It has been one of those days, where a couple of things caused gnashing of teeth at the state of the world, or at least that (smallish) bit of it that involves the practice of housing law. So, I am going to vent. Apologies in advance. Firstly, I am trying to...
When can a section 21 end?
No, this is nothing to do with 30 April or 31 July 2026... Paragon Asra Housing v Rainford, County Court at Leicester, 25 October 2025 (copy of Judgment here) This was a County Court appeal of a first instance possession order on the basis of a section 21...
The King of England… and all his force dares not cross the threshold
Southern Housing v James Emmanuel (2025) EWCC 58 This was a first instance judgment, by District Judge Cridge at Bromley County Court, on the vexed issue of whether the court has the power to amend an injunction order for a tenant to give access to give the...
Awaab’s Law – A summary overview of Phase 1
Today - 27 October 2025 - the regulations implementing phase 1 of Awaab's Law came into force. The Hazards in Social Housing (Prescribed Requirements) (England) Regulations 2025 cover 'significant hazards' of damp, mould and fungal growth, and 'emergency...
*Actually, there needn’t (necessarily) be consequences
(We are, as ever, hugely grateful to Mike Norman of Harrow Law Centre for his excellent updates on housing law in Wales. Here is Mike's report on the fascinating denouement of the 'Costal Housing Group' litigation on the effect of not serving EICRs under...
Lifts, policies and discrimination – too academic to proceed.
Sims, R (On the Application Of) v The London Borough of Hackney (Rev1) (2025) EWHC 2271 (Admin) This was a renewed permission hearing on an application for judicial review. Mr Sims is the secure tenant of Hackney, in a flat on the second floor of a block,...
Homelessness and Social Housing (Wales) Bill – part two – Behind the Headlines
(As ever, we are very grateful to Mike Norman of Harrow Law Centre for his updates on housing law in Wales. This is the second of two posts by Mike on the huge changes in homelessness law set out in the Homelessness and Social Housing (Wales) Bill, including...
Tales from the Housing Conditions wars. Part 1
Lancastle v Curo Group (Albion) Limited (2025) EWCC 48 This is a judgment on application in two joined cases, Lancastle v Curo Group and Bailey & Bennet v Curo Places. In each, the defendant landlord had applied variously for the claims to be struck out...
Awaab’s Law ‘phase 1’, electrical certificates and an investigation into claims management companies.
In a written announcement today - 25 June 2025 - the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has laid out the implementation of ‘phase 1’ of Awaab’s Law, with regulations being laid today. These will take effect on 1 27 October 2025....
The staggered arrival of Awaab’s Law
In a written statement, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has announced the timescales for the implementation of Awaab's Law - i.e when the specific regulations will take effect. For social housing, this is: October 2025...
“It must have consequences”
Our very grateful thanks to our Wales contributor, Mike Norman of Harrow Law Centre, for the following excellent post on Coastal Housing Group Ltd v Mitchell & Anor (2024) EWHC 2831 (Ch) - a very significant decision indeed for landlords in Wales. (This...
Notes in passing. Big issues in Wales, and “Probably one can obtain the like on Amazon”
A couple of quick notes For landlords in Wales, Coastal Housing Group Ltd v Mitchell & Anor (2024) EWHC 2831 (Ch) is potentially a very big deal indeed. We will have a detailed note done before long, but in short, a two Judge High Court held that where...