A happy New Year to you all. It is going to be an interesting one on any measure. I've had a few days off, and so, in an attempt to enter 2026 with a clearer conscience and a lot fewer browser tabs open, I've been working on the backlog of cases I've been...
Catching up – housing conditions and illegal evictions
Catching up - housing conditions and illegal evictions Ferko v Kumar & Kumar. Ealing Magistrates Court. 15 July 2025 This was the sentencing hearing in an Environmental Protection Act 1990 prosecution that we previously saw in on appeal in the High...
Two smallish rants…
It has been one of those days, where a couple of things caused gnashing of teeth at the state of the world, or at least that (smallish) bit of it that involves the practice of housing law. So, I am going to vent. Apologies in advance. Firstly, I am trying to...
Denial of a right to a fair hearing (and a questionable injunction against a tenant under s.9A LTA 1985)
Batt, R (On the Application Of) v The County Court at Central London (2025) EWHC 3071 (Admin) This was quite a remarkable (and successful) judicial review of a decision of HHJ Gerald to refuse permission to appeal on four grounds from an inunction order made...
The King of England… and all his force dares not cross the threshold
Southern Housing v James Emmanuel (2025) EWCC 58 This was a first instance judgment, by District Judge Cridge at Bromley County Court, on the vexed issue of whether the court has the power to amend an injunction order for a tenant to give access to give the...
Awaab’s Law – A summary overview of Phase 1
Today - 27 October 2025 - the regulations implementing phase 1 of Awaab's Law came into force. The Hazards in Social Housing (Prescribed Requirements) (England) Regulations 2025 cover 'significant hazards' of damp, mould and fungal growth, and 'emergency...
Tales from the Housing Conditions Wars. Part 2
The second of a series of reports on County Court judgements in housing conditions claims - on what might be called procedural and costs wars. The first, focused on expert evidence and the pre-action protocol, is here. Carter v Leeds City Council. County...
Catching Up… Part 2
More notes on cases and matters from before, during and after my holiday, in a frantic attempt to get up to date. More to come... The draft Awaab's Law regulations - The Hazards in Social Housing (Prescribed Requirements) (England) Regulations 2025 - have...
Catching up… Part 1
The holiday was lovely, thank you. A couple of degrees hotter than the UK, but with a) the sea 45 seconds from my bed, and b) air conditioned rooms. But it left quite a lot to catch up on of previous backlog and 'while away' things - so, a first instalment...
Awaab’s Law ‘phase 1’, electrical certificates and an investigation into claims management companies.
In a written announcement today - 25 June 2025 - the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has laid out the implementation of ‘phase 1’ of Awaab’s Law, with regulations being laid today. These will take effect on 1 27 October 2025....
The wrong sort of exclusive
Kaur v Birmingham City Council. County Court at Birmingham. 12 January 2025. (Copy of judgment is here). A copy of the judgment in this County Court trial on a preliminary issue before a Circuit Judge has reached me. It is both interesting, and, I gather,...
The Yeovil Imbroglio
Cawley & Cawley v Abdri Group Limited. Yeovil County Court. 5 February 2025. (Copy of Judgment) This is something of a companion piece to the two judgments in Bristol we noted here, being also a judgment on an interim application in a housing conditions...