High Court upholds order for possession leaving disabled 62-year-old woman homeless – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 3rd, 2023 in disabled persons, equality, housing, local government, news, repossession by sally

‘Reading Borough Council has defeated an appeal against eviction by a disabled resident with a long history of anti-social behaviour.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 3rd August 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Making an Application for a Remediation Contribution Order (RCO) – Tanfield Chambers

Posted August 2nd, 2023 in chambers articles, housing, landlord & tenant, news, service charges, tribunals by sally

‘James Fieldsend looks at applying for remediation contribution orders under the BSA.’

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Tanfield Chambers, 4th July 2023

Source: www.tanfieldchambers.co.uk

Certification Requirements and Conveyancing: Dealing With the Blunt End of the Building Safety Act – Tanfield Chambers

‘Sara Jabbari looks as the certification requirements in the BSA and how it affects conveyancers.’

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Tanfield Chambers, 4th July 2023

Source: www.tanfieldchambers.co.uk

Home Office breached statutory duty to ensure provision of adequate accommodation for pregnant asylum seeker and children – Garden Court Chambers

‘The Claimant was a destitute asylum-seeker who was heavily pregnant and the mother of three young children.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 31st July 2023

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Intentional homelessness – what counts as accommodation? – Nearly Legal

Posted August 1st, 2023 in appeals, homelessness, housing, local government, news by sally

‘A second appeal to the Court of Appeal on Folkestone’s decision that Ms Hodge was intentionally homeless because she had left a room in a hostel run by a charity that she was occupying under licence.’

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Nearly Legal, 31st July 2023

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Free legal advice aims to help thousands of people facing eviction each year – The Independent

Posted August 1st, 2023 in bills, homelessness, housing, legal advice, news, repossession, statistics by sally

‘The launch comes not long after the latest statistics showed households and children in temporary accommodation in England are at record highs.’

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The Independent, 31st July 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Council told to pay £6,000 after condition of property forced family to share one bedroom – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 1st, 2023 in compensation, housing, local government, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘The Housing Ombudsman has called on Barking and Dagenham Council to pay £6,000 to a resident after leaving her and her family of six in damp and mould for more than two-and-a-half years, in which they were eventually all forced to share one bedroom.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 31st July 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Suitability appeal – don’t ignore evidence of need – Nearly Legal

‘Our grateful thanks to Daniel Grütters of One Pump Court for the following note and copy of the judgment in a section 204 appeal on the suitability of temporary accommodation.’

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Nearly Legal, 28th July 2023

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

From the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) and one Court of Appeal decision – Nearly Legal

Posted July 31st, 2023 in appeals, housing, landlord & tenant, leases, news, service charges by sally

‘Some brief notes on recent Upper Tribunal and Court of Appeal decisions on leasehold and service charge issues.’

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Nearly Legal, 30th July 2023

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Landlord L&Q told to pay out to tenants after finding of severe mismanagement – The Guardian

Posted July 27th, 2023 in compensation, housing, landlord & tenant, news, ombudsmen, repairs by sally

‘One of Britain’s biggest social landlords has been ordered to pay tenants more than £140,000 in compensation as a special investigation by the housing ombudsman revealed it was “dismissive” of tenants and found “severe maladministration” including in tackling disrepair and antisocial behaviour.’

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The Guardian, 27th July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

New Acts – legislation.gov.uk

2023 c. 37 – Illegal Migration Act 2023

2023 c. 35 – Child Support (Enforcement) Act 2023

2023 c. 34 – Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023

2023 c. 39 – Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023

2023 c. 36 – Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023

2023 c. 33 – Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

“Landmark” Social Housing Act receives Royal Assent – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 26th, 2023 in enforcement, fines, housing, landlord & tenant, local government, news, repairs by sally

‘The Social Housing (Regulation) Act received Royal Assent last week (20 July) with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) claiming that the legislation will “strengthen powers to tackle failing social landlords, and tenants living in unsafe homes will be better supported by the Regulator”.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 25th July 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Unlawful eviction – section 27 residence and section 28 damages – Nearly Legal

Posted July 24th, 2023 in county courts, damages, estoppel, housing, news by sally

‘Wilson v Wilson & Anor (2023) EW Misc 5 (CC). A county court judgment on a claim under section 27 Housing Act 1988 for unlawful deprivation of occupation, against a background of breakdown in relations between a family. The key issue being the residential status of the claimant where she was, admittedly, absent from the property. There was also a claim in proprietary estoppel.’

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Nearly Legal, 23rd July 2023

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Section 106s and all that – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 24th, 2023 in housing, local government, news, planning by sally

‘While the case law on s.106 issues should now be settled, two recent decisions, like London red buses, come along as useful additions to the planning practitioner’s e-library, writes John Pugh-Smith.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 21st July 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Tales from the County Courts – non-occupation of council tenancy, unlawful eviction and ‘wild allegations’ all over the place – Nearly Legal

Posted July 19th, 2023 in county courts, housing, landlord & tenant, news, repossession by sally

‘A couple of County Court judgments – by HHJ Luba KC, as a circuit judge. Buckle up for a bumpy ride through the all too familiar county court landscape of erratic pleadings, lengthy delays and parties who rather mistakenly think that their own bluster and allegations will see them through, without supporting evidence or indeed logic. First, a possession claim for non-occupation of a secure tenancy as only or principle home, and then a possession claim that went badly wrong for a landlord facing a counter claim for deposit penalties, disrepair, harassment and unlawful eviction.’

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Nearly Legal, 17th July 2023

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Housing Ombudsman issues first finding of severe failings around information management – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 18th, 2023 in compensation, delay, housing, news, ombudsmen, repairs by sally

‘The Housing Ombudsman has told Livv Housing Group to pay a resident nearly £3,000 in compensation after its delayed repairs and inability to inspect the source of the issue left him in a damp and leaky home for four years.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 18th July 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Ombudsman raps landlord over Equality Act failures, issuing of invalid section 21 notice – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Housing Ombudsman has sharply criticised a landlord for repeatedly failing to have sufficient regard for its obligations under the Equality Act 2010, and told it to review how it issues section 21 notices.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 12th July 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Airbase asylum plans: High Court gives permission to councils’ challenge – BBC News

‘A legal bid to challenge the Home Office’s decision to use former airbases to house asylum seekers has been approved by the High Court.’

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BBC News, 14th July 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

NHS trust brings judicial review against three councils in bid to secure £1.8m in developer contributions – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 10th, 2023 in budgets, hospitals, housing, judicial review, local government, news, planning by sally

‘The High Court is set to hear a challenge from Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust over a decision by three local councils to refuse its request for developer contributions towards healthcare service provision before approving a 2,200-dwelling development.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 7th July 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Housing case law update: June 2023 – Local Government Lawyer

‘Catherine Craven and Jane Goodier round up the latest housing law cases and court decisions of interest to housing associations and local authorities.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 7th July 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk