Building Safety Act amendments re Tribunal appointed managers – Tanfield Chambers

‘Timothy Polli KC, Carl Fain, and Katie Gray discuss what the rules are in the LTA 1987 amendments, as well as the issues that arise between FTT appointed managers and Regulator- appointment special measures managers.’

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Tanfield Chambers, 19th April 2024

Source: www.tanfieldchambers.co.uk

Navigating housing rights, education and religious freedom: Ghaoui – Law & Religion UK

‘In Ghaoui v London Borough of Waltham Forest [2024] EWCA Civ 405, Mr Ghaoui, his wife and two young children lived in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. They were rendered homeless in April 2019 and Mr Ghaoui applied to the local authority for assistance with accommodation. In September 2019, he sent his older child to a fee-paying Muslim nursery in Waltham Forest [2]. The family was evicted in March 2020 and Waltham Forest LBC provided temporary accommodation in the Harlow area, some 20 miles from their previous address, which made it harder for the parents to get to work in London and for the child to go to the nursery [3]. In early September 2022, the younger child entered the same nursery [5]. Mr Ghaoui argued that in offering them accommodation 20 miles from the school, Waltham Forest was “not considering their rights”, while Waltham Forest explained at some length that it was not under any legal duty to provide accommodation that allowed the children to attend a specific religious school: in short, it was not a housing “need” [6]. The point at issue was whether or not the local authority was, in fact, under any such obligation.’

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Law & Religion UK, 1st May 2024

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Not at home alone, but intending to return – Nearly Legal

Posted April 29th, 2024 in housing, landlord & tenant, local government, London, news, right to buy by sally

‘Weintraub v London Borough of Hackney (2024) EWHC 845 (Ch). An appeal of the dismissal of a claim for a declaration that Rabbi Weintraub had the right to buy, which was dismissed on the basis that he was not occupying the property as his only or principal home.’

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Nearly Legal, 28th April 2024

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Two for one: one case but two decisions on occupation under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 (Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea v Mellcraft Ltd [2024] EWHC 539 (Ch); [2024] PLSCS 49) – Gatehouse Chambers

Posted April 26th, 2024 in appeals, chambers articles, landlord & tenant, leases, local government, news by sally

‘Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea (“the Council”) is the freeholder of a building on the Portobello Road, London W11. In 2012, Mellcraft Ltd (“Mellcraft”) took a five year lease of the first and second floors of the property (“the flat”). Shortly afterwards, a lease of the ground floor shop was granted to another company controlled by the same director. The director (“M”) lived in the flat and conducted Mellcraft’s business from it. Mellcraft had no other business premises.’

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Gatehouse Chambers, 16th April 2024

Source: gatehouselaw.co.uk

High Court finds Local Authority’s housing policy to be discriminatory against women and girls escaping violence in successful judicial review challenge – Garden Court Chambers

‘The High Court has held that part of Westminster City Council’s Housing Allocation Scheme is unlawful, as it indirectly discriminates against women and girls who need to move borough to escape violence.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 10th April 2024

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Acting Beyond Their Purview: Independent Experts in the Dock – an article by Janet Bignell KC – Falcon Chambers

‘Many landlord and tenant cases involve expert evidence and the majority of independent experts act impeccably. However, in a recent case involving a business lease renewal and another involving dilapidations, judges found significant cause to criticise experts for their failure to understand the scope of their duties and role. The consequences were serious for those concerned. A salutary reminder of the critical importance of compliance with CPR Pt 35 for all those instructing and instructed.’

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Falcon Chambers, 15th April 2024

Source: www.falcon-chambers.com

Tribunal ruling is a step forward in understanding code disputes – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 16th, 2024 in codes of practice, landlord & tenant, news, telecommunications, tribunals by sally

‘A recent decision by the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) on a reference under the Electronic Communications Code (the code) helpfully clarifies some of the outstanding issues in this area, property disputes experts have said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 15th April 2024

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Council managing its premises is not providing a service for Equality Act 2010 purposes – Nearly Legal

‘FG, R (On the Application Of) v Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (2024) EWHC 780 (Admin). This was a judicial review of RBKC, asserting discrimination under the Equality Act 2010 in RBKC’s failure to make physical adaptations to a flat occupied by RBKC’s tenant, Ms FG, to meet her disability related needs.’

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Nearly Legal, 14th April 2024

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Court considers redevelopment ground for opposing business lease renewals – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 15th, 2024 in landlord & tenant, leases, news by sally

‘A recent court decision in England provides valuable lessons to landlords seeking to oppose the grant of a new lease highlighting the importance of proper preparation and planning in terms of lease renewal and property works, experts have said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 12th April 2024

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

The Lowe down – Nearly Legal

Posted April 2nd, 2024 in deposits, housing, landlord & tenant, news, penalties by sally

‘Lowe v Governors of Sutton’s Hospital In Charterhouse (2024) EWHC 646 (Ch). A High Court appeal of a first instance county court judgment by HHJ Luba KC, which we noted here. The claim was for deposit penalties for failure to provide the prescribed information in breach of s.213(6) Housing Act 2004. It was dismissed at first instance on the basis that the requirements had been met.’

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Nearly Legal, 1st April 2024

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Unfitness for human habitation quantum – 100% again – Nearly Legal

Posted March 25th, 2024 in damages, deposits, housing, landlord & tenant, news, rent, repairs, repossession by sally

‘Mason v 1) Olivera and 2) Santana, Claim no: K2PP0132 (15th December 2023, County Court at Clerkenwell and Shoreditch). We’ve previously seen a county court claim for unfitness for human habitation involve an award of 100% of rent in general damages, on the basis that it was a binary question – either the property was fit for human habitation, or it was not. If not, then it couldn’t be said that the tenant had derived any value from the tenancy. This is a second county court judgment on the issue and the same conclusions appear to be reached.’

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Nearly Legal, 24th March 2024

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Jacobs -v- Chalcot Crescent (Management) Company Limited [2024] EWHC 259 (Ch) – Gatehouse Chambers

Posted March 14th, 2024 in amendments, consent, covenants, delay, landlord & tenant, leases, news by sally

‘At a hearing in January 2024, Mr Justice Fancourt allowed an appeal from the decision of HHJ Hellman in which the Judge had determined that the Defendant landlord had reasonably withheld its consent to alterations.’

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Gatehouse Chambers, 27th February 2024

Source: gatehouselaw.co.uk

Leasehold Upper Tribunal roundup By Giles Peaker – Nearly Legal

Posted March 11th, 2024 in consultations, housing, landlord & tenant, leases, news, repairs, service charges by sally

‘Some quick notes on various recent (ish) Upper Tribunal decisions.’

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Nearly Legal, 10th March 2024

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

New legislation simplifies UK Construction Industry Scheme scope – OUT-LAW.com

Posted March 11th, 2024 in building law, construction industry, landlord & tenant, news, taxation by sally

‘New rules outlined today are designed to simplify a UK tax regime that applies when tenants carry out certain construction works and where payment is made by landlords.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 8th March 2024

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Councils call for “realistic and achievable timetable” and allocation of new burdens funding for implementation of Awaab’s Law – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Local Government Association has called on the Government to work with the social housing sector to set a “realistic and achievable timescale” for implementation of Awaab’s Law.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 6th March 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Landlords behaving badly corner – racial discrimination and harassment – Nearly Legal

‘Hickmet and Cheerz Express Limited v Dragos (Luton County Court, 19 January 2024). Ms Dragos was the assured shorthold tenant of Cheerz Express, with the tenancy beginning 1 June 2017. A depot of £1,100 was paid. The tenancy became a statutory periodic on 1 June 2018. A further fixed term tenancy began on 1 August 2018, then another statutory periodic on 1 August 2019. A notice seeking possession on grounds 8, 10 and 11 was served in November 2021, and a possession claim was issued in March 2022. Oddly, this was in the name of Mr Hickmet, who was the sole director of Cheerz Express Ltd, with Cheerz being added to the claim at a later stage. Mr Hickmet maintained up to trial that he had a “tenancy by estoppel”. This might be considered an early indicator that things weren’t going to go well for the landlord…’

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Nearly Legal, 3rd March 2024

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 – Local Government Lawyer

‘Jo Pickering, Aidan Dickinson, James Mallery-Nelson, Victoria Okafor and Christopher Watkins explore some of the main legislative changes brought in by the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 which are set to impact the local government and property sector(s).’

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Local Government Lawyer, 29th March 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

No-fault evictions: Ministers discuss watering down renter reforms – BBC News

Posted February 28th, 2024 in bills, government departments, housing, landlord & tenant, news, repossession by sally

‘Ministers are consulting backbench Tory MPs on watering down planned protections for renters in England.’

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BBC News, 28 February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Remediation Orders: What you need to know – Local Government Lawyer

Posted February 19th, 2024 in building law, housing, landlord & tenant, local government, news, repairs by sally

‘Joe Walker and Helen Arthur explain what a remediation order is and look at two recent cases to see how the First-Tier Tribunal has interpreted the framework for these.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 16th February 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

ASB and disqualification from the housing register – Nearly Legal

‘Willott, R (On the Application Of) v Eastbourne Borough Council (2024) EWHC 113 (Admin). A judicial review of Eastbourne’s allocation policy and of Eastbourne’s decision to exclude Ms Willott from joining the housing register on grounds of “serious anti social behaviour.”’

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Nearly Legal, 18th February 2024

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk