Akerman-Livingstone v Aster Communities Ltd [2015] UKSC 15 When the Court of Appeal held that a disability discrimination defence to possession under Equality Act 2010 had to face the same 'seriously arguable' summary test as an Article 8 defence, we were...
Regulations and damn regulations.
Two quite different sets of secondary legislation. First: there is a new prescribed form for section 6(2), section 8 and section 13(2) notices for assured (including shorthold) tenancies from 6 April 2015. The regulations are here and the prescribed forms...
Not So Alarming
There are new provisions requiring smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in residential properties. This announcement has had an interesting genesis! The Government announced on 11 March 2015 that it would be utilising powers it had taken to itself to require...
Relief from sanctions for not turning up?
In Home Group v Matrejek [2015] EWHC 441 (QB), the High Court has applied Rule 3.9 of the Civil Procedure Rules and the guidance on applications for relief from sanctions in Denton v TH White Ltd [2014] EWCA Civ 906 (our note here) to a possession claim...
Rising Damp
There is reason for Rigsby to look worried in Uddin & Anor v LB Islington (2015) CA Civ Div 10/03/2015 [Lawtel note only so far.] This was Islington's appeal of a first instance decision awarding the tenants damages for breach of repairing obligations....
Selective Licensing Reforms
If the case-law is to be believed, local authorities have a hard enough time introducing selective licensing schemes as it is (see R (Peat) v Hyndburn and R (Regas) v Enfield)). Well, the government has published a draft SI designed to make it even harder....
Part 7 and capacity
R (MT) v Oxford CC, High Ct, (Lawtel note only as far as I can tell) is an interesting little case on capacity and homelessness Mr MT lacks capacity and is unable to manage his housing or financial affairs. He (or, I suspect, his father who was also his...
Expectations are not existing facts.
Enfield LBC v Najim (2015) CA (Civ Div) 04/03/2015 [Note on Lawtel and here. Not on Bailii yet] This was Enfield's appeal from a s.204 appeal quashing Enfield's decision and review decision that Ms N was intentionally homeless. Ms N had a one year assured...
The judicial review of regulations on funding judicial review
Ben Hoare Bell Solicitors & Ors, R (On the Application Of) v The Lord Chancellor [2015] EWHC 523 (Admin) The legal aid funding regulations for judicial reviews, in effect from April 2014, were the subject of this judicial review. To cut to the chase, the...
Miscellaneous
Assorted things of note. The closing date for applications for the Tower Hamlets Law Centre Housing Solicitor post has been extended to 11 March 2015. Southend have been refused permission to appeal to the Supreme Court in Southend v Amour (our report on the...
Ending flexible tenancies – a reminder
We don't usually (indeed ever) repost previous material on NL. But I'm making an exception for this one, because I think it is timely. Flexible tenancies have been in existence for a while in some boroughs and I would expect that it is round about now that...
Bedroom tax and sanctuary schemes
A quick note to record that the judicial review of the bedroom tax regulations as being discriminatory on the basis that a 'panic room' equipped for domestic violence victims was classed as a 'spare bedroom' failed. The judgment does not appear to be on...