Brake & Ors v The Chedington Court Estate Ltd (2022) EWCA Civ 1302 The Brake v Axnoller litigation reaches the Court of Appeal again, this time on the unlawful eviction claim concerning the cottage, which the Brakes had lost at first instance. In what is...
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,...
Property Guardians and HMOs – on we go.
Global Guardians Management Ltd & Ors v London Borough of Hounslow & Ors (HOUSING - HOUSE IN MULTIPLE OCCUPATION - CIVIL PENALTY - Housing Act 2004 - whether First or Second Appellant a 'lessee' of the HMO - whether a person having control of or a...
Rent Repayment Orders in the Upper Tribunal again.
A couple of appeals on rent repayment orders. The first confirming the UT's approach to assessing what proportion of rent an RRO should be made for. The second on whether someone could be said to be in control or managing an unlicensed HMO where it was not...
Residential care, succession and human rights incompatibility
Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council v Mailley (2022) EWHC 2328 (QB) A quick note on this possession claim, which involves a challenge to Section 87 Housing Act 1985 as incompatible with Article 8 and 14 ECHR. Ms Mailley was defending possession of a Dudley...
Mere delicacy or fastidiousness?
Ray v Windrush Riverside Properties Ltd (2022) EWHC 2210 (TCC) An interesting trial judgment on a private nuisance claim that highlights the importance of the nature of the location and has a discussion of damages for non-resident claimants. Ms Ray had a...
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...
Proving things and the perils of pro-forma.
Camfield & Ors v Uyiekpen & Anor (HOUSING - RENT REPAYMENT ORDER - evidence - pro forma witness statements) (2022) UKUT 234 (LC) An appeal from an FTT decision dismissing an application for a rent repayment order, which shows the importance of...
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...
Homelessness – suitability and distance to school
The Queen on the Application of Fokou v London Borough of Southwark (2022) EWHC 1452 (Admin) (not on Bailii, judgment on Westlaw) THis was an application for interim relief in judicial review proceedings regarding suitability of accommodation and alleging...
Solicitors’ agents and rights of audience – appeal decision
[Updated 8 August 2022 to correct re LPC being on the record as party's solicitor and significance of this.] This is an issue that has come up here a few times (eg this post and this post) - the rights of audience of people who do not have a right of...