Zaman v London Borough of Waltham Forest and Uduezue v Bexley LBC (2023) EWCA Civ 322 These were two joined second appeals from section 204 appeals, both on the issue of whether the local authorities had lawfully discharged duty following decisions that 'out...
Time to respond to ‘minded to’ letters, and getting affordability right
Our grateful thanks to Alice Irving of Doughty Street Chambers for this note of a section 204 appeal decision, which is interesting in the approach to representations in response to 'minded to' letters, to affordability assessments and on the timing and role...
Homelessness and Allocation – unlawfully restricting reasonable preference
Khayyat & Anor v Westminster City Council (2023) EWHC 30 (Admin) A judicial review by two claimants of Westminster's allocation policy and its restriction of entry to the housing register to only homeless applicants to whom Westminster had decided it...
Crossing the line – what happens when the Care Act meets housing duties
Campbell, R (On the Application Of) v London Borough of Ealing (2023) EWHC 10 (Admin) This judicial review concerns the relationship between the Care Act 2014 and housing legislation, in particular the effect of s.23 of the Care Act 2014, which prevents care...
Distant rumbles
Post Truss, we have been told once more that the Renters Reform Bill will be forthcoming before too long, and with it the end of section 21 as a way of getting possession for landlords. Now, like a distant rumble of thunder heralding the oncoming storm,...
Assessment of housing needs and cascading unlawfulness
YR, R (On the Application Of) v London Borough of Lambeth (2022) EWHC 2813 (Admin) Ms YR had applied to Lambeth as homeless. Her household consisted of her three children and four of her sister's children, A, her youngest child, is 6 months old; R is 4; Y is...
HMOs, overcrowding standards and reasonableness of accommodation
Rowe v London Borough of Haringey (2022) EWCA Civ 1370 A Court of Appeal decision which has broader significance for considering overcrowding and whether it is reasonable for a homeless applicant to remain in accommodation in an HMO with shared facilities....
Requirements for private sector offers in discharge of duty
Norton v London Borough of Haringey (2022) EWCA Civ 1340 A second appeal from a section 204 appeal of Haringey's decision to discharge homeless duty following a private rented sector offer (PRSO). There were three issues in the appeal. Haringey's letter to...
Understanding the risk of discharge of duty
Our grateful thanks to Angharad Monk of Garden Court (and instructing solicitor Anne Spowart of Morrison Spowart) for this note of judgment in a section 204 Housing Act 1996 appeal of Waltham Forest's decision to discharge duty. Mekonen v LB Waltham Forest,...
Notes and events: rent and evictions freezes, illegal eviction – the police and Art 8, & DA and benefit caps
A few things of interest... The Scottish government has put the cat amongst the pigeons by announcing that there will be a ban on evictions and a freezing of rent increases until 31 March 2023, to be implemented by fast track legislation. This would apply to...
Needs, not wishes – Housing Needs Assessments and Personal Housing Plans
ZK, R (On the Application Of) v London Borough of Havering (2022) EWHC 1854 (Admin) This was a judicial review of what was claimed to be Havering's failure to provide a lawful housing needs assessment and personal housing plan for Mr ZK, under section 189A...
Bullale again – settled accommodation and intentional homelessness
My grateful thanks to Nick Bano of Garden Court for a copy of this judgment. He sent it to me some time ago, but I then misplaced it, so the delay in this appearing is entirely my fault. Following the the Court of Appeal judgment in Bullale v City of...