The Local Government Ombudsman receives over 300 complaints a year about Local Authorities' handling of homeless applications. The LGO is clearly concerned by what it sees in the matters referred to it as it has now produced a 'focus report' , called "How...
Standards in private renting: A bit of a mess?
My good friend, Alex of Alex's Archives, has sent me a link to a discussion in the GLA corridors of power on standards in the private rented sector. I haven't finished listening to the GLA debate, but, as Alex said in his email, it does expose some "shaky...
Contracting out reviews
In Karaj v Three Rivers DC [2011] EWCA Civ 768, Ward and Rimer LJJ granted permission to appeal on what appears to be the "Shacklady" issue (links to our report), viz whether a failure to follow the proper rules regarding the contracting out of the review...
Unintended clarity from the DCLG
A leaked letter has emerged, sent from the DCLG to the office of the Prime Minister. The full text of the letter is here. Written by Eric Pickles' private secretary, apparently at Pickles behest, the letter sets out the DCLG's concerns at the effects...
Not too late but too little
Southwark LBC v Barrett Bromley County Court 18/03/2011 A County Court Pinnock case. Unsuccessful but interesting in that it was a transitional case, commenced before the Pinnock judgment, and to the extent that it shows the court using the 'seriously...
You win some, you lose some
Oxford City Council v Bull [2011] EWCA Civ 609 In which the Court of Appeal had to consider whether the homeless applicant had made himself intentionally homeless and whether he was in priority need. Mr Bull separated from his wife in June 2009 and left the...
Judicial review costs redux
We've seen reports of a case called R (Ambrose) v City of Westminster (Admin Court 13 May 2011. Not on Bailii or reported elsewhere so far). It was a judicial review of a refusal to provide interim accommodation pending review. Westminster had apparently...
Someone to watch over me
R (Nassery) v London Borough of Brent [2011] EWCA Civ 539 This was the appeal of a judicial review of Brent's decision on provision of care and accommodation under section 21 National Assistance Act 1948. Mr N was an Iranian asylum seeker (granted indefinite...
Only Connect
TG, R (on the application of) v London Borough of Lambeth (Shelter Intervening) [2011] EWCA Civ 526 The disconnection between Local Authority Social Services and housing departments has been a frequent topic here and in the courts, not least in the House of...
A room of one’s own
Virginia Woolf famously remarked that for a woman to write fiction, she required enough means to support herself and a room of her own. For homeless applicants, though, sometimes separated spaces can be the problem. Aliya Sharif v Camden LBC [2011]...
Let’s all move to … Wales*
Forgive the slight delay in picking this up, but the Welsh Assembly has issued a consultation on a new Code of Guidance on allocations and homelessness (closing date 30.06.2011; comments to Affordablehousing.actionteam@wales.gsi.gov.uk or by post). By any...
Never apologise, never explain
Akhtar v Birmingham City Council [2011] EWCA Civ 383 [not on bailii yet, we've seen a transcript] When a Local Authority accepts the applicant's case on a review under s.202 review under Housing Act 1996, is there or should there be a duty to give reasons...