Yes, I know we still need to write up Rother District Council v Freeman-Roach (2018) EWCA Civ 368 on the approach to 'significantly more vulnerable' in homeless review decisions, and we will, we will. And there are other cases too. I also want to write...
‘No DSS’ and discrimination
The BBC ran a new report today on a case in Birmingham. The headline - "Landlords who say 'no DSS' breaking equality laws" - was, as we shall see, somewhat misleading, but the report did indeed cover a discrimination claim against a letting agency who had...
There can be only one!
The MHCLG have announced a consultation 'Strengthening consumer redress in the housing market', which primarily about reviewing and reforming Ombudsman schemes in the housing sector, with the proposal floated for a single Ombudsman/redress scheme across the...
‘Can’t Pay..’ will have to pay.
Ali and Aslam v Channel 5 Broadcast Ltd (2018) EWHC 298 (Ch) I won't go into detail - do read the judgment for the oddest mashup of housing law, media law and privacy law we have encountered (so far) - but suffice it to say that a husband and wife evicted by...
I can serve this only once – gas safety certificates
Caridon Property Ltd v Monty Shooltz. Central London County Court. 2 February 2018 (Now with approved transcript of judgment) First our thanks to Matthew Cannings of 3 Paper Buildings for note of judgment and Richard Cherry of 33 Bedford Row for details...
Breaching licensing and proceeds of crime
(Our thanks to Spencer Turner for this guest post) Brent Council v Shah and Others, unreported 29 January 2018 (Crown Ct (Harrow)) The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (‘POCA’) has been successfully used by Brent Council against landlords for breach of licencing...
From the county courts
With grateful thanks as ever to the Legal Action Magazine Housing: Recent Developments section for information on these (and they are not noted till those reports are publicly accessible), a couple of county court cases of interest. Assured Property Service...
Fitness for Human Habitation is go!
The Homes (Fitness for Habitation and Liability for Housing Standards) Bill passed second reading on 19 January, with a unanimous vote. The debate (interrupted by a Ministerial statement) is here and here. Because I can't resist, here are Karen Buck's...
‘How to rent’ Guide updated – important for all PRS landlords and tenants
A quick note to highlight that the MHCLG 'How to rent' booklet was updated on 17 January 2018. Apparently this was just to remove references to the 'London Rental Standard'. However, this is still important. For all new assured shorthold tenancies, the...
Fitness for Habitation – now with Govt support.
I am delighted, and delighted for Karen Buck MP, to be able to say that her Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation and Liability for Housing Standards) Bill now has government support as well as that of the Labour opposition. (Previous posts on the then draft...
Fewer floors for HMOs and minimum room sizes.
The Housing Minister, Alok Sharma, has confirmed that the Government will be going ahead with its proposals to change the conditions for a mandatory license for HMOs to any property with 5 or more occupants in 2 or more households, regardless of the layout...
Cat amongst the pigeons
In an interview in the Independent, Jeremy Corbyn has apparently announced that it will be Labour policy to end 'no fault' private sector evictions: Asked whether abolishing the “no fault” evictions would be part of the next Labour manifesto, he replied:...