Hajan v Mayor & Burgesses of the London Borough of Brent (2024) EWCA Civ 1260 My very grateful thanks to William Heath and Frank Bowmaker of One Pump Court for the following note of the Court of Appeal judgment in these joined appeals. The issue was the...
Equality Act assessors and open advice
Laidley v Metropolitan Housing Trust Limited (2024) EWHC 2611 (Ch) (Copy of judgment. Not on Bailii or National Archives yet) This was the joined hearing of two appeals from a possession claim on grounds of anti social behaviour. Mr Laidley had an assured...
The meaning of unfitness
Our grateful thanks to George Murray of Liverpool Civil Law and Laura Walsh at Satchell Moran for a copy of this judgment. Jillians v Red Kite Community Housing. County Court at Oxford. 24 September 2024 (unreported - the Judgment is here) This is a Circuit...
Renters’ Rights Bill – the headlines Part 2
Part 2 of a quick initial look at the Renters' Rights Bill draft, concentrating on what has changed from the late Renters (Reform) Bill that forms its basis. Part 1 of the headlines look is here, and our previous views on the Renters (Reform) Bill - much of...
Renters’ Rights Bill – the headlines Part 1
The Renters' Rights Bill was published today, Wednesday, and received first reading. It now looks set for second reading and progress through Parliament after the party conference season. Parliamentary time allowing, there is a good chance it will be an Act...
Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 report
The Phase 2 (and final) report of the Grenfell Inquiry was published today, Wednesday. You will doubtless have seen the headlines. The Inquiry does not hold back in finding responsibility for what happened on the part of all concerned (save the residents and...
Jurisdiction of the FTT on referrals of rent increases.
A couple of cases, one Upper Tribunal, one Court of Appeal, both concerned with the Tribunal's jurisdiction on proposed rent increases in assured and assured shorthold tenancies. The Court of Appeal one we are very late on reporting - somehow it slipped by....
Goodbye to all that?
So, a 4 July general election it is. Dissolution of Parliament will be on 30 May 2024. If Sunak hasn't already dissolved. Wash-up - pushing through remaining legislation in the course of going through Parliament, has to be completed by 24 May, when...
Housing conditions quantum – another County Court decision
Well, well. You wait four years then three come along at once. Our thanks to Doughty Street Chambers for their note of a County Court judgment on damages for disrepair and unfitness for human habitation. E v The London Borough of Lambeth (Wandsworth County...
An end to ‘a reasonable period’? Awaab’s Law
As you will doubtless recall, the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 introduced a new section 10A Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, implying a term into all social tenancies that the landlord will comply with all 'prescribed requirements' on responding to...
Varying a possession order from discretionary to mandatory ground
Poplar HARCA v Kerr. Central London County Court 26 July 2023. (Unreported. Judgment here.) This was a county court appeal to a circuit judge on the issue of whether a pre-existing suspended possession order, made on a discretionary ground, could be varied...
Staying to make the parties try dispute resolution. A bit of a Tydfil
Churchill v Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council (2023) EWCA Civ 1416 For transparency purposes, I acted for the Housing Law Practitioners Association on its intervention in this appeal. There was a great weight of expectations on this appeal, with...