This is, I accept, slightly cheeky, but it occurred to me that our readers might like to apply for the job of President of the new First Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber). Salary is £138,548 (and a judicial pension). The successful candidate will provide the...
Introductory tenancies and s129 reviews – no conditions please
London Borough of Camden v Stafford [2012] EWCA Civ 839 This case revolves around the question of whether a review under s129 Housing Act 1996 does or doesn't uphold the original decision to serve a notice. In particular, when the decision may state that the...
On the naughty step – Part 2: The cost of free
[Updated 12 June 2012] This is the second of a couple of naughty step posts on 'free legal information' on the UK internet. We were moving down through the hellish circles of 'free legal content', but as your reluctant Virgil, I must insist we jump a few...
On the naughty step – Part 1: Geeks bearing gifts
This is the first of a two part Naughty Step I have, I'm afraid, become annoyed lately. Or to be more accurate, annoyance is a fairly constant state for me, but I have become specifically annoyed about a particular something lately. And it is even,...
New kid on the blog(ck)
The Legal Action Group, that lovely group of people who publish the books we all use, as well as the wonderful Legal Action magazine have launched a new housing law blog, here. It's a joint effort with Arden Chambers and the first post is on the Helena...
Tibbles the Destroyer
The Stephens Island Wren is no more. It has gone. Extinct. Wiped out. Destroyed. And, at least according to folklore, by a cat named Tibbles. That's not really relevant to the case of Tibbles v SIG Plc [2012] EWCA Civ 518, but, as this is my blog post, I can...
The Short March for access to justice
Alongside such luminaries as the Lord Chief Justice, The Master of the Rolls, The Presidents of The Law Society and ILEX and the Chairman of the Bar, a couple of the Nearly Legal team are taking part in the London Legal Walk on 21 May 2012. This is a 10...
Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Nominations
The 2012 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year nominations are open. In this difficult time for legal aid, what better than to celebrate the passion and commitment of those working in legal aid practice? Do you know someone or a practice whose work should be...
A taxing question
Macattram v Camden London Borough Council (2012) QBD (Admin) On Lawtel but no on BAILII This is an interesting little problem involving the payment of Council Tax. The landlord had rented the property to the Council. They had used it to house homeless...
Don’t squash my musical ambitions, dude
Just for a little bit of Friday fun, I bring you the news that friend of the blog Mike Weatherley MP has apparently joined forces with a well known chain of coffee houses to create a competition called ‘Rock The House’. The competition is aimed at unsigned...
Access to justice, between 11 am and 1 pm only
As of April 2012, all Civil and Family Courts in the London region (and apparently throughout England and Wales) will be changing the opening times of the court desks. They will be open only between 11 am and 1 pm. According to HMCTS: Court users attending...
Annual rituals
Happy new year to all who read, comment on or write for Nearly Legal! This is usually a moment to take stock of the past year and look forward to the next, but I'm feeling far too lazy to do it properly. Luckily, the DCLG have made the task easier by...