We though it would be bad. And thanks to the JCWI, we can now have an evidence based stab at an answer. JCWI co-ordinated an evaluation of the West Midlands pilot of 'Right to Rent' and have published the report (summary here, and full report here). Notably,...
Rents and Equality. Barnet, again.
It appears that Barnet Council (via the Mayor's casting vote) are determined to carry on with their plan to raise rents for council tenants, new and existing, to 80% of market rent or top of LHA rates, whichever is lowest. We previously spent some time on...
Arguably Serious – Aster Communities Ltd v Akerman-Livingstone
Aster Communities Ltd (formerly Flourish homes Ltd) v Akerman-Livingstone [2014] EWCA Civ 1081 (30 July 2014) is an extraordinary decision that will – if allowed to stand – have a significant impact on the day-to-day management of possession claims in the...
Domestic violence and the bedroom tax
A judicial review of the bedroom tax has been given permission, where the claimant is a victim of domestic violence who has received support to remain in her home through a 'sanctuary scheme'. The woman, a victim of rape, assault, harassment and stalking by...
Equality Act 2010
I’m going to level with you, dear reader(s), I’m a bit late with this one. In my defence, I point to the fact that the Act as printed is around 250 pages long, consisting of 218 sections and 28 schedules. The explanatory notes run to over 160 pages. There is...
I’ll get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too! Two*
Thomas-Ashley v Drum Housing Association Ltd [2010] EWCA Civ 265 This is probably the biggest single week for dog-related possession claims ever. At this rate, the RSPCA will have to open a housing practice. The brief facts are at para 1 of the Court of...
They do things differently over there
Rodriguez v (1) Minister of Housing (2) Housing Allocation Committee [2009] UKPC 52 is perhaps most remarkable for needing to get as far as the Privy Council before a sensible decision was made. The second respondent was a statutory body responsible for the...
Arm's length discrimination (or not)
Odham's Walk Residents Management Ltd v Westminster City Council [2009] EWHC 1712 (Admin) is not a housing case per se, but is of interest. The applicant, a TMO, manages an estate of Westminster's housing stock as Westminster's agents under contract. The...
Equality Bill – request for help
As we noted here, the Government's new Equality Bill brings together various bits of anti-discrimination legislation and extends some of them. One area that is extended is protection against age discrimination, which is now covered by Part 3, in respect of...
The Equality Bill
A new Equality Bill was a flagship manifesto commitment and it was finally published at the end of April. The Bill receives its second reading in the House of Commons today. While the Bill is primarily consolidating and tidying up existing law there are...
Rough Sleepers, Rough Justice
R (RJM) (FC) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2008] UKHL 63 This House of Lords judgment is now just under two weeks old, but I think it is still worthy of comment here. It is a discrimination case dealing with benefits and rough sleepers, but...
Institutionally racist
We are not institutionally racist. SRA October 2007 This is not housing law related, but it is of significance to many in the sector. Lord Ouseley, the former head of the Commission for Racial Equality, was jointly commissioned by the Solicitors Regulatory...