‘What, if any, duty is owed by a local authority to children to protect them from abuse and harassment by neighbours? This court of appeal decision suggests none in negligence.’
Nearly Legal, 7th January 2018
Source: nearlylegal.co.uk
‘A very interesting (and perhaps surprising) Upper Tribunal 3 judge decision on the issue of ‘what is a bedroom’ for the purposes of Housing Benefit Reg 13 – the bedroom tax.’
Nearly Legal, 31st December 2017
Source: nearlylegal.co.uk
‘Landlords renting properties in England occupied by five or more people, from two or more separate households, will need to hold a house of multiple occupation (HMO) licence from April 2018, Housing Minister Alok Sharma has announced.’
Local Government Lawyer, 2nd January 2018
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘A Local Government Ombudsman Report on the actions of Maidstone Borough Council towards a homeless household makes for depressing reading. Both for the actions (and inactions) of the Council and for what it lays bare about the attitude to the homeless.’
Nearly Legal, 10th December 2017
Source: nearlylegal.co.uk
‘Britain’s human rights watchdog is to launch an inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire that will examine whether the government and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea failed in their duties to protect life and provide safe housing.’
The Guardian, 9th December 2017
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Milton Keynes Council failed to properly consider an application for help with housing by a family without recourse to public funds.’
Local Government Lawyer, 4th December 2017
Source: localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘A High Court ruling that quashed Charnwood Borough Council’s new housing mix policy may have reduced the scope for authorities to produce supplementary planning documents, the council has claimed.’
Local Government Lawyer, 30th November 2017
Source: localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘A new planning code for Wales is needed to get the country building and further protect heritage and the environment, says the Law Commission.’
Law Commission, 30th November 2017
Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk/
‘Keir Starmer, the shadow cabinet member and former chief prosecutor, has called for mandatory funding for refuges amid criticism over a shake-up of funding for women’s services.’
The Guardian, 27th November 2017
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘In November 2010 the appellant, Mr Doka, was evicted from his home at Laburnam Close in South East London on the basis of rent arrears. His former employer, Mr Theobald, subsequently allowed him to stay in his home in Dartford. The arrangement was initially meant to be a temporary one. But after a few weeks the arrangement was put on a more stable footing, with Mr Theobald agreeing to provide what he described as ‘full-time accommodation’, allowing Mr Doka to sleep in his son’s bedroom (while his son was away at University) for £500 a month. Mr Theobald told Mr Doka that he could live there for two-three years, while his son finished at University, though Mr Doka would be required to stay with friend’s on occasion if Mr Theobald’s son returned and needed the use of the room.’
Garden Court Chambers, 10th November 2017
Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk
‘At [53] of Hotak v Southwark LBC [2015] UKSC 30, [2016] AC 811, Lord Neuberger explained that whether or not a homeless applicant was ‘vulnerable’ within the meaning of s189(1)(c) Housing Act 1996 required consideration of whether he or she would be ‘significantly more vulnerable than ordinarily vulnerable’ as a result of being rendered homeless. In the conjoined appeals of Panayiotou and Smith, the Court of Appeal considered the meaning of the word ‘significantly’ in this context as well as a number of issues relating to the contracting out of homelessness decision making in instances where the public sector equality duty under s149 Equality Act 2010 is engaged.’
Garden Court Chambers, 10th November 2017
Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk
‘Mr Harris, the appellant, was the secure tenant of Hounslow London Borough Council, the respondent. On 17 November 2015, the police obtained a closure order, under the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 (ASBCPA 2014), in respect of the property where he lived, following complaints of noise nuisance and visitors loitering, smoking, drinking and using drugs in the stairwell.’
Garden Court Chambers, 10th November 2017
Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk
‘In the run up to the referendum the mood about the consequence of a leave vote was, from an economic point of view, pessimistic. ‘
Hailsham Chambers, 3rd November 2017
Source: www.hailshamchambers.com
‘The case concerned a residential development is White Sands, Camber, East Sussex. The land initially belonged to Burrows, which had obtained planning permission to build out a residential housing estate. Part of the land was sold to Ward, a housebuilder, subject to the terms of a contract which included an overage agreement by which 30% of profits above a fixed ceiling were payable to Burrows. That overage agreement was protected by a restriction at the Land Registry against the Ward title. Pursuant to the contract, certain disposals were “Permitted Disposals” under Clause 4.9 of the contract, not caught by the restriction. These included sales of individual units in the open market, and also (under sub-paragraph (c)) “the transfer … of land … for roads, footpaths, public open spaces or other social/community purposes”. Save as permitted, other disposals were caught by the restriction and required the disponee to submit to a deed of overage direct to Burrows.’
Falcon Chambers, November 2017
Source: www.falcon-chambers.com
‘On 07.09.2016, the Lord Chancellor announced his much awaited response to the Consultation commenced by his predecessor following the decisions made on 27.02.2017 to lower the discount rate from 2.5% to -0.75%.’
Byrom Street Chambers, September 2017
Source: www.byromstreet.com
‘Annual Review of Developments in Homelessness Law presentation slides.’
Doughty Street Chambers, 17th November 2017
Source: www.doughtystreet.co.uk
‘Slightly under the radar (possibly), but of enormous significance, the ONS has re-classified housing associations (or private registered providers of social housing – in the new language which I can’t get used to) as private sector, and in so doing has wiped around £60billion off the public sector debt. It is this re-classification which has given Hammond room to manoeuvre in the coming budget (although the rumours are that he is going to put £5billion only, and that appears to be going towards home ownership – plus ca change), which kind of proves the value in spreadsheets and the significance of audit practices.’
Nearly Legal, 21st November 2017
Source: nearlylegal.co.uk
‘The Supreme Court has this week rejected a claim that the denial of mainstream welfare and housing provision to a Zambrano carer and her child was unlawful.’
Local Government Lawyer, 17th November 2017
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘Three months ago we wrote about a research project and report on housing and health and safety law being carried out for Shelter by legal academics from the Universities of Kent and Bristol. Now the report has been completed.’
Nearly Legal, 14th November 2017
Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/
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