It has been almost four years since Karen Buck MP, Justin Bates and I first conceived of the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Bill (version 1), and it has been quite the rollercoaster since then. Now, as of today, 20 March 2019, the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, (version 2, or 4, depending […]
Category Archives: assured-tenancy
Forthcoming…
In case you needed reminding (and don’t worry, there will be another reminder), the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 comes into force for new tenancies this coming Wednesday, 20 March. Our thumbnail guide is here and some thoughts on ‘fitness’ in relation to Section 1 Defective Premises Act 1972 cases here. And MHCLG […]
Bits of news and things to respond to.
Assorted things… MHCLG have published guidance for tenants, landlords and local authorities on the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 – or as they call it, ‘the Homes Act’. There are separate guidance documents for tenants, landlords and local authorities, all available here. On the tenant guidance, I would add before taking proceedings, try […]
Possession and the PSED
In Powell v Dacorum BC (2019) EWCA Civ 29 and Forward v Aldwyck Housing Group Ltd (2019) EWHC 24 (QB), the question of the effect of the public sector equality duty under s. 149, Equality Act 2010, on possession proceedings where there had been drugs problems at the property was in issue. They were different cases in that, although […]
Build defects and fitness for habitation
Rendlesham Estates Plc & Ors v Barr Ltd (2014) EWHC 3968 (TCC) Well, we did write this one up at the time (our report here), but I don’t think we quite appreciated the general significance of the case. We certainly didn’t anticipate that it might subsequently become otherwise significant because of a change in the […]
Fitness for Habitation – a thumbnail guide
As of 20 December 2018, we have the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018. This is a quick (very quick) overview of the Act and how it works. For a more detailed version, there may well be a forthcoming book… The Act amends the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 sections 8 to 10 and […]
Finally! – Fitness for Human Habitation passes
The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Bill passed Third Reading in the House of Lords on 19 December. If you are reading this on 20 December, it might even already be an Act, as it may receive royal assent on 20 December. The Bill/Act provides that it comes into force 3 months from ‘being passed’, […]
Of HHSRS and Hiatuses
A couple of things… MHCLG have issued an “Addendum for the profile for the hazard of fire and in relation to cladding systems on high rise residential buildings” to the operating guidance to the HHSRS in relation to ACM cladding. The aim is: to provide guidance on the assessment of high-rise residential buildings with unsafe […]
Improvement clauses needing improvement
Network Homes Ltd v Harlow (2018) EWHC 3120 (Ch) An object lesson in the need for clarity in tenancy agreements. This was an appeal from a first instance decision of HHJ Luba QC. Mr H was Network’s assured tenant of a flat in a block used for a sheltered housing scheme. Following a fire safety inspection, […]
Challenging service charges that aren’t yours, and views on housing in the courts
I’m not going to go into detail on Gateway Holdings (NWB) Ltd v McKenzie & Anor (LANDLORD AND TENANT – SERVICE CHARGES) [2018] UKUT 371 (LC) but it does set out a point of principle. Ms McKenzie, the current leaseholder, sought to challenge service charges which had been demanded from (and paid by) her late father, […]
