Judicial review challenge to end after Government uses emergency procedure to formalise requirement for bailiffs not to enforce warrants and writs – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Government has issued a statutory instrument under emergency procedures to prevent, except in specified circumstances, bailiffs and High Court Enforcement Officers (HCEOs) attending at a dwelling house to execute a writ or warrant of possession, execute a writ or warrant of restitution or deliver a notice of eviction.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 17th November 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Water Sellers – Nearly Legal

‘This was RB Kingston upon Thames’ appeal of the High Court’s finding that it was a “water reseller” under the Water Resale Orders 2001 and 2006, and thus not entitled to keep the additional funds it had recovered from the water rates paid by its tenants as part of the rent, though discounts and void allowances by Thames Water. This is significant because some 69 London councils and housing associations had entered the same or similar agreements with Thames Water, and would be liable to repay sums to their tenants for the relevant periods.’

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Nearly Legal, 15th November 2020

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

I’m not demanding, I’m telling you – section 8 notices – Nearly Legal

Posted November 12th, 2020 in agency, landlord & tenant, news, notification, rent, repossession by tracey

‘Prempeh v Lakhany (2020) EWCA Civ 1422. We saw this case on a first appeal in the County Court. The issue was whether a section 8 notice on rent arrears grounds, in this instance grounds 8, 10 and 11, is a “demand for rent” for the purposes of section 47 Landlord and Tenant Act 1987.’

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Nearly Legal, 9th November 2020

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

The importance of acting with “reasonable promptitude” when applying for relief from forfeiture: Keshwala and another v Bhalsod [2020] EWHC 2372 (QB) – Hardwicke Chambers

‘The tenants (Claimants) had a twenty-year lease of 89 Narborough Road, Leicester (Property) which commenced on 12 March 2008. The Property consisted of a lock-up shop on the ground floor with residential accommodation above. The Claimants mistakenly paid only £1,500 of the £2,000 quarterly instalment of rent that fell due in June 2018, leaving arrears of £500.’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 14th October 2020

Source: hardwicke.co.uk

Rent Repayment Orders – the Upper Tribunal is firm – Nearly Legal

Posted October 26th, 2020 in appeals, debts, housing, landlord & tenant, news, rent, tribunals by sally

‘This was an appeal from an FTT rent repayment order decision. The FTT decision was made before the Upper Tribunal decision in Vadamalayan v Stewart and others (2020) UKUT 0183 (LC) (our report) and this appeal succeeded pretty much on that basis alone – the FTT decision was wrong in law in the way the Tribunal had approached the award – but it also involves the UT putting down another firm marker to FTTs on the correct approach to awards in rent repayment orders.’

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Nearly Legal, 24th October 2020

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Possession Proceedings: Where are they now? – Tanfield Chambers

‘When the stay on possession proceedings first came into force on 27 March 2020, it appeared to be a straight-forward (albeit blunt) tool to help the Courts manage the effects of the Coronavirus.’

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Tanfield Chambers, 5th October 2020

Source: www.tanfieldchambers.co.uk

For this relief, much thanks – Nearly Legal

Posted October 5th, 2020 in appeals, debts, delay, forfeiture, landlord & tenant, leases, news, rent by tracey

‘Keshwala & Anor v Bhalsod & Anor (2020) EWHC 2372 (QB). An appeal from a Circuit Judge’s decision refusing relief from forfeiture, focussing on the issue of delay in making the application for relief. This was a commercial lease, though with living accommodation above. Mr Keshwala had taken a 20 year lease of the property in 2008. In 2015, the current freeholder had bought the freehold. Also in 2015, the rent first fell into arrears. The freeholder forfeited by re-entry and Mr K obtained relief from forfeiture on payment of arrears and costs.’

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Nearly Legal, 4th October 2020

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Eviction and contempt – Nearly Legal

Posted September 25th, 2020 in appeals, debts, landlord & tenant, news, rent, repossession, stay of proceedings, undertakings by sally

‘This is a somewhat unusual appeal in the context of possession proceedings, being an appeal against a 12 month committal of the tenant to prison on two counts of contempt of court.’

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Nearly Legal, 21st September 2020

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Master of the Rolls issues statement on resumption of possession cases – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 23rd, 2020 in coronavirus, debts, housing, judges, landlord & tenant, news, rent, repossession, time limits by sally

‘The Master of the Rolls, Sir Terence Etherton, has published a statement on the resumption of possession cases from 20 September.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 21st September 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Renters: Eviction cases resume after six-month ban – BBC News

Posted September 21st, 2020 in coronavirus, debts, delay, domestic violence, housing, landlord & tenant, news, rent, repossession by sally

‘Eviction hearings will now resume in courts in England and Wales – but the most serious cases will be given priority.’

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BBC News, 21st September 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Sentencing and confiscation in prosecutions for breaches of planning enforcement notices (R v Roth): Sarah Wood for Lexis Nexis – 5SAH

‘This case involved an appeal against a fine and a confiscation order following criminal proceedings for breach of an enforcement notice served under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (TCPA 1990). The appellant, Mr Roth, had converted a property into 12 self-contained flats without prior planning permission. His appeal against sentence was successful; insufficient credit had been given for his guilty plea in the Crown Court, where the case had been committed for the purposes of confiscation. The appeal against the confiscation order was advanced on three grounds: firstly, that the wording of the summons restricted the criminality to one day; secondly, that the rent received was not linked to the breach of the planning legislation; and thirdly, that it was disproportionate for the benefit figure to comprise the gross rental received. All three grounds were dismissed.’

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5SAH, 24th August 2020

Source: www.5sah.co.uk

Ban on evictions and notice periods extended in Government u-turn – St Ives Chambers

‘The stay imposed on possession proceedings was due to expire on Sunday 23 August 2020. However, in an 11th hour u-turn, Robert Jenrick announced on Friday afternoon that the ban on evictions would be extended for a further 4 weeks (taking the total ban to 6 months) in England and Wales. In a further, unforeseen twist, it was announced that a new 6 month notice period would be in place until at least 31 March 2021 (this applies to England only) in all matters save for “serious cases”, examples of which are anti-social behaviour and domestic abuse.’

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St Ives Chambers, 21st August 2020

Source: www.stiveschambers.co.uk

Benefit claimants face landlord discrimination despite ruling – BBC News

‘Thousands of landlords are trying to avoid renting their properties to benefit claimants, despite a judge ruling a blanket ban was unlawful.’

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BBC News, 28th August 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Eviction ban extended by four weeks – Local Government Lawyer

‘The ban on tenant evictions, which was set to expire on Monday 23rd August, has been extended for a further four weeks until 20th September.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 21st August 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Councils warn of “cliff edge” with 500,000 people at risk of eviction once stay on proceedings is lifted – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 21st, 2020 in coronavirus, debts, housing, landlord & tenant, local government, news, rent, repossession by sally

‘Councils have warned that hundreds of thousands of people could be at risk of eviction when the stay on possession proceedings introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic comes to an end on 23 August.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 21st August 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

The position on possession – Hardwicke Chambers

‘Andrew Skelly considers the current restrictions on a landlord’s ability to recover possession, and the emergency measures set out in the Coronavirus Act 2020 that will continue to apply after the automatic stay on possession proceedings comes to an end on 23 August 2020.’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 12th August 2020

Source: hardwicke.co.uk

230,000 could lose homes as eviction ban ends in England and Wales – The Guardian

Posted August 19th, 2020 in coronavirus, debts, housing, landlord & tenant, news, rent, repossession, statistics by sally

‘A man whose partner died of coronavirus after they moved into their dream flat is among 230,000 people who face having to leave their homes when the government lifts its ban on evictions in England and Wales this weekend.’

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The Guardian, 19th August 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Rent arrears and RROs – Nearly Legal

Posted August 18th, 2020 in landlord & tenant, news, rent, repayment, repossession by sally

‘This is a First Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) decision on an application for a Rent Repayment Order (RRO), which unusually deals with the issue of the tenant’s rent arrears.’

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Nearly Legal, 16th August 2020

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Where to now? End of eviction ban leaves tenants fearing for future – The Guardian

‘Soon landlords will be able to take action against renters again, which many fear could lead to a rise in homelessness.’

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The Guardian, 9th August 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

High Court rejects challenge to award by arbitrator favouring council in property lease dispute – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 5th, 2020 in dispute resolution, landlord & tenant, leases, local government, news, rent by sally

‘A High Court judge has dismissed a bid by a landlord to have set aside an arbitrator’s award that favoured a council as tenant of a city centre property.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 4th August 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk