Two quite different sets of secondary legislation. First: there is a new prescribed form for section 6(2), section 8 and section 13(2) notices for assured (including shorthold) tenancies from 6 April 2015. The regulations are here and the prescribed forms...
The judicial review of regulations on funding judicial review
Ben Hoare Bell Solicitors & Ors, R (On the Application Of) v The Lord Chancellor [2015] EWHC 523 (Admin) The legal aid funding regulations for judicial reviews, in effect from April 2014, were the subject of this judicial review. To cut to the chase, the...
Just because you are paranoid…
... doesn't mean that they aren't out to get you. The MoJ and Legal Aid Agency have put out a leaflet on Legal aid and "Help for people at risk of losing their home". The trouble is that it doesn't mention, anywhere, at all, not even in little small print,...
Christopher Chope MP makes a generous offer
The Justice Select Committee heard oral evidence on housing legal aid after LASPO today, 21 October 2014. Representatives from HLPA, Shelter and Garden Court Chambers gave evidence. The recording is here, if the video below doesn't work. In the course of...
Extremely loud and incredibly close
This is about loud and disturbing noises. I was going to write up Coventry & Ors v Lawrence & Anor [2014] UKSC 13 when it came out in February, given that it made some significant changes to common law nuisance claims. But it was 249 paragraphs and...
Homelessness Appeals and Costs
This is a brief note on a recent High Court appeal dealing with the issue of costs on withdrawn s.204 appeals (Unichi v LB Southwark 16/10/13-from a Lawtel summary, not on Bailii). The Local Authority discharged its duty towards Ms U under s.193(6)(b) of the...
Legal Aid Agency FAQs*
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...
‘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....
The Wasteland*
April is the cruellest month, breeding LASPO out of the dead land, mixing Memory and despair, stirring Dull anger in its train. Winter left us bare, covering Estates in fears and so, feeding An edge of life with dread of worse. Summer no surprise for us,...
Housing and LASPO – Urgent
The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill enters report stage in the House of Lords from 5 March. Any further amendments to the bill in the Lords must happen at this stage. It is likely that the social welfare provisions, including housing,...
Ask not for whom the bill tolls
So there we are - the Legal Aid bill, helpfully called the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill, lurched into the light today, accompanied at the same time by the Consultation response [at the bottom of the page]. Some of us saw the bill...
I’ll get the lights…
Feeling cheerful? Good, we'll soon change that. Whether Claimant or Defendant on disrepair, judicial review or other CFA funded claims, the world is about to shift on its axis somewhat, and both sides are going to have to rethink their positions and tactics....