It is rare, if we are entirely honest, for a First Tier Tribunal decision on service charges to be exciting. It is even rarer for there to be mystery and police raids, and “Immunity from Treason” notices, and debts of “Trillions of pounds”, and something called an ‘equity lawyer’. Yet here they all are, and […]
Author Archives: Giles Peaker
Job ad – Slough
Shelter Paralegal £21,622- £22,647 pa, plus excellent benefits Slough Closing date: 10 August 2017 (at 11.30pm) Would you like to pursue a career in law? Do you have excellent problem solving skills and intellectual aptitude? If so join us as a Paralegal. This is a great opportunity to join a thriving legal team providing a […]
Job Ads – national
Shelter Training Shelter Training is recruiting freelance trainers to deliver our nationwide programme of housing and homelessness courses. Previous training experience, or extensive front line services experience is essential and you will need good knowledge of housing legislation and case law. We are particularly keen to hear from housing law trainers based in the South […]
Not looked into enough to be unaware
Trindade v London Borough of Hackney (2017) EWCA Civ 942 A second appeal of a homeless decision that Ms T was intentionally homeless, on the issues of whether Ms T’s actions were “an act or omission in good faith on the part of a person who was unaware of any relevant fact” as per s.192(2) Housing […]
On the naughty step – Physician heal thyself edition
If Nearly Legal has a mantra, it is this: “Everyone should have a housing lawyer with them at all times”. Or, at the bare minimum, a landlord and tenant lawyer. We had taken the reasonableness of this to be self-evident. However, it seems even this basic safety net might not be enough. Meet Lewis Perry, […]
Education and out of borough homeless accommodation
This is going to be a very short post on a very long judgment – 275 paragraphs worth. The main case was on the right to education under article 2 of the First Protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights, in relation to a local authority’s failure to provide a school place. However, there are […]
Warrant on Suspended order – What do you think?
Following the judgment in Cardiff City Council v Lee (2016) EWCA Civ 1034 (our report) and the subsequent appearance of new forms, at least for rent arrears suspended possession order cases, the Civil Procedure Rules Committee is having a consultation on “whether amendments are required to rules and forms in light of the Court of Appeal […]
Legal Aid: Rights, wrongs and the Lord Chancellor
I wrote at some length about legal aid, tenants rights and Grenfell Tower here (the third of the ‘myths’). Sara Stephens (my esteemed colleague – full disclosure) also explained the situation in a Legal Voice article here. But still it rumbles on, including from two people who really should know better, as quoted in this […]
“Real misery is being caused to no good purpose”
DA & Ors, R (On the Application Of) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (2017) EWHC 1446 (Admin) This was the judicial review of the ‘reduced’ benefit cap – £20,000 pa outside London, £23,000 in London, brought by claimants who were all single mothers with children, including children under two years old. The claim […]
Job Ad – Leeds
Minton Morril Solicitors Housing Solicitor: Solicitor, with expertise in housing law, to conduct a mixed caseload of Legal Aid and privately funded work, able to satisfy legal aid supervisor requirements. Caseload includes representing defendants in the Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme. For further information as to job description and specification please contact Maria Clancy either […]