Noise abatement notices are governed by Part 3, Environmental Protection Act 1990 (as amended). They are not 'pure' housing law but they are frequently used in a housing context, particularly when dealing with noise-related complaints of anti-social...
Forfeiture and the LVT
By virtue of s.81 Housing Act 1996 and s.168 Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 a landlord may not seek to forfeit a residential long lease unless the breach (whether to pay rent, service charges, administration charges or other breach of covenant) has...
Arm's length discrimination (or not)
Odham's Walk Residents Management Ltd v Westminster City Council [2009] EWHC 1712 (Admin) is not a housing case per se, but is of interest. The applicant, a TMO, manages an estate of Westminster's housing stock as Westminster's agents under contract. The...
Victory – Bjorge Lillelien style
Every now and then, a case comes to my attention which makes me causes me unimaginable joy. Redstone Mortgages Plc v Welch, Jackson & Jackson (Birmingham County Court, June 22, 2009, HHJ Worster) is one of those cases. It's already attracted some media...
Like a blind man searching for a black hat in a dark room
Heffernan v LB Hackney [2009] EWCA Civ 655 is a timely reminder of the importance of having evidence to substantiate a claim for damages. Mr Heffernan was the freehold owner of 16 Penhurst Road, London, E9 ("the property"). The property was converted into...
Would you credit it?
Some of you might have seen in the news recently some rather confused reports that HHJ Halbert at Chester County Court was dealing with various attempts by people to write off debts owed under credit agreements, see, for example, this from the BBC or this...
Keep the noise down
R (McGarrett) v Kingston Crown Court (Divisional Court, 8.6.09) This case appeared as a note on Lawtel this morning and there is no transcript available yet. Mr McGarrett was a tenant of the local authority. He had a PPO on grounds of nuisance hanging over...
The times, they are a'changin
Yesterday, the Lands Tribunal - so beloved of those of us who practice in the field of leasehold property law - ceased to be. It has been replaced by the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) which, confusingly, is known as... the Lands Tribunal. There is currently...
"Something of a mess"
We first noted Defence Estates v L and another [2009] EWHC 1049 (Admin) a few weeks ago and now the transcript is available. The history L was married to an army officer. He was a violent alcoholic who abused both his wife and their daughters. In 1989 he...
Why bother in the first place?
Since the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993, leaseholder owners of flats in certain categories of building have been able to "collectively enfranchise" and force the freeholder to convey the freehold of the building to a nominee...
More on tolerated trespassers
Following on from our post yesterday (and from a personal conversation with Robert Latham of Doughty Street Chambers) we can shed a bit more light on the forthcoming commencement of Sch 11, Housing and Regeneration Act 2008. Firstly, the successor landlord...
Looking at it from all angles
Whitehouse v Lee [2009] EWCA Civ 375 is a rare beast – a successful appeal against a decision on reasonableness in the context of possession proceedings. However, it merits close attention not only for its rarity, but because it also reminds us of how to...