A number of new law changes will come into effect from this month.

BirminghamLive reports there will be changes to pensions, vehicle tyres and more meaning you need to be aware of what these changes in legislation mean to you.

Here is all you need to know about laws coming into effect this month.

Tyre changes

In July last year, the Government announced changes will be coming into effect meaning tyres that are 10 or more years old will no longer be legal on the front axles of lorries, buses and coaches.

The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations will now come into force on 1 February 2021.

It will now be illegal to fit 10-year-old tyres to the front axle of good vehicles with a maximum gross weight exceeding 3,500 kg.

This will also be the case for a bus or coach – including minibuses – and the rear axle of a minibus with single rear wheels fitted.

Lockdown

The Government will review the current lockdown on February 15.

Last week Prime Minister Boris Johnson suggested current measures will last until March when he announced the earliest possible date schools could reopen will be March 8.

There is a review of lockdown measures every two weeks and amid the ongoing healthcare crisis it is likely things can change and we could see changes to Covid-19 legislation before March.

Pension “investment pathways”

At the age of 55 you are able to do what you like with any money you have saved into your pension, but it is worth noting that this money will have to last.

In light of this, from April, people who wish to take out pension funds will be offered four options to help manage finances as well as the option to speak to a professional advisor.

Steven Cameron, Aegon pensions director said: "From February, customers going into drawdown without taking advice will be asked to choose which of four retirement scenarios best matches their plans for their pension funds over the next five years and will then be offered the pathway that looks to best match those plans.”

He added: "While this should help individuals avoid making particularly unwise investment choices, it won’t replace the personalised recommendations from a professional adviser on where to invest and how much income can safely be taken to last throughout life.”

Furlough cut-off date

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has been extended until 30 April 2021.

Claims for furlough days in January 2021 must be made by 15 February 2021.

You can no longer submit claims for claim periods ending on or before 31 October 2020.

Post-termination non-compete clauses

The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) are in the middle of consultation on measures to reform post-termination non-compete clauses in contracts.

Non-compete clauses are added into contracts of employment to restrict an individual’s ability to work for competing businesses for a period after they leave a company.  

The consultation ends on February 26 so we could see changes to clauses in contracts of employment including the proposal to make non-compete clauses enforceable only when the employer provides compensation during the term of the clause.

Non-compete clauses can also limit an individual’s ability to establish a rival company and due to the impacts of Covid-19 the government is looking for new ways to encourage entrepreneurship to help boost the economy and create new opportunities.

CJRS claims made public

From February 2021 HMRC will publish details of employers’ Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) claims.

The employer name, company number and indication of value of claims within a band will be made available of claims starting from December 1, 2020.

Furloughed employees will also be able to see details of claims made for them on the personal tax account from February.