Free Legal Guides
Plain-English guides to UK employment, housing, and debt recovery law. Written to help you understand your rights, the key deadlines, and what to do next.
Employment
Unfair Dismissal Rights in the UK: A Complete Guide
You usually need 2 years' continuous service to claim unfair dismissal — but some dismissals are automatically unfair regardless of service length. From January 2027, the qualifying period drops to 6 months.
Constructive Dismissal: When You're Forced to Resign
Constructive dismissal is when your employer's conduct is so serious that you have no choice but to resign.
Settlement Agreements Explained: What to Know Before You Sign
A settlement agreement is a legally binding contract where you waive your right to bring certain claims in exchange for a financial payment and other terms.
Employment Tribunal Process: Step-by-Step Guide
ACAS early conciliation is a mandatory first step — you cannot skip it.
Workplace Discrimination in the UK: Know Your Rights
The Equality Act 2010 protects nine characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, race, religion/belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
Your Day-One Employment Rights (April 2026)
From April 2026, SSP is payable from day 1 of sickness with no earnings threshold and no waiting days.
Fire and Rehire: Your Rights
From October 2026, dismissing an employee to re-engage on worse terms for pay, pensions, hours, shifts, or holidays is automatically unfair unless the employer proves financial necessity.
Housing
Eviction Rights: Before and After 1 May 2026
Section 21 "no-fault" eviction is abolished from 1 May 2026 under the Renters' Rights Act 2025.
Section 8 Eviction: Grounds, New Rules, and How to Respond
From 1 May 2026, Section 8 is the only route for landlords to evict tenants — Section 21 is abolished.
Tenant Deposit Rights: Protection, Deductions & Claims
Your landlord must protect your deposit in a government-approved scheme (DPS, TDS, or mydeposits) within 30 days of receiving it.
Housing Disrepair Claims: Getting Your Landlord to Fix Problems
Your landlord is legally responsible for the structure and exterior of the property, heating, hot water, gas, electricity, and sanitation (Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, s.11).
Rent Increases After the Renters' Rights Act 2025
From 1 May 2026, all contractual rent review clauses are void. Rent can only be increased via the statutory Section 13 process.
Debt Recovery
Letter Before Action: How to Demand Payment Before Going to Court
A Letter Before Action is a formal written demand that must be sent before starting court proceedings for most debt claims.
County Court Money Claims: How to Sue for Money Owed in the UK
Money Claims Online (MCOL) allows you to make a court claim for up to £100,000 entirely online.
County Court Judgments (CCJs): What They Mean and How to Deal With Them
A CCJ is a court order requiring you to pay a debt. It stays on your credit file for 6 years.
Statute-Barred Debts: When a Debt Becomes Unenforceable
Most debts become statute-barred (unenforceable through the courts) after 6 years under the Limitation Act 1980.
Small Business Debt Recovery: Getting Paid What You Are Owed
The Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 gives you an automatic right to charge 8% interest above the Bank of England base rate on overdue business invoices.