A couple of interesting housing law webinars in the next few days (well, hopefully both interesting, as I'm doing one of them) for all your 'working from home but still interested in housing law' needs. On Thursday 30 April at 10.30 am, the latest in Tessa...
It’s not right but it’s OK
The Secretary of State for the Home Department v R (on the application of) Joint Council for The Welfare of Immigrants (2020) EWCA Civ 542 The Court of Appeal have their way with the judicial review of the 'Right to Rent' scheme. This was the Secretary of...
Not signed, not sealed, not delivered
Ratcliffe & Ratcliffe v Patterson & Porter. County Court at Luton, 17 March 2020 (Unreported elsewhere, we've seen an unofficial note of judgment. Grateful thanks to Clare Cullen of Field Court Chambers) A first instance county court judgment on a...
A challenge to PD 51Z
It appears that the Court of Appeal is to hear a challenge to Practice Direction 51Z on 30 April 2020. The case is called Arkin v Marshall. a) this involves two claims for possession on residential mortgages, apparently by a receiver b) the challenge is to:...
Service charges – too late and too varied
A couple of Upper Tribunal appeal decisions on service charge issues, with the second of particular significance. Cookson v Assethold Ltd (LANDLORD AND TENANT - SERVICE CHARGES) (2020) UKUT 115 (LC) An appeal on section 20B Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. In...
Probability of violence and dates of actions
LB v London Borough of Tower Hamlets (2020) EWCA Civ 439 A second appeal on a homelessness review, where a finding of intentional homelessness had been upheld, raising an important point on whether events or factors post-dating the decision or action that...
Notes in passing
A couple of brief notes. In Opara v Olasemo (HOUSING - RENT REPAYMENT ORDER - unlawful eviction) (2020) UKUT 96 (LC), the Upper Tribunal corrected the First Tier Tribunal on its approach to the standard of proof on an illegal eviction and unlicensed HMO rent...
Notice of applying for permission for a writ
Hertfordshire County Council v Davies (2020) EWHC 838 (QB) An application on the issue of notice under CPR 83.13(8) on permission to issue a High Court writ. Mr Davies was a school caretaker. He and his family lived in a bungalow which was tied to his...
Assortment – Priorities, and FAQS
Priorities In case you hadn't seen it already, HMCTS are publishing a daily operational summary on courts and tribunals during coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. This includes civil (County) court listing priorities. As of 15 April 2020, "Priority 1 – work...
Relationship Breakdown and Tenancies – FAQ
At least once a day, if not more often, there is an internet search that arrives at Nearly Legal along the lines of: "if i had a shared tenancy with my patner and we split up who would get the tensncy if we went to court? i have custody of 2...
What a difference a PSED makes…
Luton Community Housing Ltd v Durdana (2020) EWCA Civ 445 Ms Durdana was a tenant of LCH. She faced possession proceedings under ground 17 Sch 2 Housing Act 1988 - that the landlord was induced to grant the tenancy by a false statement made knowingly or...
What’s in an appeal?
James v Hertsmere Borough Council (2020) EWCA Civ 489 What can be addressed in a section 204 Housing Act 1996 appeal of a review decision? What is the scope of the jurisdiction? This second appeal provides answers, albeit in a rather phyrric way. Mr James...