HOUSING LAW NEWS & POLICY ISSUES

Domestic violence – legal aid and evidence of housing support officers
On 5 December 2017 the Ministry of Justice announced that the range of documents accepted as evidence of abuse, required for an applicant to qualify for legal aid in private family law proceedings,  will be widened to include statements from, amongst others, housing support officers. The changes will come into effect from January. For more information, click here

Troubled Families Programme
On 8 December 2017 the DCLG published an updated  guide for local authorities delivering the Troubled Families Programme. It provides practical advice on service transformation. The model and toolkit, first published in November 2016, supports local authorities to assess how they are performing in transforming their services, working across all partners, and helps areas to consider what more can be achieved. It captures the principles that underpin meaningful system and cultural change in clear and accessible language. For the guide, click here

Mortgage and landlord possession claims – July to September 2017
In July to September 2017, there were 39,000 mortgage and landlord possession claims. The overall trend in mortgage and landlord possession claims has been decreasing since a peak of 60,000 in January to March 2014. It was the only non-money claim group in the latest civil justice statistics which saw no significant change compared with the same quarter last year. For the statistics, click here

Grenfell Tower Inquiry
On 11 December 2017 a two-day procedural hearing began. It was concerned with case management issues, timetabling, sequencing of witnesses and disclosure of evidence. For The Guardian’s account of the first day, click here

Re-housing of Grenfell survivors
On 11 December 2017 Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, John Healey MP, wrote to the Prime Minister setting out five areas where, he said, the Government is still failing Grenfell survivors and tower block residents across the country: re-housing, testing of other blocks, funding, overhauling building regulations, and the nature of the public inquiry. In the letter, Mr Healey said: “over the last six months the Government has failed to make good many of the promises made to Grenfell survivors and to the country … Most Grenfell survivors are still stuck in hotels or temporary housing, most tower block residents across the country still don’t know if their homes are safe, no Government funding has been offered for vital safety work including retrofitting sprinklers, and no start has been made to the overhaul of building regulations which we have known since 2013 are badly flawed.” For details of the letter, click here and scroll down to the relevant feature.

Following Grenfell – Equality and Human Rights Commission inquiry
On 11 December 2017 the Equality and Human Rights Commission launched Following Grenfell, which will examine the human rights and equality dimensions of the tragedy, and determine whether the State is fulfilling its duties under human rights and equality law. The inquiry will focus on seven key areas: the duty to investigate (how the State is investigating Grenfell and whether current arrangements meet its obligations); the right to life (whether the State ensured the safety of the residents in Grenfell Tower and whether lessons have been learnt from previous reports); inhumane and degrading treatment (what immediate and longer-term support victims of such events can expect from the State); adequate housing (children, disabled and older people whose needs may not have been fully respected and understood within the fire regulations); access to justice (whether victims have been able to access appropriate legal advice after the fire, and whether a lack of access to legal support may have affected residents’ ability to address complaints about the risk of fire at Grenfell Tower); rights of children (whether they have received appropriate psychological support, housing and educational support since the fire); and equality issues (whether there were any policies and practices in place that disadvantaged any particular groups, such as disabled people or the elderly, and whether the State met the requirement of the Public Sector Equality Duty). For more details, click here

Supply and diversity of housing for older people
On 11 December 2017, as part of its housing for older people inquiry, the House of Commons Select Committee for Communities and Local Government heard from Housing Minister Alok Sharma and Local Government Minister Marcus Jones. To watch the session on Parliament TV, click here For more information about the inquiry, click here

Unsuitable short-stay accommodation – Local Government Ombudsman’s report
On 6 December 2017 the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman published a report concerning a young man with special educational needs who had been left in short-stay accommodation for nearly two years because social workers in Lancashire could not decide where he should live permanently. The man was placed in short-stay accommodation by Lancashire County Council after his family told social workers they were struggling to cope with his behaviour and the impact it was having on his younger siblings. The Ombudsman’s investigation found the placement in January 2016 was only meant to be temporary, but the man is still living in the accommodation today. It is likely the man’s behaviour has deteriorated through not living in suitable accommodation and not receiving appropriate support. The Ombudsman’s investigation found the council: failed to amend or stop his education, health and care plan when he could no longer attend college; failed to ensure the provision set out in his plan was met by Day Service; failed to hold an annual review of the plan; and so denied the man’s parent the right to appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Chamber of the First Tier Tribunal. The council will pay the man’s parent £2,500 to use for the man’s benefit to support his educational, social, language and behavioural needs. It will apologise and pay the parent £500 to acknowledge the distress and time and trouble they were put to, for the lost opportunity to appeal to the Tribunal in 2016, and for the delay in the right to appeal in 2017. For more details and for a link to the full report of the case, click here

Letting Agent (Registration and Code of Practice) (Scotland) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2017
The Letting Agent (Registration and Code of Practice) (Scotland) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2017, which come into force on 31 January 2018, make amendments to the Letting Agent Registration (Scotland) Regulations 2016 (the Registration Regulations) and the Letting Agent Code of Practice (Scotland) Regulations 2016 (the Code of Practice). Regulation 2 amends the Registration Regulations in relation to the information required in an application for registration as a letting agent to ensure that the Registration Regulations reflect the requirements in the Code of Practice and to make provision for those letting agents who do not hold and handle client money. Regulation 3(2)(a) and (f) amends the Code of Practice to make provision for those letting agents who do not hold and handle client money. Regulation 3(2)(b) to (d) makes amendments to ensure the Code of Practice works effectively for all types of tenancy, including the private residential tenancy. Regulation 3(2)(e) clarifies the provision in relation to notice for access to the property. For the 2017 Regulations, click here For the Registration Regulations, click here For the Code of Practice, click here

Northern Ireland housing statistics 2016 to 2017
On 5 December 2017 the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency and Department for Communities (Northern Ireland) published an annual compendium of statistics which provides information on a range of areas relating to housing in Northern Ireland. The report is divided into sections covering: supply, energy, social renting demand, private renting demand, owner occupier demand and household characteristics. For the compendium, click here For the response of the Chartered Institute of Housing to the latest statistics, click here

Housing Health and Safety Rating System
On 11 December 2017 the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health published a report reviewing the Housing Health and Safety Rating System 11 years on from it having taken effect. The report is based on a survey and consultation with environmental health professionals (EHPs) across the country, who use the system regularly and intervene to protect people from the effects of poor housing conditions and the impact these might have on their health. Key findings from the report include: 97 per cent of EHPs believe that the HHSRS needs updating; 90 per cent called for an update of the official guidance and better working examples; 71 respondents called for underlying statistics of this evidence-based system to be updated; and 53 per cent said that they had witnessed hazards that are not properly covered by HHSRS. For the report, click here For the CIEH’s press release concerning it, click here

London Mayor’s draft Housing Strategy
On 8 December 2017 the London Assembly Housing Committee published its response to Sadiq Khan’s draft Housing Strategy. The committee welcomed a number of proposals in the draft Housing Strategy which take on board the committee’s recommendations for engaging small builders, supporting offsite manufactured housing, investing in housing for older and disabled Londoners and more. Nevertheless, the committee has doubts about the Mayor’s ability to deliver what was promised to Londoners: “He estimates we need 43,000 affordable homes a year, yet his grants will part fund fewer than 20,000 affordable homes annually.” The committee is also concerned that most of the homes the draft Housing strategy would deliver will not be ‘genuinely affordable’, which is what the Mayor promised. The committee urges the Mayor to work closely with the boroughs to deliver homes that Londoners need and deserve. For the response, click here

Abolition of Right to Buy – Wales
On 5 December 2017 the Abolition of the Right to Buy and Associated Rights (Wales) Bill completed its passage through the National Assembly. The Bill now awaits Royal Assent. When implemented, the legislation will abolish the right of eligible secure tenants to buy their home at a discount under Part 5 of the Housing Act 1985 (Right to Buy); abolish the preserved right of eligible former secure tenants to buy their home at a discount under section 171A of the Housing Act 1985 (Preserved Right to Buy); and abolish the right of eligible assured or secure tenants of a registered social landlord or private registered provider to acquire their home at a discount under section 16 of the Housing Act 1996 (Right to Acquire). The Right to Buy, Preserved Right to Buy and Right to Acquire will not be exercisable by tenants who move into new social housing stock more than two months after the Bill receives Royal Assent, subject to certain exceptions. The Bill is now in the four-week period (6 December 2017 – 9 January 2018) during which, the Counsel General or the Attorney General may refer the question whether the Bill, or any provision of the Bill, would be within the Assembly’s legislative competence to the Supreme Court for decision. For more details, see Housing Laws in the Pipeline (below). For a statement by the Minister for Housing and Regeneration, Rebecca Evans, click here

Energy Performance Certificates
On 11 December 2017 the DCLG published guidance on how to apply the requirements of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive to the marketing, sale and letting of domestic dwellings. For more details, click here

Fire safety in tall buildings without ACM cladding
On 11 December 2017 the DCLG published an advice note for the attention of anyone responsible for residential buildings over 18 metres in height who are concerned about the fire safety implications of external wall systems that do not incorporate Aluminium Composite Material. It has been developed in consultation with the Department for Communities and Local Government’s Independent Expert Advisory Panel. For the advice note, click here

Fire safety in tall buildings with ACM cladding
On 11 December 2017 the DCLG published an information note to assist building owners in assessing what measures they should consider taking to make their buildings safe. It contains a flow chart to guide building owners through the process of remediation and further information on the following: identifying and testing aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding systems; checking broader fire safety of buildings; progressing remedial works and maintenance; durability and safety considerations if cladding has been removed; professional advisors and where to find them; building regulations and planning. To read the information note, click here

RSLs and Freedom of Information – Scotland
On 7 December 2017 Joe FitzPatrick, the Minister for Parliamentary Business in the Scottish Government, confirmed that RSLs will have to comply with freedom of information laws from March 2018. Mr FitzPatrick told Holyrood's 15th Annual Freedom of Information conference that the government intends to designate RSLs as public authorities, for the purposes of FOI, subject to consultation on the terms of an order. The consultation will run until March next year, with the final order expected to be laid in the spring of next year. For details of the consultation, see Housing Law Consultations (below). For coverage in Holyrood, click here

Forces Help to Buy Scheme
On 5 December 2017 the Ministry of Defence announced that no responses were received to the recent consultation on the proposal to reduce the frequency of publication of statistics. The decision has been taken to reduce the frequency of publication from monthly to quarterly. For details, click here

HOUSING LAWS IN THE PIPELINE

Local Housing Authority Debt Bill
This Bill, which had its first reading in the House of Lords on 4 July 2017, seeks to replace the current regime of limits on local housing authorities’ debt with limits determined by the existing prudential regime for local authority borrowing for non-housing-related purposes. The second reading is yet to be scheduled. For the Bill as introduced, click here To follow progress of the Bill, click here

Abolition of the Right to Buy and Associated Rights (Wales) Bill
This Bill seeks to abolish the right of eligible secure tenants to buy their home at a discount under Part 5 of the Housing Act 1985 (Right to Buy); abolish the preserved right of eligible former secure tenants to buy their home at a discount under section 171A of the Housing Act 1985 (Preserved Right to Buy); abolish the right of eligible assured or secure tenants of a registered social landlord or private registered provider to acquire their home at a discount under section 16 of the Housing Act 1996 (Right to Acquire); and encourage social landlords to build or acquire new homes for rent, the Right to Buy, Preserved Right to Buy and Right to Acquire will not be exercisable by tenants who move into new social housing stock more than two months after the Bill receives Royal Assent, subject to certain exceptions. Stage 4 was completed on 5 December 2017. The Bill is now in the four-week period (6 December 2017 – 9 January 2018) during which, the Counsel General or the Attorney General may refer the question whether the Bill, or any provision of the Bill, would be within the Assembly’s legislative competence to the Supreme Court for decision (section 112 of the Government of Wales Act). Similarly, the Secretary of State for Wales may make an order prohibiting the Clerk of the Assembly from submitting the Bill for Royal Assent. For progress of the Bill (including the committees’ scrutiny), the text of the Bill itself and explanatory memorandum, together with proceedings and reports of the various committees, click here and scroll down.

Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation and Liability for Housing Standards) Bill
This is a Private Member’s Bill introduced in the House of Commons by Karen Buck. The Bill aims to amend the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 to require that residential rented accommodation is provided and maintained in a state of fitness for human habitation; to amend the Building Act 1984 to make provision about the liability for works on residential accommodation that do not comply with Building Regulations; and for connected purposes. The Bill is being prepared for publication. The second reading is due to take place on 19 January 2018. To follow progress of the Bill, click here

Homeless People (Current Accounts) Bill
This is a Private Member’s Bill introduced in the House of Commons by Peter Bone. The Bill is intended to require banks to provide current accounts for homeless people seeking work; and for connected purposes. The Bill is being prepared for publication. The Bill received its first reading on 5 September 2017. The second reading is due to take place on 1 February 2019. To follow progress of the Bill, click here

Housing (Amendment) Scotland Bill
This Scottish government Bill aims to amend the law on the regulation of social landlords and to reduce the influence of local authorities over registered social landlords. It was introduced on 4 September 2017 and is at Stage 1. The Bill is due to be considered by the Local Government and Communities Committee on 13 December 2017. For the Bill as introduced, click here For a research briefing on the Bill, click here To follow progress of the Bill, click here

Sublet Property (Offences) Bill
This is a Private Member’s Bill introduced in the House of Commons by Christopher Chope. It is intended to make the breach of certain rules relating to sub-letting rented accommodation a criminal offence; to make provision for criminal sanctions in respect of unauthorised sub-letting; and for connected purposes. The Bill is being prepared for publication. The Bill received its first reading on 5 September 2017. The second reading has been postponed and is now due to take place on 6 July 2018. To follow progress of the Bill, click here

Mobile Homes and Park Homes Bill
This is a Private Member’s Bill introduced in the House of Commons, also by Christopher Chope. It is intended to require the use of published criteria to determine whether mobile homes and park homes are liable for council tax or non-domestic rates; to make provision in relation to the residential status of such homes; to amend the Mobile Home Acts; and for connected purposes. The Bill is being prepared for publication. The Bill received its first reading on 5 September 2017. The second reading has been postponed and is due to take place on 6 July 2018. To follow progress of the Bill, click here

Affordable Home Ownership Bill
This Bill was introduced to Parliament on Tuesday 24 October 2017, also by Christopher Chope, under the Ten Minute Rule and is a Private Member’s Bill. It was said by him to make provision for affordable home ownership; to require the inclusion of rent to buy homes in the definition of affordable housing; to make provision for a minimum proportion of new affordable housing to be available on affordable rent to buy terms; to provide relief from stamp duty when an affordable rent to buy home is purchased; and for connected purposes. The Bill itself has not yet been published. Its second reading has been postponed to 16 March 2018. To follow progress of the Bill, click here

Creditworthiness Assessment Bill
This Private Member’s Bill was introduced by Lord Buck and had its second reading in the House of Lords on 24 November 2017. The Bill would require certain matters (including rental payment history) to be taken into account when assessing a borrower’s creditworthiness. For the Bill as introduced, click here The Bill will have its Committee stage on a date to be announced. For progress of the Bill, click here

Regulation of Registered Social Landlords (Wales) Bill
The purpose of this Bill is to amend or remove those powers which are deemed by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to demonstrate central and local government control over Registered Social Landlords (RSLs). These changes will enable the ONS to consider reclassifying RSLs as private sector organisations for the purpose of national accounts and other ONS economic statistics. The Bill is at Stage 1. It has been considered by the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee and the Finance Committee. It is also being considered by the Bill’s Sub-committee. For progress on the Bill, click here and scroll down.

NEW HOUSING CASES

R (U and U, by their mother as litigation friend, BU) v Milton Keynes Council [2017] EWHC 3050

Upper Tribunal Judge Markus QC (sitting as a High Court Judge)

The Claimants were children aged 7 and 8 years. They were Nigerian nationals and came to the UK sometime between 2011 and August 2014. They lived with their mother, BU, and originally had leave to enter the UK as visitors. Their leave expired and, in consequence, they had no recourse to public funds and BU did not have the right to work. BU had applied for leave for herself and the children to remain in the UK but her application had not yet been determined.

In March 2017 the Defendant local authority had carried out an assessment of the Claimants' needs under section 17 of the Children Act 1989 and decided that they were not children in need and therefore that the Defendant would not provide accommodation and support to the Claimants along with BU.

The Claimants challenged the refusal of the Defendant local authority to carry out a reassessment of their needs under section 17 of the Children Act 1989 and to provide accommodation to them.

Children Act 1989
By s.17 Children Act 1989 local authorities are under a general duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children within their area who are in need; and so far as is consistent with that duty, to promote the upbringing of such children by their families, by providing a range and level of services appropriate to those children’s needs.

The duty implicitly requires a local authority to take reasonable steps to assess the needs of any child in its area who appears to be in need, and a child without accommodation is a child in need: R (S and J) v. London Borough of Haringey [2016] EWHC 2692 (Admin).

Where a child in need lacks immigration status, a local authority can provide services to the child and parent together if and to the extent that failure to do so would breach the Convention rights of either the child or parent: paragraph 2(1)(b) of Schedule 3 of the Nationality Immigration and Asylum Act 2002; R (MN) v London Borough of Hackney [2013] EWHC 1205 (Admin).

Immigration Act 2014
By ss.20 and 21 Immigration Act 2014 a person who requires, but does not have, leave to enter or remain in the UK does not have a right to enter into a residential tenancy agreement which grants a right of occupation of premises for residential use and provides for the payment of rent (and is not an excluded agreement).

The High Court decision
The Defendant authority had decided that the Claimants were not “in need” because, inter alia, BU had sufficient funds to enable her to rent accommodation for the family.

The Claimants issued judicial review proceedings, contending that the authority had failed to consider that the Immigration Act 2014 prevented BU from renting privately.

The application was allowed. In failing to take into account the possible impact of s.20 of the Immigration Act 2014, the Defendant had failed to take into account a relevant factor.

Summary by Alice Richardson, barrister, Arden Chambers and Trinity Chambers

For the full judgment click here.

HOUSING LAW CONSULTATIONS

Enabling Gypsies, Roma and Travellers – Wales
On 28 September 2017 the Welsh Government published a consultation document which replaces the Travelling to a Better future Framework for Action and Delivery Plan (2011).The consultation document makes proposals for Gypsies, Roma and Travellers that help, amongst other matters, to: improve social inclusion; allow access to culturally-appropriate and good quality accommodation; and reduce the incidence and impact of unauthorised encampments and homelessness. The consultation closes on 21 December 2017. For the consultation document and more information about the scope of the consultation, click here

A Fundamental Review of Social Housing Allocations – Northern Ireland
On 28 September 2017 the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland published a consultation document which sets out the Department’s proposals for changes to how social homes are allocated. The proposals are intended to produce five key outcomes: (1) a greater range of solutions to meet housing need; (2) an improved system for the most vulnerable applicants; (3) a more accurate waiting list that reflects current housing circumstances; (4) those in greatest housing need receive priority, with recognition of their time in need; and (5) better use of public resources by ensuring the list moves smoothly. The consultation closes on 21 December 2017. For the consultation documents, click here

Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 – Fitness for human habitation
The Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 (the 2016 Act) is intended to make it simpler and easier to rent a home in Wales, replacing various and complex pieces of existing legislation with one clear legal framework. The new 'occupation contracts' replace current tenancies and will make the rights and obligations of both landlord and contract-holder much clearer. This includes the landlord’s duty, set out in section 91 of the 2016 Act, to ensure a dwelling is fit for human habitation (FFHH). Where a landlord rents a dwelling that is unfit, a contract-holder will be able to seek an order from the court requiring the landlord to remedy the problem. Section 94 of the Act requires the Welsh Ministers to make regulations in relation to determining whether a dwelling is FFHH. This consultation sets out and invites comments on the proposed Regulations. The consultation closes on 12 January 2018. For the consultation documents, click here

Improving the home buying and selling process: call for evidence
On 22 October 2017 the government said that it is committed to improving the existing home buying and selling process in order to make it cheaper, faster and less stressful. The DCLG is seeking views and suggestions for improvement from anyone who has an interest in the process. Responses to this call for evidence will help the government to formulate its future work programme of improvements. This consultation closes on 17 December 2017. For more information, click here

Future role of alternative dispute resolution in civil justice
An expert working group of the Civil Justice Council (CJC) has published a comprehensive interim report on the existing role and potential future role of ADR (alternate dispute resolution) in civil justice in England and Wales, including consideration of housing cases. The CJC is now seeking written submissions on the findings and recommendations of the report, ahead of organising a seminar at which the proposals can be discussed and a final report prepared and submitted to the government for consideration. Written submissions on the report should be submitted by 15 December 2017. For the document, click here

Improving access to social housing for victims of domestic abuse
On 30 October 2017 the DCLG launched a consultation on proposals for new statutory guidance for local authorities to assist victims of domestic abuse living in refuges, and other forms of safe temporary accommodation, to access social housing. The consultation closes on 5 January 2018. For the consultation document, click here

Funding for supported housing – two consultations
On 31 October 2017 the DCLG launched two consultations: one on housing costs for sheltered and extra care accommodation, and one on housing costs for short-term supported accommodation. Both of these consultations seek the views on the design of the government’s new supported housing funding models which relate to England only, though the DCLG would nevertheless welcome comments from responders across Great Britain. The government is seeking views on the funding models from the sector, providers, commissioners and residents alike. Both consultations close on 23 January 2018. For the consultation documents, click here

Mandatory client money protection schemes for property agents
On 1 November 2017 the DCLG published a consultation on how membership of mandatory client money protection schemes in England should be designed, implemented and enforced. Client money protection schemes give landlords and tenants confidence that their money is safe when it is being handled by an agent. Where an agent is a member of a client money protection scheme, it enables a tenant, landlord or both to be compensated if all or part of their money is not repaid. The consultation will close on 13 December 2017. For the consultation document, click here

Possible changes to costs in leasehold cases and residential property cases
On 9 November 2017 the Tribunal Procedure Committee published a consultation seeking views as to the Tribunal Procedure (First-tier Tribunal) (Property Chamber) Rules 2013 and the Tribunal Procedure (Upper Tribunal) (Lands Chamber) Rules 2010 in relation to the question of placing a cap or caps on costs recoverable under the costs provisions in leasehold and residential property cases. The consultation closes on 1 February 2018. For the consultation document, click here

Park homes legislation
The Mobile Homes Act 2013 made significant changes to the law on park homes. The government gave a commitment to review this in 2017. The review is in the form of a two-part call for evidence. Part 1 was published on 12 April 2017 and called for evidence on fairness of charges, the transparency of site ownership and on experience of harassment. A summary of responses to Part 1 has been published. On 28 November 2017 the DCLG issued a further call for evidence on: how effective local authority licensing has been; how well the procedures for selling mobile homes, making site rules and pitch fee reviews are working; whether “fit and proper” controls need to be applied in the sector; and the appropriate index (CPI or RPI) to be used when carrying out a pitch fee review. The DCLG is also seeking views on the Park Homes Working Group’s recommendations on how local authorities can be assisted further in their licensing functions. The consultation closes on 16 February 2018. For the consultation document, click here

Rent a room relief
Rent a room relief was first introduced in 1992 to incentivise individuals to make spare capacity in their homes available for rent. The government intended this to increase the quantity and variety of low-cost rented housing. In the last 25 years the housing market has changed significantly: there has been an overall growth in the number of people living in the private rented sector, whilst the emergence and growth of peer to peer online marketplaces and digital platforms has made it easier to advertise rooms, putting those with spare accommodation in touch with a global network of potential lodgers. Given the pace and scale of change in the sector, the government wants to explore whether the design of rent a room relief provides the right incentives for the rental market as it exists today. The government is calling for evidence by 23 February 2018. For the consultation document, click here

Draft Order extending coverage of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 to Registered Social Landlords
Following previous consultation on extending coverage of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) to Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) the Scottish Government is now consulting on the terms of a draft order. The draft order proposes to designate RSLs (and RSL subsidiaries) in so far as they undertake functions for which they are already subject to regulation and oversight by the Scottish Housing Regulator. Views are sought on the terms of the order designating RSLs as public authorities for the purposes of FOISA. The consultation will close on 7 March 2018. For the consultation document, click here To respond to the consultation, click here

HOUSING LAW ARTICLES & PUBLICATIONS

Welsh lesson: why the housing crisis is turning into a very English problem Dawn Foster [2017] Guardian 8 December. To read this article, click here

Norton your nelly Dean Underwood [2017] Local Government Lawyer 8 December. To read this article, click here

The Grenfell survivors don’t need our pity – they need homes Deborah Orr [2017] Guardian 8 December. To read this article, click here

“I made him aware he is very lucky” Giles Peaker [2017] Nearly Legal 10 December. To read this article, click here

Health and Wellbeing Alliance latest update Caroline Barnard [2017] Homeless Link 11 December. To read this article, click here

Section S21s and Accelerated Possession Proceedings Baljit Basra [2017] Anthony Collins Blog 11 December. To read this article, click here

HOUSING LAW DIARY

13 December 2017                   
Consultation closes on Mandatory client money protection schemes for property agents (see Housing Law Consultations)

15 December 2017                   
Consultation closes on Future role of alternative dispute resolution in civil justice (see Housing Law Consultations)

17 December 2017                   
Consultation closes on Improving the home buying and selling process: call for evidence (see Housing Law Consultations)

21 December 2017                   
Consultation closes on Enabling Gypsies, Roma and Travellers – Wales (see Housing Law Consultations)

21 December 2017                   
Consultation closes on A Fundamental Review of Social Housing Allocations – Northern Ireland (see Housing Law Consultations)

5 January 2018                         
Consultation closes on Improving access to social housing for victims of domestic abuse (see Housing Law Consultations)

12 January 2018                       
Consultation closes on Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 – Fitness for human habitation (see Housing Law Consultations)

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RECRUITMENT

Featured Job of the Week

North Hertfordshire District Council Homelessness & Housing Advice Officer x3

(2x permanent posts / 1x 18 month Fixed Term post) Full time contract – 37 hours a week

This is a career graded post. Salary starting from £23,820 – £28,020 (Level 1) and £26,712-£31,428 (Level 2). The post is also subject to a 10% Additional Responsibility payment in addition to agreed salary until June 2019. 

We are looking to recruit three enthusiastic and resilient professionals to join our Housing Options Team. The role involves providing customers with comprehensive housing advice with a strong focus on preventing homelessness; seeing customers through all stages of the homeless process including developing personalised housing plans and a decision on their homeless application, in line with the Homeless Reduction Act 2017 and related legislation.

The successful candidates will be expected to manage their own caseload including managing customers’ expectations, assisting customers to take steps to resolve their own housing need, attend multi-agency meetings and participate in a duty rota. The role will require a person to have effective communication and negotiation skills who can engage with customers in a demanding environment in order to find solutions.
We can offer you an excellent benefits package including a pension scheme, generous leave allowance, flexi-time, home working, leisure concessions and more.

How to Apply
To apply for this position you must complete the Council's online application form at https://www.north-herts.gov.uk/homelessness-housing-advice-officer-x3 under the Jobs and Careers page using our secure web recruitment tool. 

Please note that we do not accept CV applications, either on their own or accompanying application forms. Therefore please ensure that all relevant information is provided on the application form.

As a Council committed to equality and diversity we welcome applications from all sections of the community.  All full time posts are open to Job Share unless otherwise stated.  Disabled people who meet the person specification will be guaranteed an interview.
If you would like an informal chat about the post, please contact Kate Voice, Housing Options Manager on 01462 474479.

As a Council committed to equality and diversity we welcome applications from all sections of the community.  All full time posts are open to Job Share unless otherwise stated.  Disabled people who meet the person specification will be guaranteed an interview.

Closing date:   Noon 4 January 2018   
Interviews: 23 and 24 January 2018

Derby Homes
Job ref: DHR0000186
Click here and scroll down the page for details

North Hertfordshire District Council
(2x permanent posts / 1x 18 month Fixed Term post)
Job Ref: HPPS0247
Click here for details

Brighton & Hove City Council
Job Ref: B&H03365
Click here for details

Reading Borough Council
Job Ref: NBH0207
Click here for details

Reading Borough Council
Job Ref: NBH0208
Click here and insert Housing in the Key Words field for details

Reading Borough Council
Job Ref: NBH0209
Click here and insert Housing in the Key Words field for details

Bath & North East Somerset Council
Job Ref: 17CORP61856C
Click here and insert Housing in the Key Words field for details

Stroud District Council
Click here for details

Wiltshire Council
Job Ref: HOU00016
Click here for details

Wiltshire Council
Job Ref: HOU00020
Click here for details

London Borough of Hackney
Click here for details

London Borough Of Waltham Forest
Job Ref: N&C/17/48503
Click here for details

Crawley Borough Council
Job Ref: ES66
Click here for details