Virginia Woolf famously remarked that for a woman to write fiction, she required enough means to support herself and a room of her own. For homeless applicants, though, sometimes separated spaces can be the problem. Aliya Sharif v Camden LBC [2011]...
A limited enjoyment?
Beedles v Guinness Northern Counties Ltd [2011] EWCA Civ 442 This was the appeal of the first instance decision in Mr Beedle's claim under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, Section 24C. We reported that case here. As we noted in that report, this is of...
Never apologise, never explain
Akhtar v Birmingham City Council [2011] EWCA Civ 383 [not on bailii yet, we've seen a transcript] When a Local Authority accepts the applicant's case on a review under s.202 review under Housing Act 1996, is there or should there be a duty to give reasons...
Content partners
I've been a fan of the Guardian Law site since it started out. It is energetic, thoughtful and interesting. But, as any unbiased and entirely objective observer would be bound to conclude, the site had an obvious and gaping hole in its coverage. Where was...
An opportunity to reform
Hat tip to Legal Action's Recent Developments in Housing Law for letting us know about this one. Westlea Housing Association v Price, Swindon County Court, 20 & 21 Jan 2011 An ASB possession case, successfully defended at least partly on the basis that...
Article 8 in the County Courts. Part 1 of…
We've heard of a couple of County Court proportionality defence decisions since Pinnock. but none in enough detail to report. One of those is, apparently, headed to appeal, so maybe more then. But we've now had sight of a full judgment in a County Court case...
Chalk, cheese and Ground 9
Hat tip to Legal Action 'Recent Developments in Housing Law' for this one. Watford Community Housing Trust v Personal Representatives of Elizabeth Chalmers, Watford County Court 14 January 2011 This was a possession claim under Ground 9 Schedule 2 Housing...
‘Defending Possession Proceedings’ update
The LAG Defending Possession Proceedings (7th Edition), a book which is surely in every housing practitioner's library, has received an update to cover Pinnock and Powell, public law and proportionality defences. The free update can be downloaded here.
Face time
Makisi & Ors v Birmingham City Council [2011] EWCA Civ 355 Does the right to make oral submissions to a review officer on a s.202 Housing Act 1996 review, following a 'minded to' letter, mean that the applicant has the right to insist on a meeting? This...
Oh Cluck!
Nearly Legal was brought up with chickens (not by chickens - a vital distinction. No poultry played a parental role at all. Oh no). After decades, and not a little intensive therapy, the metaphorical, if not the literal, scars seemed to have faded. Immersed...
I’ll get the lights…
Feeling cheerful? Good, we'll soon change that. Whether Claimant or Defendant on disrepair, judicial review or other CFA funded claims, the world is about to shift on its axis somewhat, and both sides are going to have to rethink their positions and tactics....
Grant Shapps on flexible tenancies and Pinnock
Grant Shapps has given A statement to Inside Housing on his view of the impact of Pinnock v Manchester and Powell v Hounslow on the plans for flexible tenancies. The short answer is not a lot. He points to the 'exceptional case' provision and the presumption...