What was the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation and Liability for Building Standards) Bill went through Committee stage in the House of Commons today, 20 June. I’m delighted to say that it went smoothly, with the only amendments proposed and passed being those brought by Karen Buck MP herself. The Bill as amended – now […]
Category Archives: assured-tenancy
Another step for Fitness for Habitation, and getting unlawful eviction wrong
Some quick notes. First, the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Bill finally has a Commons committee date! This is the next step after second reading. The committee is on 20 June 2018 and we have high hopes of getting the Bill and amendments through in one sitting (please…). And here are the amendments proposed by […]
Heavy handed, inaccurate threats of legal action – Metropolitan HT harass their tenants
Worthington & Anor v Metropolitan Housing Trust Ltd (2018) EWCA Civ 1125 The Court of Appeal on an instance of tenancy management going bad, very bad indeed. And the landlord losing a claim against them for damages for harassment under Protection from Harassment Act 1997. As briefly as possible, Mr Worthington and Ms Parkin were […]
Automatic discharge of suspended possession order – it depends
Armstrong v Ashfield District Council (2018) EWCA Civ 873 Where a suspended possession order has provided for a future date of discharge, does that take effect even when the landlord has applied for a warrant on breach of terms in the interim and those proceedings are ongoing? Mr A was the secure tenant of Ashfield DC. […]
Bedroom Tax – the powers of the Tribunal and a sufficient chest of drawers
Two bedroom tax related decisions – the first of which is a decision of widespread import on the powers (or lack thereof) of the First Tier Tribunal. The Secretary of State for Work And Pensions v Carmichael & Anor (2018) EWCA Civ 548 The was the SoS appeal to the Court of Appeal of an […]
On a Housing Court and (not) making things simpler.
A specialist Housing Court is in the air. Sajid Javid, Minister for Housing. Communities and Local Government, has repeatedly mentioned ‘discussions’ with the judiciary on a housing court, ever since the last Tory conference in October. There has been no mention of any progress – and surely progress would have to involve the MoJ, not […]
How late it was, how late
On the death of a tenant (without successor, if there is a possible succession) section 18 Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1994 provides: “Notices affecting land: service on personal representatives before filing of grant. (1) A notice affecting land which would have been authorised or required to be served on a person but for his […]
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 whole housing sector – social and private landlord, letting agents, tenants and buyers of new build properties. Even, it […]
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 closing remarks and the vote. (Out of shot – me being ecstatic in the gallery) […]
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 Bill are here and here). The published Bill for Second […]
