Several of you have asked (whether in comments or in emails) about whether there will be a live stream of the funeral. This has now been arranged and details are below. https://www.wesleymedia.co.uk/webcast-view Date & Time: Friday 22/05/2026 12:00...
Funeral arrangements
The funeral will be at noon on 22 May 2026 and will take place at Harwood Park Crematorium https://www.crematorium.co.uk/ The wider housing law world is very welcome to join us in celebrating and mourning Giles. JBKC
Giles Peaker
I am very sorry to announce that Giles passed away over the weekend. If and when there is further information that I can share, I will do so. For now, please take a moment to read the short obituary prepared by his friends, colleagues and Partners at Anthony...
The King crossed the threshold – forced entry injunctions
Taylor Clark Ltd v Mohamed (unreported, Central London County Court, 5 March 2026) (note of case here via Falcon Chambers) This was a count court hearing, before DJ Le Bas, in which the issue of injunctions to permit the landlord to force access to the...
A Vague and Approximate Landlord and a County Court Conditions Counterclaim
Here is a recent housing conditions case that actually reached trial. A rent arrears possession claim with a disrepair counterclaim. N'Guessan & Anor v Bewry (2026) EWCC 9. I'm not entirely clear why this was given to Bailli, though I suspect there may...
A can of (joint and several) worms – Rent Repayment Orders
122 Widdenham Road, London N7 9SQ, LON/00AU/HMF/2025/0753. (Copy of Decision) This was a final decision in a rent repayment order application brought by (some of) the tenants of 122 Widdenham Road against the landlord, Mr Semelo-Shaw, for a failure to...
Not an open-minded balancing exercise
Our grateful thanks to Nicholas Nicol of One Pump Court for the following note of a complex ASB possession claim, with counterclaims for breach of the Equality Act 2010 and for disrepair. Redacted copy of the Judgment is here (a condition of the Official...
Steps too far
I should start with an apology to Geeta Koska of One Pump Court, who sent me this judgment a year ago. The delay is entirely my fault. Zikic v London Borough of Haringey. Central London County Court. 9 December 2024. (Copy of Judgment). This was a s.204...
Pre allocation costs in a housing conditions claim
Gemma Court v Beyond Housing Limited. Teesside Combined Court Centre. 12 February 2026. HHJ Robinson BEM. (Copy of Judgment. Our thanks to Andrew Hogan of Hailsham Chambers for circulating it.) This was a County Court appeal of a first instance decision on...
Evicted while on holiday – County Court unlawful eviction claim.
Our grateful thanks to Radhika Shah of Harrow Law Centre for this note of a judgment in an unlawful eviction case, with a substantial damages award. Zeinab Al Khafaji -v- Mr Dixit Shah – Claim no. K01W1476. 29 January 2026 The Claimant was the sole assured...
Rent (and when it isn’t).
Phillips & Anor v Garraway (2026) EWCA Civ 55 This is a curious second appeal of a possession order. It was the tenant's appeal, as the first appeal had upheld the possession order. The background is that Mr & Mrs Phillips had granted Ms Garraway a...
When your landlord’s landlord is your landlord (and a bit of procedural irregularity)
El-Mouka v (1) Ramsy Property Ltd (2) Home Connect Ltd. Romford County Court, 8th August 2025 (note of judgment here) This was a County Court appeal against a possession order and a refusal to stay eviction on a private tenancy. It is a rarity because it...