The DCLG has put out a consultation, announced by Grant Shapps (again), on proposals to bring in a mandatory ground for possession for Anti Social Behaviour. The closing date is 27 October 2011. I had a look at Shapps' initial announcement back in January....
Back in the consulting room
R (Peat and others) v Hyndburn DC [2011] EWHC 1739 (Admin) is the first successful challenge to a selective licensing scheme. We've previously covered the permission hearings (here and here). It's quite a fun judgment to read, if only for the absolute...
Dealing, closure and possession
Hammersmith and Fulham LBC v Forbes Willesden County Court 14 April 2011 While we are on County Court proceedings based on drugs and nuisance (see the previous post), this is a possession case following closure orders and allegations of dealing. Hat tip to...
Mudslinging, evidence and possession of different kinds
Barking & Dagenham LBC v Bakare, Imevbore & Imevbore. Romford County Court 14/03/2011 HHJ Platt [unreported elsewhere] A county court case, but one with some interesting issues. Also a cautionary tale on being able to actually provide evidence of...
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...
Proper Crimbo!*
In More Effective Respopnses to Anti-Social Behaviour the Government sets out its plans for reforms of the ASBO and other associated remedies. In brief, the government thinks that: (a) there are too many tools for dealing with ASB and practitioners tend to...
Who you gonna call?
If there's somethin' strange in your neighbourhood you can now call... any of the persons listed in s.37(1), Policing and Crime Act 2009 (and not Mr Ray Parker Jr for whilst he "aint afraid of no ghost", he's useless* against criminal gangs). You may recall...
Localism Part Deux
The Localism Bill had a second reading in the Commons yesterday. One amendment (Labour) was tabled and defeated. Looks like the significant amendments will be made in Committee. Not - I must say - the best quality debate ever as it appears to have been...
Dear Mr Shapps
My word, what a fountain of press releases you have been lately. Quite takes me back to the heady days of John Healey. But it is this press release I want to talk about, the ‘Neighbours from Hell’ one. You announce that you: will introduce a new additional...
Tis the season for giving (1)
Leeds and Yorkshire Housing Association v Vertigan, Court of Appeal, December 9, 2010 (Elias LJ, Norris J, Lawtel note only) Vertigan was the assured shorthold tenant of the claimant. Over the years, it seems that he had done a number of things of which his...
Brave New World or Same Old Story
Pinnock v Manchester City Council [2010] UKSC 45 (Supreme Court pdf & BAILII links) Whenever a battle weary group of housing lawyers gets together, conversation inevitably turns (after the routine complaints about the less congenial DJs) to the thorny...
Landlord liability for nuisance
The extent to which a landlord can be liable for the acts of his tenants is a vexed topic, which we've discussed on a number of occasions before. The cases rather lean against liability. It is, therefore, very interesting to find Mackay J allowing a claim in...