Jargon Buster
A
Acceptance The moment you say “yes” to an offer. Once you accept (verbally, in writing, or by paying), a legally binding contract is formed.
Action (Legal Action) Another word for starting a lawsuit or taking someone to court.
Adjudicator An independent expert who decides the outcome of a dispute (like a referee). You will often see this if you use a Tenancy Deposit Scheme to get your deposit back.
Affidavit A written statement that is signed and sworn to be true. It is used as evidence in court. Lying on this is a criminal offence.
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Any method of solving a fight without going to court. This includes mediation, arbitration, or using an Ombudsman. It is usually faster and cheaper than a judge.
Arbitration A private way to resolve disputes. An “Arbitrator” (private judge) makes a decision that is legally binding for both sides. You often can’t go to court after this.
Arrears Money that is overdue. If you haven’t paid your rent on time, you are “in arrears.”
AST (Assured Shorthold Tenancy) The most common type of rental contract in the UK. If you rent a private house or flat, you likely have an AST. It gives you the right to live there for a fixed time (usually 6 or 12 months).
Award The money a court or tribunal orders someone to pay you if you win your case.
B
Bailiff A legal officer who can take your belongings if you owe a debt (but only after a court order). They cannot just kick your door down for a credit card bill.
Breach of Contract Breaking a promise. If you or the other person doesn’t do what the contract says (e.g., not paying rent, or quitting without notice), the contract is “breached.”
Break Clause A magic escape button in a long-term contract (usually renting). It allows you to end a fixed-term tenancy early (e.g., at 6 months) without a penalty.
C
CCJ (County Court Judgment) A black mark on your credit file. It means a court has officially decided you owe money. If you pay it within 30 days, it disappears. If not, it stays for 6 years.
Chargeback A way to get money back from your bank if you paid by Debit Card and goods didn’t arrive. It is not a law, just a banking rule.
Claimant The person starting a legal case (suing). If you take your landlord to court, you are the Claimant.
Consideration The “price” paid for a promise. For a contract to be valid, there must be an exchange (e.g., I give you money, you give me a car). A promise with no consideration is just a favour.
Constructive Dismissal When your boss forces you to quit by making your life miserable (e.g., cutting your pay or bullying you). You resigned, but legally it counts as being fired.
Cooling-Off Period A 14-day window where you can cancel a contract for any reason. It usually only applies if you bought online or over the phone.
D
Damages Money. In law, “damages” is the cash compensation ordered by a court to make up for a loss or injury.
Default Failing to do something you legally should have done (like missing a mortgage payment).
Defendant The person being sued or accused.
Deposit Protection Scheme A government-backed bank account where your landlord must put your deposit. They cannot just keep it in their personal wallet.
Discrimination Being treated worse than others because of a “Protected Characteristic” (like your race, gender, age, or disability). This is illegal under the Equality Act 2010.
E
Employment Tribunal A special type of “court” just for work arguments (like unfair dismissal or unpaid wages). It is less formal than a real courtroom.
Eviction The legal process of forcing a tenant to leave. A landlord cannot just change the locks; they must go through the courts.
Exclusivity Clause A rule in a contract saying you can only work for that one employer. These are illegal in Zero-Hour contracts.
F
Fixed Term A contract that lasts for a set time (e.g., 12 months). You usually cannot leave early unless there is a Break Clause.
Frustration (of Contract) When a contract becomes impossible to finish due to something nobody could control (e.g., the gym burns down, so your membership is frustrated/cancelled).
Freeholder The person who owns the land and the building. If you own a flat, you are usually a “Leaseholder,” and the Freeholder is the big boss of the building.
G
Grievance A formal complaint you make to your employer about a problem at work.
Gross Misconduct Doing something so bad at work (theft, violence) that your boss can fire you instantly without notice.
Guarantor A person (usually a parent) who agrees to pay your rent or debt if you can’t.
H
Harassment Unwanted behaviour that offends or scares you. In housing, this includes a landlord entering without permission or cutting off your gas.
HMO (House in Multiple Occupation) A house rented by at least 3 people who are not from the same family (e.g., student digs). Landlords need special licenses for these.
I
Implied Terms Rules that are in your contract even if they aren’t written down. (e.g., It is “implied” that your boss won’t steal from you, and that a car you buy will actually drive).
Indemnity A promise to pay for someone else’s loss. If you sign an “indemnity” clause, you are agreeing to cover the costs if things go wrong.
Injunction A court order forcing someone to STOP doing something (like playing loud music) or to DO something.
Invitation to Treat A price tag on a shelf. It is an “invitation” for you to offer money, not a binding contract. The shop can refuse to sell it to you.
J
Joint and Several Liability A fancy way of saying “You are all responsible.” If you rent a house with friends, and one friend doesn’t pay rent, the landlord can ask YOU to pay the whole amount.
Jurisdiction Which country’s laws apply. For EverydayRights, we mostly focus on the jurisdiction of England & Wales.
L
Liability Responsibility. If you are “liable,” it is your fault (or your responsibility to pay).
Liquidated Damages A fixed sum of money agreed in a contract to be paid if someone breaks a rule. (e.g., “If you are late, you pay £50”). If the amount is crazy high, it might be an illegal “Penalty Clause.”
M
Mediation Trying to solve a fight with a neutral referee instead of a judge.
Misrepresentation Lying to get someone to sign a contract. If a car dealer tells you a car has 10k miles but it really has 100k, that is misrepresentation.
Mitigation Taking reasonable steps to reduce your loss. If you are unfairly fired, you have a duty to “mitigate” by trying to find a new job, rather than sitting at home waiting for a payout.
N
Notice Period The amount of time you must wait between quitting (or being fired) and actually leaving.
Notice to Quit The legal letter a landlord (or tenant) sends to end a rental agreement.
Negligence Being careless. If someone had a duty to keep you safe (like a shop owner cleaning up a spill) and failed, causing you injury, that is negligence.
O
Offer The first step of a contract. “I will sell you this for £10.”
Ombudsman A free, independent service that investigates complaints against companies (e.g., Energy Ombudsman, Financial Ombudsman). Use them before going to court.
P
P45 The form you get when you leave a job. It shows how much tax you paid. Give it to your new boss so you don’t get emergency taxed.
P60 The form you get at the end of every tax year (April) showing your total pay and tax. Keep this safe!
Probation Period A trial period at the start of a job. You have fewer rights (e.g., shorter notice), but you still have basic statutory rights.
Protected Characteristic Personal traits that you cannot be fired or discriminated against for (Age, Disability, Gender Reassignment, Marriage, Pregnancy, Race, Religion, Sex, Sexual Orientation).
Q
Quiet Enjoyment Your legal right to live in your rented home without the landlord pestering you or turning up unannounced.
R
Redundancy When you lose your job because the job no longer exists (not because you did anything wrong). You are usually entitled to redundancy pay if you’ve been there 2+ years.
Respondent The person defending themselves in a Tribunal (usually your employer).
Right to Rent The check landlords must do to ensure you are legally allowed to live in the UK.
S
Section 21 The “No Fault” eviction notice. A landlord can use this to evict you without giving a reason (currently under review by the government).
Section 8 The “Fault” eviction notice. Used if you haven’t paid rent or broke the contract.
Section 75 A powerful law that makes your Credit Card company responsible if a retailer rips you off (for items over £100).
Statutory Rights Rights given to you by Parliament (the law). A contract cannot take these away. If a contract says “No Refunds,” your statutory rights overrule it.
Small Claims Court A simplified court for claims under £10,000. You don’t need a lawyer.
T
Tenancy Agreement The contract between a landlord and a tenant.
Terms and Conditions (T&Cs) The rules of the game. Always read them before clicking “I Accept.”
Tribunal See “Employment Tribunal.”
U
Unfair Dismissal Being fired without a fair reason or proper process. You usually need 2 years of service to claim this.
Unfair Terms Clauses in a contract that are heavily biased against the consumer. These are often legally unenforceable (Consumer Rights Act 2015).
V
Void A contract that is invalid and has no legal effect (e.g., a contract to buy illegal drugs).
Variation A change to a contract. Both sides usually have to agree to a variation.
W
Waiver Giving up a right. “I waive my right to a refund.”
Warranty A promise that goods are of a certain quality. Similar to a guarantee.
Without Prejudice A phrase used in letters/emails during a dispute. It means “I am making this offer to settle the fight, but if we go to court, you can’t show the judge this letter.”
Wrongful Dismissal Being fired without the correct notice period or pay outlined in your contract.
Z
Zero-Hour Contract A contract where the employer doesn’t have to give you work, and you don’t have to accept it. You are usually a “worker,” not an “employee.”