In the December edition of Legal Action, I noticed a decision from November 2012 (yes, 2012), called Miah v McGrogan [2012] EWCA Civ 1685 (Casetrack only). Mr Miah seems to have been the landlord of a house which had been let to a number of students. They...
Nowhere to go and nothing to do with my time
There are two things in life I really, really enjoy. The first is listening to Queen/Freddie Mercury. The second is leasehold property disputes. I am doing the first whilst writing about the second. The case of Burchell v Raj Properties Ltd [2013] UKUT 433...
There’s no place like HMO
Shah v Croydon LBC [2013] EWHC 3657 (Admin) [Not on Bailii yet. Seen full transcript of judgment] An appeal by way of case stated from a Magistrates Court decision that a property owned by Mr Shah was an HMO and that Mr S was therefore liable for some 14...
Out of order
R (CN) v LB Lewisham; R (ZH) v Newham LBC [2013] EWCA Civ 804 This is a very important decision from the summer. For some reason we haven’t got round to writing it up before now. In the meantime England have managed to retain (yay) and then lose (boo) the...
Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right (To Manage)
Fairhold Mercury Ltd v HQ (Block 1) Action Management Co Ltd [2013] UKUT 487 (LC) Fairhold (Yorkshire) Ltd v Trinity Wharf (SE16) RTM Co Ltd [2013] UKUT 502 (LC) Assethold Ltd v 7 Sunny Gardens RTM Co Ltd [2013] UKUT 509 (LC) No.1 Deansgate (Residential) Ltd...
Shortfalls, guidance and intentionality
Birmingham City Council v Balog [2013] EWCA Civ 1582 A s.202 review decision on affordability was at the centre of this second appeal, brought by Birmingham after a s.204 appeal decision went against them. The issue was to what extent the review decision...
What use is a Zambrano right of residence?
A couple of years ago a lot of lawyers practising in housing, immigration and welfare benefits got very excited by the case of Ruiz Zambrano (European citizenship) [2011] EUECJ C-34/09. The reason for this excitement was that the ECJ said that art.20, of the...
The Permissive Notice
Spencer v Taylor [2013] EWCA Civ 1600 This case was flagged recently on the Arden Chambers eflash service. This flash gave some bare bones details and led to much debate on the internal NL email discussion list. However, we now have the vital transcript and...
Allocations and legitimate expectation
In R(Alansi) v Newham LBC, Stuart-Smith J held that, although Ms Alansi had a legitimate expectation that she would remain a priority homeseeker on Newham's housing register, Newham had not acted unreasonably and in abuse of its power by withdrawing its...
On families, powers and duties to accommodate
R (on the application of MK) v Barking and Dagenham London Borough Council [2013] EWHC 3486 (Admin) [Judgment on Lexis, not on Bailii yet] A judicial review raising the extent of a Council's duties and powers under s.17 Children Act 1989 and s.1 Localism Act...
More children and housing duties
AT & Ors v London Borough Of Islington [2013] EWCA Civ 1505 We are a bit late with this one, but while we are on the interrelation of duties to children and housing duties, this was an an application for permission to appeal a judicial review decision on...
Children and Intentional Homelessness
Hurzat v Hounslow LBC (2013) CA (Civ Div) 21 November 2013 [Not on Bailii yet, Lawtel note] What is the relationship between Housing Act 1996 Part VII and Children Act 2004? Does the duty under s.11 Children Act to safeguard and promote the welfare of...