you must say if you are providing accommodation or not. Providing false information on a visa application constitutes a criminal offence under UK law. Convictions can result in fines, imprisonment, or both, depending on the severity of the offence. So, while you may not be liable for the rent or other debts of the Ukrainians, there is a financial implication if you do not accommodate them for the initial six months they are in the UK. In my view, all this means you must say to your original trio that you may only help with their other family members moving over only if you can all be totally transparent that they will be living together in a rented house, that you will not be accommodating anyone, and that you will not be guaranteeing any rent payments or otherwise taking on any responsibility for their financial responsibilities. It will then be up to the Government whether to grant a visa or not.
