I was going to finish off a very overdue post on a very interesting s.204 appeal on suitability, but that will have to wait - maybe tomorrow - because my jaw has just dropped on seeing this case report from Landmark Chambers. Let me just outline what has...
Intentional homelessness – what counts as accommodation?
Hodge v Folkestone and Hythe District Council (2023) EWCA Civ 896 A second appeal to the Court of Appeal on Folkestone's decision that Ms Hodge as intentionally homeless because she had left a room in a hostel run by a charity that she was occupying under...
From the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) and one Court of Appeal decision
Some brief notes on recent Upper Tribunal and Court of Appeal decisions on leasehold and service charge issues. Yambasu v London Borough of Southwark (LANDLORD AND TENANT - SERVICE CHARGES - Consultation requirements for qualifying long-term agreements)...
Suitability appeal – don’t ignore evidence of need.
Our grateful thanks to Daniel Grütters of One Pump Court for the following note and copy of the judgment in a section 204 appeal on the suitability of temporary accommodation. Uddin v Hackney LBC (2023) J40CL175 (unreported, we've seen the judgment.) Case...
Unlawful eviction – section 27 residence and section 28 damages
Wilson v Wilson & Anor (2023) EW Misc 5 (CC) A county court judgment on a claim under section 27 Housing Act 1988 for unlawful deprivation of occupation, against a background of breakdown in relations between a family. The key issue being the residential...
Tales from the County Courts – non-occupation of council tenancy, unlawful eviction and ‘wild allegations’ all over the place
A couple of County Court judgments - by HHJ Luba KC, as a circuit judge. Buckle up for a bumpy ride through the all too familiar county court landscape of erratic pleadings, lengthy delays and parties who rather mistakenly think that their own bluster and...
Wales – Renting Homes updates: The Good, the Bad and the Converted – part 2
Our grateful thanks as ever to Mike Norman of Harrow Law Centre for Part 2 of his updates on the implementation of Renting Homes (Wales) Act. Part 1 is here. Wales - Renting Homes updates: The Good, the Bad and the Converted - part 2 Introduced by the...
Contractual costs in the Tribunal & County Court, with a guest appearance.
Right, I am back from a two week holiday (it was lovely thank you) so onwards... Crescent Trustees Limited v Behjat. Tribunal Ref: LON/00BJ/LSC/2021/0168, County Court Claim No F69YX307 I had my attention drawn to this First Tier Tribunal/County Court double...
Wales: The Good, the Bad and the Converted – part 1
Our very grateful thanks for the following (and hopefully Part 2) to Mike Norman of Harrow Law Centre, who has been appointed, whether he likes it or not, as our Wales correspondent - NL. (Part 2 is now here.) Followers of the updates under Renting Homes...
What happens after a banning order? The further adventures of Mr Rasool
Mohammed Rasool has featured here quite often, for getting an ASBi against him for illegal eviction, for his role in quite the bizarrest set of cases, in which he sought re-entry after alleged illegal eviction to properties he had no interest in and didn't...
Getting it all wrong… LB Redbridge ‘dismal’ homelessness decisions
UO v London Borough of Redbridge (2023) EWHC 1355 (Admin) Ms UO and her 3 children, aged 11, 5 and 3, were homeless and had applied to LB Redbridge. The family had NASS accommodation in the Tottenham area since 2021, after NASS accommodation in Croydon and...
On the naughty step – a ‘rising star’ of Barking
Sadly, it appears that it is necessary to revive the long lapsed tradition of the Nearly Legal Naughty Step post. We have encountered a number of councils putting, or trying to put, damn silly clauses in their tenancy agreements for secure tenants, and then...