R (McGarrett) v Kingston Crown Court (Divisional Court, 8.6.09) This case appeared as a note on Lawtel this morning and there is no transcript available yet. Mr McGarrett was a tenant of the local authority. He had a PPO on grounds of nuisance hanging over...
On the horizon
The Court of Appeal yesterday heard argument in Redpath v Swindon Borough Council B2/2009/0479. The case concerns the definition and scope of "housing management functions" for the purposes of ASBIs under s.153A, Housing Act 1996. We'll bring you the result...
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...
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.
Closure orders
There have been two recent cases on closure orders of passing interest. The first, less important case was reported in The Guardian's Society pages. The hearing appears to have been an amusing event, attended by "a large group of sex workers and their...
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...
'We rule the estate'
A local authority's failure to effectively implement the range of sanctions for Anti Social Behaviour is the subject of a report by the Public Service Ombudsman of Wales, Case 200702044 - Conwy County Borough Council. The whole report (there is a link on...
Ask and ye shall receive
Yesterday evening I asked for more information about Dixon v Wandsworth LBC (No 2) [2009] EWHC 27 (Admin) and, by the next morning, two copies of the transcript had made their way to my inbox. My gratitude to The Chief and to William Flack of Flack & Co,...
Desperately Seeking Dixon
Garden Court chambers have a note of a case called Dixon v Wandsworth LBC [2009] EWHC (Admin) 27. It isn't on Bailii, Lawtel or Casetrack. I know that some Garden Court people read this blog and if anyone has more information about it (or a transcript)...
Family Intervention Tenancies
From 5th January 2009 — in England at least — we will all be faced with a new beast the "Family Intervention Tenancy", previously alluded to by my colleague J. Since the last significant piece of the legal jigsaw was completed when the rules for local...
The Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 – an update
Two new Statutory Instruments have just come out relating to this Act, and, given that I'm updating my seminar notes about the 2008 Act, I thought I'd share them with you. The Allocation of Housing (England) (Amendment) (Family Intervention Tenancies)...