Rent Repayment Orders in the Upper Tribunal again. – OUT-LAW.com

Posted October 11th, 2022 in appeals, houses in multiple occupation, news, rent, repayment by tracey

‘A couple of appeals on rent repayment orders. The first confirming the UT’s approach to assessing what proportion of rent an RRO should be made for. The second on whether someone could be said to be in control or managing an unlicensed HMO where it was not clear or evidenced that the person received a rack rent.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 5th October 2022

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Surge in ‘no-fault evictions’ prompts calls to renew UK-wide ban – The Guardian

‘The number of renting households made homeless because of “no-fault” evictions has surged higher than pre-pandemic levels, sparking fresh calls for the government to ban the practice.’

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The Guardian, 22nd September 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Energy bills: New law will force landlords to pass on £400 rebate – BBC News

Posted September 22nd, 2022 in energy, landlord & tenant, news, rent by sally

‘Landlords will be forced through legislation to pass on the £400 energy rebate to tenants with all-inclusive bills, the government says.’

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BBC News, 21st September 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Proving things and the perils of pro-forma – Nearly Legal

Posted August 30th, 2022 in evidence, housing, news, rent, repayment, witnesses by tracey

‘Camfield & Ors v Uyiekpen & Anor (HOUSING – RENT REPAYMENT ORDER – evidence – pro forma witness statements) (2022) UKUT 234 (LC). An appeal from an FTT decision dismissing an application for a rent repayment order, which shows the importance of establishing ALL the elements of a relevant offence, while also providing a snapshot of the horror show that is “get rich quick” rent to rent set ups.’

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Nearly Legal, 28th August 2022

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Government to make it easier for landlords to evict people who fall behind on rent – The Independent

Posted August 22nd, 2022 in bills, government departments, housing, landlord & tenant, news, rent, repossession by tracey

‘Housing campaigners have sounded the alarm over government plans to make it easier for landlords to evict tenants who fall behind on their rent. The government wants to change the law so that evictions can take place if someone repeatedly falls into arrears – even if they catch up on payments.’

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The Independent, 20th August 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Rent Repayment Orders in the Upper Tribunal – Nearly Legal

Posted July 18th, 2022 in housing, landlord & tenant, news, rent, tribunals by tracey

‘A few Upper Tribunal appeals on rent repayment orders, in particular on the level of award, conduct and mitigating factors.’

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Nearly Legal, 17th July 2022

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Affordability and intentional homelessness – assessments and guidance – Nearly Legal

Posted July 14th, 2022 in homelessness, housing, local government, news, rent, tax credits by tracey

‘Baptie v The Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames (2022) EWCA Civ 888. This was a second appeal, brought by RBKT from a s.204 appeal that had overturned their decision that Ms Baptie was intentionally homeless from a housing association property due to rent arrears. The Council review officer had found “that the rent due to the Housing Association had been affordable for Ms Baptie, but she had failed to claim tax credits to which she was entitled and spent an unreasonable amount on living expenses. On the second point, the officer relied in part on figures contained in guidance issued by the Association of Housing Advice Services (“AHAS”).” (The first decision maker had found intentionality because Ms B was alleged not to have applied for Discretionary Housing Payments. The review officer found on these other grounds.)’

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Nearly Legal, 12th July 2022

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Judges allow appeal by council over affordability and non-payment of rent – Local Government Lawyer

‘It was not unlawful for a Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames reviewing officer to conclude that an applicant was intentionally homeless because her previous rent had been affordable but had not been paid.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 7th July 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

We don’t need no tariffs – Nearly Legal

Posted June 24th, 2022 in appeals, damages, housing, landlord & tenant, news, rent, repairs, repossession by tracey

‘Khan v Mehmood (2022) EWCA Civ 791 (Housing Law Practitioners Association intervening). This was, it has to be said, in part a rather odd appeal to the Court of Appeal. The background was a rent arrears possession claim by Ms Khan and a defence and disrepair counterclaim by the tenant, Mr Mehmood. At trial, Ms Khan did not appear and was not represented. The possession claim was dismissed and a judgment on the counterclaim made for damages equating 50% of rent for the period 2007 to 2014 (date of trial) (plus return of deposit and penalty for failure to protect). The District Judge added the Simmons v Castle 10% uplift to the disrepair general damages.’

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Nearly Legal, 21st June 2022

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Supreme Court to consider rent repayment order regime and superior landlords – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Supreme Court has granted permission to appeal in a case concerning the Rent Repayment Order regime in the Housing Act 2004 and Housing and Planning Act 2016, it has been reported.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 4th May 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

One in eight private rented homes poses ‘serious threat’ to occupants’ health, damning report finds – The Independent

‘More than one in eight privately rented homes in England pose a “serious threat” to the health and safety of their occupants, a damning report has revealed.’

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The Independent, 13th April 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

What’s the use of a property guardian? – Gatehouse Chambers

Posted April 8th, 2022 in appeals, chambers articles, housing, news, rent, statutory interpretation by sally

‘“What’s the use of a property guardian?” While that might be a potentially facetious question in the mouth of a person who has no experience of property guardians, it was also the question which was decided recently in the interesting Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) decision of Martin Rodger QC, Deputy Chamber President, in Global 100 Limited v Carlos Jimenez & Ors [2022] UKUT 50 (LC). In that case, however, the question was not facetious but, rather, a serious legal one which determined the outcome of the dispute.’

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Gatehouse Chambers, 30th March 2022

Source: gatehouselaw.co.uk

New Acts – legislation.gov.uk

Posted April 5th, 2022 in coronavirus, legislation, national insurance, parliament, rent by tracey

2022 c. 12 – Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Act 2022

2022 c. 11 – Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022

2022 c. 16 – National Insurance Contributions (Increase of Thresholds) Act 2022

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Property Guardians and HMOs – they are, you know – Nearly Legal

‘Global 100 Ltd v Jimenez & Ors (HOUSING – HOUSE IN MULTIPLE OCCUPATION – RENT REPAYMENT ORDER – “property guardians”) (2022) UKUT 50 (LC) In which Global 100, flushed by their win in the Court of Appeal in Global 100 Ltd v Laleva (2021) EWCA Civ 1835 (our note), appealed a First Tier Tribunal decision that a commercial office building, in which 10-12 guardians were living, was an unlicensed HMO and rent repayment orders followed.’

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Nearly Legal, 2nd March 2022

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Evictions rise: ‘I was quite upset, it was panic mode’ – BBC News

Posted February 24th, 2022 in coronavirus, deposits, landlord & tenant, news, rent, repossession by sally

‘The government introduced a ban on evictions in March 2020 to protect renters during the pandemic, but this was lifted in May 2021.

Now government figures show that repossession claims by private landlords are returning to pre-pandemic levels.’

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BBC News, 24th February 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Research Briefing: Social Housing Reform in England: What Next? – House of Commons Library

Posted February 18th, 2022 in bills, government departments, housing, news, parliament, rent by tracey

‘The Government’s social housing white paper is intended to deliver transformational change for social housing residents in England. This briefing outlines the measures set out in the white paper, stakeholder reaction and the next steps.’

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House of Commons Library, 16th February 2022

Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk

RROs, company directors and reasonable excuses – Nearly Legal

Posted January 24th, 2022 in housing, landlord & tenant, news, rent, tribunals by tracey

‘A couple of Upper Tribunal appeal decisions on rent repayment order cases.’

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Nearly Legal, 23rd January 2022

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

The Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill: the Code of Practice – Local Government Lawyer

‘In the third article in a three-part series on the Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill, Edward Blakeney and Mattie Green examine the accompanying Code of Practice.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 3rd December 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Research Briefing: Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill 2021-22 – House of Commons Library

Posted November 26th, 2021 in bills, housing, leases, news, parliament, rent by tracey

‘This briefing paper outlines the main provisions of the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill 2021-22 and the key issues raised during consideration in the House of Lords.’

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House of Commons Library , 25th November 2021

Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk

London borough to pay £8k+ after family remained in unsuitable accommodation for 23 months – Local Government Lawyer

‘The London Borough of Newham is to pay more than £8,000 to a mother of four after failing to move her and her family from “overcrowded and hazardous” accommodation for almost two years, following an investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 23rd November 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk