The Statement of Facts, together with the Question posed by the ECtHR is now online.
Now this is interesting…
The Observer had a very interesting article yesterday, which can be found here. It concerned the complaint by Andrew Brown (not his real name) to the Financial Ombudsman Service. Mr Brown was a tenant of a housing association who was persuaded by a mortgage...
Southwark and the Lords
Southwark LBC are involved in two cases are being heard in the House of Lords next week. Hanoman v Southwark is a Right to Buy dispute and R (G) v Southwark is about whether there is a lawful distinction between a child who is "in need of accommodation" or...
Help with service charges
Leaseholders who purchased their properties from local housing authorities under the Right to Buy (and those persons who subsequently bought on from those original purchasers) are currently facing huge service charge bills (up to £40,000 in some London...
Not taking the hint
Just a short note about an ASBO case that was decided in the Divisional Court today - Birmingham City Council v Dixon (18.3.09). Imagine, if you will, that a local authority applies for an ASBO against "X". After the application is issued, but before the...
Leasehold update
A couple of things to leave you with on a Friday afternoon. Leaseholders who are dissatisfied with the management of their properties are entitled to apply to a Leasehold Valuation Tribunal (LVT) for the appointment of a manager - Part 3, Landlord and Tenant...
Allocations and Homelessness amendments
Before the excitement of Ahmed tomorrow, there are two legislative developments to note. Firstly, the Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Eligibility) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2009, SI 2009/358, has just been published. It waives the requirement...
Social Housing on Radio 4
"Analysis" on Radio 4 yesterday was presented by Richard Reeves of Demos and was entitled "Anti-Social Housing." The thesis is that social housing has failed everyone. Thanks to the Iplayer, you can listen online here.
With friends like these…
Cheval Bridging Finance Ltd v Bhasin and others [2009] EWCA Civ 1613. Mrs Bhasin had lived at 9 Long Acre Drive since May 1975. Initially, she was a tenant of the local authority but, in c.1988, she purchased the property under the "Right To Buy" scheme and...
Who wants to know?
A very odd case was noted on Lawtel this morning - AB v Leicester City Council, Court of Appeal, 19.2.09. ([2009] EWCA Civ 192) AB had applied under Part 7, Housing Act 1996, to Leicester City Council ("Leicester") for assistance as a homeless person. It...
North of the border
Glasgow City Council v Mitchell [2009] UKHL 11 This is a Scottish appeal to the House of Lords on the scope of the duties owed - if any - by landlords in respect of the behavior of their tenants. It is a difficult case to read (at least for any English...
Something for the weekend
The House of Lords will be giving judgment in Glasgow CC v Mitchell on Wednesday 18 Feb 09 (link is to a .pdf). This is a case that we've missed so far but, in essence, is about the scope of the duty of care (if any) owed by a landlord to their tenants in...