The Legal Aid Agency has released a set of 'frequently asked questions' on scope and funding after 1 April just gone. A copy is here. The housing section is at 74-109 There are few surprises, but worthy of note is the position on disrepair: 81. Are damages...
A Further Deposit From the Court of Appeal
Johnson & Ors v Old [2013] EWCA Civ 415 The Court of Appeal has been turning its mind to another of the odd questions that has sprung from the fertile litigious bosom of tenancy deposit protection. In this case the argument was over the question of rent...
Of statutory defences and bottles of urine
An appeal against conviction on an illegal eviction case. We didn't report it at the time, but in R v Jay Allen & Razwan Mohammed, in Sheffield County Court, September 2012, Jay Allen was convicted of illegal eviction under section 1(3A) Protection from...
Not So Great Expectations
We are all aware that there is no general entitlement to permanent accommodation via the Part VII route (R v Brent ex p Awua). So it is interesting to find a s.204 appeal where it was argued that the Appellant had a legitimate expectation of permanent...
When is a spouse a spouse? We’ll find out
Just a note on a permission to appeal hearing: Northumberland & Durham Property Trust Ltd v Ouaha [2013] EWCA Civ 291 [Not on Bailii yet, noted in the Garden Court Bulletin] A Rent Act tenant died in November 2010. The other occupant was his 16 year old...
How to Almost Regulate a Profession*
It comes as something of a surprise to many people that there is no formal regulation of lettings agents or any form of structured consumer redress of protection scheme. Apparently, this is something that also bothers our elected representatives, or some of...
The Welsh Exodus Continues
We have had an ongoing series of posts about moving to Wales and at NL towers we have discussed whether we should be seeking advertising from the Welsh tourism authority! Before that comment causes a deluge of emails from unlikely legal service providers...
‘Transforming Legal Aid’*
No, it isn't over yet. The MoJ has issued a consultation on the next round of legal aid cuts, called 'Transforming Legal Aid'. There are some specific proposals that affect legal aid housing work. Hold on to your chairs... Residence requirement for funding....
Shelter briefing on private sector discharge
Shelter have produced a briefing on the use of Localism Act powers to place homeless applicants in private sector accommodation, aimed at Local Authorities and Councillors, Changes in the Localism Act 2011 give local authorities more scope to place homeless...
When fraud is not the operating cause of a person’s homelessness
Chishimba v RBKC, Court of Appeal, March 25, 2013, [from a lawtel note - not on bailii yet] concerned an appeal brought by a homeless applicant. The issue was whether Ms Chishimba had become intentionally homeless. Ms Chishimba approached the authority for...
Unclear judgment on unclear occupancy
London Borough of Brent v Tudor [2013] EWCA Civ 157 This was an appeal of a Circuit Judge's finding that LB Brent's possession claim under Ground 16, Schedule 2 Housing Act 1985 failed because the property was reasonably needed to accommodate those living...
Tell me a storey
London Borough of Islington v The Unite Group Plc [2013] EWHC 508 (Admin) This is an interesting appeal in relation to the counting of storeys for HMO licensing purposes. It actually repeats an argument dealt with in an appeal in a criminal prosecution of a...