14th October 2020
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HOUSING LAW NEWS & POLICY ISSUES
 

Anti-social behaviour and the civil courts
On 8 October 2020 the Civil Justice Council (CJC) published a report which finds that Anti-Social Behaviour Injunctions (ASBIs) are not working. The Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 transferred much work relating to anti-social behaviour from the criminal courts to the civil courts. Under the 2014 Act Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) were replaced by ASBIs, which were intended to better tackle the root causes of anti-social behaviour. The report finds significant inconsistencies or problems in all areas it considered. Critically the report highlights that there has been insufficient work to monitor the effect of ASBIs, following their introduction. There is an absence of data available to assess or understand fundamental concerns, such as the true scale of their use. Additionally, the report highlights how cases are often not tackled collaboratively by the public services concerned and that underlying and often causative issues such as mental health and substance abuse are therefore not addressed. The report makes 15 recommendations, including:

  • An urgent request for the Home Office and Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service to collect data on these cases to allow for full analysis of their use and efficacy
  • Widening the scope and provision of the NHS Liaison & Diversion service, to ensure a joined-up approach by local agencies to tackle the underlying causes of anti-social behaviour
  • Widening the scope and provision of legal aid to ensure that no individual faces the prospect of being sent to jail without access to legal advice, and
  • Adopting a new sentencing guideline to be used by the judiciary when hearing cases of anti-social behaviour.

For the report, click here.

Rough sleeping
On 8 October 2020 18 leading health and homelessness organisations wrote an open letter to the Prime Minister warning of the double threat of coronavirus and the cold weather ​faced by people forced to sleep rough. Following recent research published in The Lancet which found that the Government's initiative to have ​nearly 15,000 people sleeping rough moved into safe accommodation at the start of the outbreak saved hundreds of lives, the letter urges the Government to protect people by providing self-contained accommodation as a priority due to the high risk of coronavirus transmission in communal night shelters. For the letter, click here. For a report in The Guardian, click here.

Rough sleeping – London
On 7 October 2020 the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, published a letter to the Housing Secretary demanding that vulnerable homeless Londoners be given the same protections afforded to the rest of society and calling for guidance to be issued immediately about how winter shelters can be made Covid-secure, alongside urgent funding to ensure alternative safe accommodation. For the letter, click here.

Property agents: referral fees
On 2 October 2020 the National Trading Standards Estate and Lettings Agency Team (NTSELAT) submitted a report to Government recommending mandatory referral fee disclosure by property agents. In a recent survey of TPO (The Property Ombudsman) members, almost 60 per cent had referred customers to external companies. More than 80 per cent of those members admitted receiving a fee for the referral. Recommendations in the report include:

  • Proposals for Government to make transparency of referral fees mandatory and require a warning to be given to customers that they should consider shopping around
  • A public awareness programme to warn consumers about hidden referral fees
  • Further industry guidance, and work with the professional bodies and redress schemes to encourage compliance in the property sector.

For the report, click here. For a press release in respect of the report, click here.

Social housing and Jewish community
On 16 October 2020 the Supreme Court will hand down judgment in R (on the application of Z and another) v Hackney London Borough Council and another. The Court will determine whether Agudas Israel Housing Association (AIHA) can lawfully restrict the provision of its social housing to members of the Orthodox Jewish community and whether Hackney can lawfully maintain its housing nomination arrangements with AIHA. The appellants sought to challenge AIHA’s allocation policy and Hackney’s allocation arrangements with AIHA by means of an application for judicial review. The Divisional Court refused the application and the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal. For the Court of Appeal judgment, click here.

New complaints handling guide for local authorities
On 8 October 2020 the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman issued new guidance on effective complaint handling for local authorities. Based on previous documents, the new guide offers “practical, real-world advice and guidance on running a complaints system to ensure it is effective and helps improve services”. It runs through the steps authorities need to take to ensure complaints are properly identified, investigated and put right where necessary. For the guide, click here.

Domestic Abuse Bill: funding for local authorities
On 5 October 2020 the MHCLG announced funding of £6 million to enable councils to prepare for the introduction of the Domestic Abuse Bill. The Bill is currently awaiting its second reading in the House of Lords, having completed its passage through the House of Commons in July 2020. It is expected to come into force in April 2021. From that time local authorities in England will have a duty to assess and provide support and safe accommodation to victims of domestic abuse and their children. Once the duty comes into forces, the new funding announced will help councils in England to commission additional support for those victims of domestic abuse and their children who might currently be turned away from refuges and other safe accommodation because their needs cannot be met. The Government says that this new funding will mean that councils can plan accommodation and specialist services ahead of the Act coming into force and ensure that in all areas across the country services are joined up. For the announcement, click here. To follow progress of the Bill, click here. For details of a consultation launched to seek views on the Government’s proposals for allocation of new burden funding associated with the duty to Tier 1 and Tier 2 local authorities, see Housing Law Consultations (below).

Long-term delivery of social and affordable rented housing
On 7 October 2020 the MHCLG published a response by the Government to the Commons Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee's report on long-term delivery of social and affordable rented housing. For the response, click here. For the report, click here.

Homes England: pre-appointment hearing for Chair
On 12 October 2020 the Commons Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee held a pre-appointment hearing for the Government’s preferred candidate for Chair of Homes England, Peter Freeman. A pre-appointment hearing is an opportunity for a select committee to scrutinise the quality of ministerial decision making over appointments. The Committee also assesses a candidate’s suitability for their appointment, including their knowledge, skills and independence. The Committee will publish a short report on the appointment in due course. To view the session, click here.

Local Housing Allowance: equality analysis
On 6 October 2020 the Department for Work and Pensions published equality analysis for uprating Local Housing Allowance rates to the 30th percentile of local rents. The analysis is required to enable ministers to fulfil the requirements placed on them by the Public Sector Equality Duty as set out in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010. For the equality analysis document, click here.

Asylum accommodation: the use of hotels
On 7 October 2020 the House of Commons Library published a research briefing on the recent increase in the use of hotels as temporary asylum accommodation. This has been due to issues with some asylum accommodation contracts and, more recently, measures to limit the risk of spreading Covid-19. For the briefing, click here.

Tenancy Saver Loan scheme – Wales
On 7 October 2020 the Welsh Government launched a £8 million Tenancy Saver Loan scheme to help tenants struggling with rent arrears due to coronavirus. The scheme will be open to private rented sector tenants in rent arrears and those who may also struggle to pay future months’ rent as a result of coronavirus; it will be open until 31 March 2021. The scheme will offer 1 per cent APR loans, paid directly to landlords or agents, to be repaid over a period of up to five years and will provide an affordable way to cover rent arrears, or future months’ rent, reducing the risk of eviction and homelessness. Once a tenant has applied for the loan they will be able to access support and advice services to help them manage their financial situation. For more details, click here. For application details, click here.

Shared ownership – Wales: participating landlords
On 8 October 2020 the Welsh Government published a list of landlords participating in the shared ownership scheme together with their contact details. For the list, click here.

Rent to Own – Wales: participating landlords
On 8 October 2020 the Welsh Government published a list of landlords participating in the Rent to Own scheme together with their contact details. For the list, click here.

Empty homes grant (Valleys Taskforce areas) – Wales
On 8 October 2020 the Welsh Government published a ‘quick guide’ to applying for an empty homes grant of up to £25,000 toward renovations. For private owners, their local authority has to apply to become part of phase 2 of the scheme. The authorities currently signed up are: Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Carmarthenshire, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Swansea. For the guide, click here.

Rented housing: Prime Minister’s conference speech
On 6 October 2020 the National Residential Landlords Association took issue with the Prime Minister’s comment in his speech to the Conservative Party conference that those in private rented housing are unable to turn the properties they live in into a home of their own. He had said: “millions of people are forced to pay through the nose to rent a home they cannot truly love or make their own, because they cannot add a knob or a knocker to the front door or in some cases even hang a picture …” The NRLA noted a survey of tenants by the National Landlords Association (before its merger to form the NRLA) which found that 63 per cent of renters had redecorated their home and 52 per cent had made significant changes to their gardens with the permission of their landlord. Chris Norris, Policy Director for the NRLA said: “Whilst we believe that those who want to should have the opportunity to buy a home of their own, the Prime Minister is wrong to imply that renters cannot turn the properties they live in into a home of their own.” For the full response, click here. For the Prime Minister’s conference speech, click here.

Private rented sector: landlords’ confidence
On 12 October 2020 the National Residential Landlords Association reported that, according to a survey of its members, almost two-thirds of private landlords in England and Wales expect their rental business to be negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The survey found that 48 per cent felt they would face a ‘slightly’ negative impact to their business as a result of the pandemic and 18 per cent said they would face a ‘significant’ negative impact. This has caused landlord confidence to fall with 56 per cent saying that they were less, or much less, confident of being able to achieve their goals over the next year compared to three months ago. For the report, click here.
Regulator of Social Housing: stakeholder survey
On 7 October 2020 the Regulator of Social Housing published the results of the latest survey of stakeholders. Key findings are:

  • 91 per cent of respondents agree that the regulator takes action to ensure confidence in the sector is maintained.
  • 88 per cent of respondents agree that the regulator takes appropriate action in respect of the consumer standards.
  • Overall, 74 per cent think that the regulator’s approach to regulation is risk-based and assurance-based.
  • Overall, 84 per cent of respondents find the range of regulator’s publications very or somewhat useful with the Codes of Practice and Regulating the Standards rated as very or somewhat useful by at least 90 per cent.

For the survey, click here.

Private rental market
On 12 October 2020 The Guardian reported that research by Hamptons International has revealed a divergence in the private rented sector. According to the property firm, in the 10 per cent of wealthiest neighbourhoods, the number of homes let between May and September 2020 was up by 1.3 per cent on last year and new instructions rose by 4 per cent. However, in the bottom 10 per cent instructions fell by 17.7 per cent over the year, and the number of homes let was down by 14.8 per cent. For the report, click here.

HOUSING LAWS IN THE PIPELINE
 

Fire Safety Bill
This Government bill would make provision about the application of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 where a building contains two or more sets of domestic premises; and would confer power to amend that order in future for the purposes of changing the premises to which it applies. The bill completed its final stages in the House of Commons on 7 September 2020. It received its first reading in the House of Lords on 8 September 2020 and its second reading on 1 October 2020. The committee stage will be on a date to be appointed. For the bill, as introduced in the House of Lords, click here. To read debates on all stages of the bill, click here. For a briefing note prepared by the Local Government Association on second reading in the House of Lords, click here. To follow progress of the bill, click here.

Houses in Multiple Occupation Bill
This private member’s bill, sponsored by Ian Levy, would amend the law relating to the licensing of houses in multiple occupation and increase penalties for the contravention of such licences. The bill received its first reading on 9 September 2020 and is scheduled to receive its second reading on 5 February 2021. The bill is being prepared for publication. To follow progress of the bill, click here.

Domestic Premises (Energy Performance) Bill
This private member’s bill, sponsored by Lord Foster of Bath, would require the Secretary of State to ensure that domestic properties have a minimum energy performance rating of C on an Energy Performance Certificate; to make provision regarding performance and insulation of new heating systems in existing properties. The first reading was on 8 January 2020 and the second reading on 7 February 2020. The committee stage will commence on a date to be appointed. For the bill, as introduced, click here. To follow progress of the bill, click here.

Domestic Properties (Minimum Energy Performance) Bill
This private member’s bill, sponsored by Sir David Amess, would require the Secretary of State to ensure that domestic properties have a minimum energy performance rating of C on an Energy Performance Certificate; to give the Secretary of State powers to require persons to take action in pursuance of that duty. The first reading was on 14 July 2020 and the second reading will now take place on 23 October 2020. The bill is being prepared for publication. To follow progress of the bill, click here.

Rented Homes Bill
This private member’s bill, sponsored by Baroness Grender, would amend the Housing Act 1988 to abolish assured shorthold tenancies; and to extend the grounds upon which landlords of residential housing may recover possession. First reading took place on 22 January 2020. The second reading will be on a date to be announced. For the bill, as introduced, click here. To follow progress of the bill, click here.

Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill
This Government bill would amend the electronic communications code set out in Schedule 3A to the Communications Act 2003; by doing so, it would address one stated policy barrier: making it easier for telecoms companies to access multi-dwelling buildings (such as blocks of flats) where a tenant has requested a new connection, but the landlord has not responded to requests for access rights. The bill received its first reading in the House of Commons on 8 January 2020 and its second reading on 22 January 2020. For the second reading debate, click here. The committee stage was completed on 11 February 2020. For the committee debate, click here. The third reading in the House of Commons was on 10 March 2020; for the debate, click here. First reading in the House of Lords was on 11 March 2020. The second reading was on 22 April 2020. The committee stage was completed on 2 June 2020 and the report stage on 29 June 2020. The third reading will be on a date to be announced. For the bill, as introduced in the House of Lords, click here. To follow progress of the bill, click here. For a briefing, prepared by the House of Commons Library after second reading in the House of Commons, click here.

Renting Homes (Amendment) (Wales) Bill
This Welsh Government bill seeks to amend the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 to provide greater security for people who rent their homes in Wales. This will particularly affect those who live in the private rented sector and occupy their homes under a ‘standard occupation contract’, the equivalent to the current assured shorthold tenancy, after the 2016 Act comes into force. This additional security will primarily be achieved by extending the minimum notice period for issuing a section 173 notice under the 2016 Act (the equivalent of the current section 21 notice under the Housing Act 1988) from two months to six months. Landlords will also be prevented from issuing such a notice until at least six months from the date of occupancy. Further provisions will also ensure that landlords are unable to issue rolling ‘speculative’ notices on a ‘just in case’ basis. The bill was introduced in the Senedd on 10 February 2020. Stage 1 (debate in Plenary on general principles) has not yet been reached. The Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee laid its report on the bill on 1 October 2020. The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee laid its report on the bill on 2 October 2020.The Finance Committee considered the bill on 14 September 2020. For the bill as introduced, all other documents relating to it, and to follow progress on the  bill, click here.

Caravan Sites Bill
This private members’ bill, sponsored by Sir Christopher Chope, would amend the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 to remove planning permission requirements for caravan site licence applicants. The bill is being prepared for publication. It received its first reading in the House of Commons on 10 February 2020. The second reading has been brought forward to 23 October 2020. To follow progress of the bill, click here.

Evictions (Universal Credit Claimants) Bill
This private members’ bill, sponsored by Chris Stephens, seeks to place a duty on the Secretary of State to prevent the evictions of Universal Credit claimants in rent arrears. The bill is being prepared for publication. It received its first reading in the House of Commons on 10 February 2020. The second reading has been further postponed to 29 January 2021. To follow progress of the bill, click here.

Homeless People (Current Accounts) Bill
This private members’ bill, sponsored by Peter Bone, would require banks to provide current accounts for homeless people seeking work. The bill is being prepared for publication. It received its first reading in the House of Commons on 10 February 2020. The second reading has been postponed to 5 March 2021. To follow progress of the bill, click here.

Mobile Homes Act 1983 (Amendment) Bill
This private members’ bill, sponsored by Sir Christopher Chope, seeks to amend the Mobile Homes Act 1983. The bill is being prepared for publication. It received its first reading in the House of Commons on 10 February 2020. The second reading has been further postponed to 23 October 2020. To follow progress of the bill, click here.

Mobile Homes and Park Homes Bill
This private members’ bill, sponsored by Sir Christopher Chope, would require the use of published criteria to determine whether mobile homes and park homes are liable for council tax or non-domestic rates; make provision in relation to the residential status of such homes; and amend the Mobile Home Acts. The bill is being prepared for publication. It received its first reading in the House of Commons on 10 February 2020. The second reading has been further postponed to 15 January 2021. To follow progress of the bill, click here.

Housing Act 2004 (Amendment) Bill
This private members’ bill, sponsored by Sir Christopher Chope, seeks to amend Part 3 of the Housing Act 2004 to provide that any selective licensing scheme for residential accommodation extends to social housing. The bill is being prepared for publication. It received its first reading on 10 February 2020. The second reading has been further postponed to 15 January 2021. To follow progress of the bill, click here.

Sublet Property (Offences) Bill
This private members’ bill, sponsored by Sir Christopher Chope, would make the breach of certain rules relating to sub-letting rented accommodation a criminal offence and would make provision for criminal sanctions in respect of unauthorised sub-letting. The bill is being prepared for publication. It received its first reading on 10 February 2020. The second reading has been further postponed to 13 November 2020. To follow progress of the bill, click here.

Vagrancy (Repeal) Bill
This private members’ bill, sponsored by Layla Moran, would repeal the Vagrancy Act 1824. It received its first reading in the House of Commons on 18 March 2020. The second reading has been further postponed to 23 October 2020. For the bill as introduced, click here. To follow progress of the bill, click here.

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NEW HOUSING CASES
 

Bromford Housing Association Ltd v Nightingale [2020] EWHC 2648 (QB) 7 October 2020
This appeal was to decide whether the witness statement of Ms Babra Ushewekunze, Housing Operations Officer for South Northamptonshire Council, could be given in evidence on behalf of the Defendants at a final hearing of possession proceedings. This had previously been refused by HHJ Hedley on 24 February 2020 following an application for relief from sanctions pursuant to r 3.9 CPR because the witness statement was dated the date of the hearing.

Case summary
The Defendants are a married couple with three children, the Claimant is a housing association which owns the property in which they live. The Claimant terminated the Defendants’ tenancy on 28 September 2018 due to persistent anti-social behaviour involving their older son (C) and their daughter (K). They served notice on the Defendants under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.

The Defendants resisted possession on the basis that their older son, C, who is now 13, is disabled and suffers from autism, learning difficulties and ADHD resulting in his behaviour. They alleged that the possession proceedings amounted to discrimination and failure to make reasonable adjustments, in breach of sections 15 and 20 Equality Act 2010. Further, they claimed that the decision to terminate their tenancy was invalid as the Claimant failed to take into account the best interests of the children in breach of Children Act 1989 and failed to comply with its Public Sector Equality Duty imposed by section 149 Equality Act 2020.

In response to the Defendants’ arguments, the Claimant relied on the incidents involving K (aged 16) and the First Defendant, neither of whom have a disability.

Ms Ushewekunze’s statement focused on two matters: the local authority’s position in relation to rehousing tenants evicted for anti-social behaviour and her view that it would be virtually impossible for the Defendants to be rehoused in the local private sector if they were evicted for anti-social behaviour.

The Defendants submitted that the tests set out in Mitchell v News Group Newspapers [2013] and Denton v T H White Ltd [2014] applied, which was accepted by both HHJ Hedley and, on appeal, Mr Justice Cavanagh. The Defendants relied upon the third part of the Denton test, that there were understandable reasons for the delay.

First, prior to the justification evidence on 24 January 2020 the case proceeded on the basis the Claimant accepted there was no prospect of the Defendants being rehoused. The Claimant’s justification case asserted the local authority would support the Defendants to find alternative accommodation.

Second, the Defendants were unaware prior to 24 February 2020 at the hearing that Ms Ushewekunze had evidence to provide, and this is important evidence which consequently should be admitted.

The Claimant opposed the application on the basis that the deadline has passed, that it was not an appropriate case for relief and the Defendants could have investigated the matters prior to 10 February.

HHJ Hedley ruling
HHJ Hedley noted that unavailability of private housing was almost so obvious as to require no witness evidence and the real reason why the Defendants wanted Ms Ushewekunze was to provide evidence that the local authority would not rehouse the family.

On the matter of discretion, the judge noted the local authority is subject to its statutory duty under the Housing Act 1996. The scope of its obligations are matters of law, not evidence. If the evidence were admitted, the court would have to look at the nature of the duties and whether the authority engaged with them.

HHJ Hedley agreed with the Claimant’s contention that if the application was allowed, inevitably the Claimant would have to investigate a satellite issue of whether a local authority intended to comply with its statutory duty.

The Defendants’ appeal submissions
HHJ Hedley accepted that if the statement had been served in time it would have been admitted as evidence on the basis that it was relevant; the overriding consideration with the third part of Denton should have been relevance.

The question of how easy it is for the tenants to be accommodated elsewhere arises in the present case, unlike a standard possession claim (s21 Housing Act 1988).

The Defendants were contending that the Claimant failed to have sufficient regard to whether eviction would render C homeless, and the witness statement was relevant to this issue.
Mr Renton, on behalf of the Defendants, submitted that the new information in Ms Ushewekunze’s statement, that it was very unlikely the Defendants would be rehoused, was ‘absolutely crucial’ evidence.

Ms Ushewekunze’s was the best available evidence to provide on the local housing market.
There was no previous appellate case that set out the test that applies to a claim for possession in which the main protagonist accused of anti-social behaviour is a child. There should not be an “over-fussy” approach to case management in a case involving a vulnerable disabled child.

Decision of Mr Justice Cavanagh
The exercise of discretion by HHJ Henley was not arguably wrong.

There is no suggestion the judge misdirected himself in relation to the legal test. There was no reason why the two matters that are dealt with in Ms Ushewekunze’s statement could not have been dealt with within a time limit provided in the directions.

The evidence that it was highly unlikely the family would be given a place on the housing register was not new evidence.

Further, Ms Ushewekunze’s statement did not do justice to the web of obligations which would arise if the Defendants were evicted. As they have dependent children, the local authority has duties to assess the family’s needs and provide accommodation under sections 189A, 189B and/or 190 Housing Act 1996 and to assist them. It was not being alleged the local authority would fail to comply with its statutory duties.

The only person who was disabled, and triggered the Public Sector Equality Duty, was C and the local authority has responsibilities to rehouse C under section 20 of the Children Act 1989 which was not addressed in paragraph 2 of Ms Ushewekunze’s statement.

It was obvious that a family that is evicted on the ground of anti-social behaviour alleged would struggle to obtain accommodation in the private sector. There was no need for a witness statement to be admitted dealing with this issue.

There was no real purpose that would be served by the admission of Ms Ushewekunze’s statement into evidence, and the alleged relevance of her observations did not outweigh the grounds for refusing relief from sanctions.

Permission to appeal refused.

Summary by James McHugh, barrister, Trinity Chambers. For the judgment, click here.

HOUSING LAW CONSULTATIONS
 

Ombudsman’s consultation on proposed Own Initiative Investigation on Homelessness Assessment and Review Process – Wales
This consultation seeks views on whether the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales should conduct an investigation into the administration of the homelessness assessment and review process by local authorities in Wales and consider what actions and learning from good administrative practice during the pandemic can be taken forward to drive change or wider learning. The closing date for submissions is 30 October 2020. For the consultation document, click here.

Funding allocation methods: new domestic abuse duty
As part of the Domestic Abuse Bill, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, is introducing a new duty on local authorities in England to provide support for victims and their children in domestic abuse safe accommodation. Subject to the successful passage of the bill, the new duty will commence in April 2021. Under the duty, local authorities will be required to assess the need for and commission support to victims of domestic abuse and their children in safe accommodation services in their areas, and report back to central government that they have met these obligations.

This consultation, which closes on 13 November 2020, seeks views on the government’s proposals for allocation of new burden funding associated with the duty to Tier 1 and Tier 2 local authorities. This consultation will be of particular interest to local authorities across England and is relevant for both upper and lower tiers. For the consultation document, click here.

Raising accessibility standards for new homes
This consultation considers how to raise accessibility standards, recognising the importance of suitable homes for older and disabled people. In particular, it considers how the existing optional accessible and adaptable standard for homes and the wheelchair user standard are used and whether government should mandate a higher standard or reconsider the way the existing optional standards are used. The consultation closes on 1 December 2020. For the consultation document, click here.
HOUSING LAW ARTICLES & PUBLICATIONS
 

Renters need a rescue package to make life bearable Polly Neate Shelter Blog 6 October 2020 – to read the article, click here

How StreetLink can support new rough sleepers during the pandemic Homeless Link 8 October 2020 – to read the article, click here

Building safety – Resident rights and responsibilities Samantha Hall Trowers & Hamlins 8 October 2020 – to read the article, click here

The importance of clarity in local authority prosecutions Gary Pons Local Government Lawyer 9 October 2020 – to read the article, click here

Using an outreach vehicle to provide agile homeless healthcare Jane Morton Homeless Link 9 October 2020 – to read the article, click here

Unregulated accommodation – what needs to be done Paul NobletCentrepoint Blog 9 October 2020 – to read the article, click here

Lessons to learn – RSH annual consumer review 19-20 Helen Tucker Local Government Lawyer 9 October 2020 – to read the article, click here

Tell me why – ‘Minded to’ letters and reasons Giles Peaker Nearly Legal 11 October 2020 – to read the article, click here

A new lease of life – the latest report from the Housing Ombudsman Service Richard Blakeway CIH Blog 12 October 2020 – to read the article, click here

Gypsy and Traveller: update (Nov 20) Tessa Buchanan, Chris Johnson, Dr Angus Murdoch and  Marc Willer QC Legal Action October 2020 ‒ to read the article (subscription required), click here

Housing: recent developments Sam Madge-Wyld and Jan Luba QC Legal Action October 2020 ‒ to read the article (subscription required), click here

HOUSING LAW DIARY
 

19 October 2020                                   
First Review Dates (allowing 21 days’ notice); see Overall Arrangements Document issued by the Master of the Rolls (Housing Law Week – 23 September 2020).

23 October 2020                                   
Second reading in the House of Commons of Caravan Sites Bill (see Housing Laws in the Pipeline)

23 October 2020                                              
Second reading in the House of Commons of Mobile Homes Act 1983 (Amendment) Bill (see Housing Laws in the Pipeline)

23 October 2020                                  
Second reading in the House of Commons of Vagrancy (Repeal) Bill (see Housing Laws in the Pipeline)

23 October 2020                                  
Second reading in the House of Commons of Domestic Properties (Minimum Energy Performance) Bill (see Housing Laws in the Pipeline)

30 October 2020                                   
Closing date for submissions to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales’s consultation on proposed Own Initiative Investigation on Homelessness Assessment and Review Process (see Housing Law Consultations)

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