HOUSING LAW NEWS & POLICY ISSUES

Evictions in Tier 2 and Tier 3 areas
On 22 October 2020 Nearly Legal reported that the Lord Chancellor had written to the Chairman of the High Court Enforcement Officers Association requesting that “members should instruct the enforcement agents working under their authorisation not to enter residential properties in areas that are classified as Local Alert Level 2 (high) or 3 (very high), for the purposes of enforcement, including taking control of goods and carrying out evictions”. Giles Peaker reports that the Association has, apparently, agreed to this. For the report, including the text of the letter, click here.

Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) Practice Directions
On 19 October 2020 Upper Tribunal Practice Directions, made by the President of the Upper Tribunal Lands Chamber, came into effect. For the Practice Directions, click here.

New National Statement of Expectations published
On 20 October 2020 the MHCLG published a new National Statement of Expectations (NSE), setting out what it expects to see in standards, quality and value for money in supported housing and how this can be achieved by bringing together best practice across the sector. Kelly Tolhurst, Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing, also announced new funding for supported housing pilots in priority areas. The supported housing pilots will involve collaborative working between local partners and will carefully test different approaches to greater oversight of the sector and how higher standards could be enforced. The pilots are intended to improve quality of non-commissioned provision in priority areas. For more details, click here. For the new NSE, click here. For the response of the Local Government Association to the announcement of new funding, click here, and for that of the Chartered Institute of Housing, click here.  

‘Foreign rough sleepers to face deportation after Brexit’
On 23 October 2020 The Independent reported that Non-British rough sleepers face being deported from the UK under new immigration rules set to come into force after the Brexit transition period. It said that under the new laws, which are due to come into effect on 1 January, rough sleeping will become grounds to cancel or refuse a person’s right to be in the UK. For the report, click here. For comment by Crisis, click here. For the official statement of changes in the Immigration Rules, click here.

Youth homelessness
On 22 October 2020 Homeless Link published a report – We Have A Voice, Follow Our Lead – which “shines a light on the boundless potential and resilience of young people facing homelessness” and calls for urgent action to address the system and failing policies. Recommendations include:

• Developing a cross-departmental youth homelessness strategy that focuses on prevention, youth participation and multi-agency support. As with the current Rough Sleeping Strategy, it should give the fight against youth homelessness the profile and urgency it deserves.
• Immediately bringing forward plans to extend the Shared Accommodation Rate exemption for homeless under-25s and care leavers.
• Matching the Universal Credit standard allowance for under-25s to the amount over-25s receive, while maintaining the Covid-19 uplift of £20 per week.
• Providing local areas with long-term capital and revenue investment into a range of supported housing options for young people that recognise the diversity of their needs and experiences.

For the report, click here. For an executive summary, click here.

Young people affected by homelessness in north east England
On 23 October 2020 the Institute for Public Policy Research North published a report finding that across England, around 44 per cent of people who access homelessness services are aged 18 to 24, and young people are three times more likely to have experienced homelessness over the past five years than are adults. The report builds on IPPR North’s recent publication, The future of transitional supported housing, exploring the case of one key group of people who often rely on supported housing: young people affected by homelessness. It identifies the key policy challenges, and puts forward recommendations for government, and regional and national stakeholders. For the report, click here.

Care leavers: new guidance to prevent homelessness
On 26 October 2020 the MHCLG published new guidance for councils to help ensure care leavers have the stable homes they need, and prevent them from becoming homeless. The guidance recommends how council housing departments and children’s services should produce a joint protocol that sets out how they will work together to ensure:

• each care leaver has a tailored support plan as they transition to independent living
• those at risk of homelessness are identified early and action is taken to prevent it
• a quick, safe and joined up response for care leavers who go on to become homeless.

For the guidance, click here. For the announcement of the guidance, click here.

Empty housing – England
On 21 October 2020 the House of Commons Library published a briefing providing information on trends in the number of empty homes in England and outlining local authorities’ powers to tackle empty housing and other relevant initiatives. It also discusses Government action on this issue. For the briefing paper, click here.

Mortgage arrears and repossessions – England
On 20 October 2020 the House of Commons Library published a briefing paper outlining temporary measures to assist homeowners to manage their mortgage payments during the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak. It considers lenders’ obligations towards homeowners who are struggling with their mortgage payments, outlines possible sources of advice for mortgagors, and discusses the mortgage support schemes that were introduced in response to the 2008 financial crisis. For the briefing paper, click here.

Regulator of Social Housing statement on coronavirus (Covid-19)
On 22 October 2020 the Regulator of Social Housing published a report following responses to its sixth Coronavirus Operational Response Survey (for the period up to and including 30 September 2020). This was before the introduction of the three-tiered system of local Covid Alert Levels in England. Providers’ responses showed that the delivery of services remained stable. On care and support, most providers continued to report no significant issues with staffing. The majority of providers have reported no issues with repairs delivery, and that backlogs in repairs and health and safety checks were continuing to improve overall. Providers reported concerns about the second wave of coronavirus and additional lockdown restrictions potentially leading to increased staff absences and reduced overall capacity to deliver services. This may be particularly challenging over winter months as providers also anticipate increased repairs reporting. For the report, click here. For a webpage setting out RSH statements on coronavirus (Covid-19), click here.

Chancellor of Exchequer’s Comprehensive Spending Review
on 21 October 2020 HM Treasury confirmed that the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR), first announced in July this year and originally intended to set out the Government's long-term spending plans, will instead be curtailed to a one-year Spending Review, setting departments’ resource and capital budgets for 2021-22, and Devolved Administrations’ block grants for the same period. The precise date for the Review will be confirmed shortly but it will be in the last weeks of November. For HM Treasury’s announcement, click here.

Building safety funding – Wales
On 23 October 2020 Julie James, Minister for Housing and Local Government in the Welsh Government, issued a written statement addressing the safety concerns of people living in high-rise properties across Wales. She said:

“I do not think it is right for leaseholders, who bought properties unaware that they had fundamental defects, to pay for remediation; neither do I think it is right that the Welsh taxpayer should do so. Where developers have clearly failed to build to required standards, they should step up to their responsibility and put these faults right. I am keen that as UK Governments we explore every available avenue to ensure that those best able to address the issues meet their responsibilities.”

For the full statement, click here.

Help to Buy – Wales (Shared Equity Loan Scheme): April to September 2020
On 22 October 2020 the Welsh Government published data on the number of homes purchased and the value of the loans received under the scheme for April to September 2020. Between 1 April and 30 September 2020, 505 property purchases were completed using a Welsh Government shared equity loan. During the two quarters, the value of properties purchased totalled £107.9 million whilst the value of equity loans totalled £21.4 million. There were 31 completed purchases of leasehold properties, all of which were flats. For the full report, click here.

LGBT residents and housing
On 1 October 2020 LGBT Foundation released a report Housing, Ageing, and Care: What Manchester LGBT residents want from the UK’s first purpose built LGBT Extra Care scheme. LGBT Foundation launched a survey asking people about their current finances, their housing situation, their care needs and their thoughts on what an LGBT Extra Care Scheme would look like. The responses revealed:

• 62 per cent had less than £10,000 saved, including 28 per cent who have no savings.
• 66 per cent had a pension value of less than £20,000 per year.
• 43 per cent did not know where they would get care and support in the future.
• 74 per cent did not know how they would pay for future care and support.

There was a positive response to the provision of the new LGBT extra care scheme in Manchester, and significant support for housing and social care options that was reflective of, and responsive to people’s LGBT identities. Fifty-one per cent said they would not be comfortable in retirement housing without specific LGBT considerations. For the report, click here. For an article in the Guardian, click here.

Housing Ombudsman’s report on severe maladministration
On 22 October 2020 the Housing Ombudsman issued, as a step towards increasing transparency, a report on complaints where severe maladministration was found in 2019-20. Decisions on five cases are featured in the report, highlighting the case background, the Ombudsman’s assessment and findings, together with the remedial orders.

Two cases involve lengthy delays by the London Boroughs of Camden and Newham in dealing with repairs so that residents were left in poor living conditions over long periods of time. A group of 29 residents living in supporting housing provided by Together Housing Association were not consulted as required by regulatory standards about support services being withdrawn. Failures by Cottsway Housing led a resident to believe for 15 years that she had preserved right to buy when she did not. Hyde Housing failed to respond to enquiries first by a resident and then by the Ombudsman over more than a year. For the report, click here.

HOUSING LAWS IN THE PIPELINE

Mobile Homes Act 1983 (Amendment) Bill
This private members’ bill, sponsored by Sir Christopher Chope, seeks to amend the Mobile Homes Act 1983. It received its first reading in the House of Commons on 10 February 2020. The second reading has been yet further postponed to 6 November 2020. For the bill as introduced, click here. To follow progress of 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. It received its first reading in the House of Commons on 10 February 2020. The second reading has been postponed to 6 November 2020. For the bill as introduced, click here. 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 12 March 2021. 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 has been postponed to 27 November 2020. The bill is being prepared for publication. To follow progress of the bill, 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. The Stage 1 motion to agree the general principles of the Bill was agreed in Plenary on 13 October 2020. Stage 2 began on 14 October 2020. Stage 2 consideration will take place in Committee on 27 November 2020. For the bill as introduced, all other documents relating to it, and to follow progress on the  bill, click here.

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 begin on 29 October 2020. 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.

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.

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 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.

NEW HOUSING CASES

Gateway Housing Association v Ali & Begum [2020] EWCA Civ 1339
Gateway Housing Association sought possession of a property from the second respondent, after the death of the first respondent. Their claim was dismissed in the county court as it was found by Deputy District Judge Smith to be invalid for lack of clarity, applying s.18 of the Law of Property Act 1994. The Court of Appeal reversed this decision, and provided much needed clarity in relation to the application of s.18.

Section 18 of the Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1994
Section 18 applies to all notices affecting land, and not only to notices to quit. It provides a framework for the proper service of notices after the death of a landowner. It requires any legal notice to be clearly addressed to “the personal representatives of”, with copies served both at their last known address and on the Public Trustee.
The purpose of this is twofold:

1. It addresses the issues that would otherwise arise where the person wishing to serve the notice is not yet aware of the death;
2. It avoids the difficulties that may arise in identifying whether there is a will appointing executors, or whether letters of administration have been granted. 

This allows those seeking to serve notices to avoid delays which could be fatal in the case of claims which are strictly time limited.

Regulation 3 of the Public Trustee (Notices Affecting Land) (Title on Death) Regulations 1995, made by the Lord Chancellor pursuant to s.19 of the 1994 Act, provides that the Public Trustee must maintain a register relating to notices served under s.18 of the 1994 Act.

Background
On 4 May 1998 Gateway granted the first respondent, Mr Mohammed Nuruj Ali, and his wife, Mrs Moizun Nessa, a joint assured tenancy of 45 Pier Street, Isle of Dogs, E14 3HR (the Property). On Mrs Nessa’s death on 15 March 2014 Mr Ali became the sole tenant of the Property. Mr Ali died on 10 August 2018. The Property remained occupied by the second respondent, Ms Delara Begum, who claimed to have married Mr Ali in Bangladesh in March 1990.

Gateway served a notice to quit dated 15 October 2018 by first class post to the Property. It was addressed to “The Personal Representatives of Mr Nuruj Ali” and gave the address of the tenant as the Property. It gave Gateway’s name and address as the landlord. The deemed date of service was 17 October 2018. The notice purported to determine the tenancy on 12 November 2018 or 18 November 2018 (the day on which a complete period of the tenancy expired next after the end of four weeks from service).

The deemed service date for the notice sent to the Public Trustee was 22 October 2018. In an email dated 4 December 2018 to Gateway, the Public Trustee stated that the application for registration of the notice to quit was received on 30 October 2018, and that date would be recorded on the register. Given the date of receipt, the notice would have expired on 2 December 2018, though it purported to determine the tenancy on the 12 or 18 November 2018.

Pavey v London Borough of Hackney
The court considered the case Pavey v London Borough of Hackney (unreported) 21 November 2017.

In that case, the notice to quit purported to determine the tenancy on 18 January 2015. On 24 April 2015 the respondent council sent a copy of the notice to quit to the Public Trustee. The court found as follows:

1. Section18 requires service both to the actual premises and the Public Trustee;
2. Accordingly, the saving clause operated only when the copy had been served on the Public Trustee;
3. To be valid, the date of determination must be clear to the personal representatives, the Public Trustee, and anyone else with an interest;
4. The lack of clarity about the date on which the tenancy would end, which resulted from the different dates of service, meant the notice was invalid.

In the present case at first instance, DDJ Smith applied Pavey and found the notice served by Gateway to be invalid. The DDJ acknowledged that it had been found elsewhere that the office of the Public Trustee does not have cause to calculate the date of expiry of the notice, the notice is therefore valid provided it is received before the date of expiry on the face of the notice. However, the reasoning in Pavey was preferred because of the need for clarity in relation to notices.

Court of Appeal judgment
The Court observed that the reasoning in Pavey treated the document sent to the Public Trustee as an independent self-standing notice. This was concerning as practical issues could arise in relation to ensuring simultaneous service of both notices.

The Court therefore found it to be fundamental that what is served on the Public Trustee is only a copy of the notice to quit. They found this to be the most reasonable construction of the statute because:

1. Though the Public Trustee may be the notional tenant where a tenant dies intestate, that will not be the case where there are executors after a tenant dies testate;
2. Further, the copy the Public Trustee receives would in any case still be addressed to the personal representatives;
3. There is nothing in ss.18 or 19 of the 1994 Act or in the 1995 Regulations which requires the Public Trustee to keep a record of when the copy was received, only the date when the entry on the register was made.

It is therefore now established that service of the copy notice upon the Public Trustee can retroactively validate the notice served at the landowner’s last known address.

The Court went on to consider the time limits for service of the copy to the Public Trustee. It found that service must take place before expiry of the notice to quit in accordance with its terms. It considered that any requirement for the copy of the notice to be served before the appointment of personal representatives would bring about unnecessary practical difficulties, as the date for appointments is often entirely unpredictable and can be subject to lengthy delays.
Summary by Parissa Najah, barrister, Trinity Chambers. For the judgment, click here.

Chan v Bilkhu & Bilkhu [2010] UKUT 289 (LC)

In an appeal against the decision of the First Tier Property Tribunal (FTT), the appellant successfully argued that the amount awarded pursuant to section 43 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 was too low.

The facts
The appellant had an assured shorthold tenancy from 1 July 2018 for 12 months. He lived in the property with four others in four households. The property was an HMO required to be licensed but was not licensed and therefore the second respondent (the registered proprietor) committed the offence in section 72(1) of the Housing 2004 throughout the year in which the appellant was a tenant.

The appellant paid £4,482.50 in rent over 12 months. The FTT awarded a sum of £1,494.17 which it said represented one-third of the rental profit. This was awarded on the basis of the decision in Parker v Waller ]2012] UKUT 301 (LC).

After the FTT made its order, the Upper Tier Tribunal in Vadamalayan v Stewart [2020] UKUT 0183 (LC) [see Housing Law Week 1 July 2020] held that the approach of Parker was no longer to be followed. Instead, the starting point for the amount of a rent repayment order should be the whole of the rent for the relevant period and the amount should not generally be restricted to the landlord’s profit.

The tenant appealed the decision of the FTT to the UTT.  The principal issue was whether the order made was inappropriate in light of Vadamalayan.

The judgment

The UTT held that the decision would have been troubling even before Vadamalayan as the sum awarded was not calculated in accordance with the rental profit.

Based on the findings of the FTT, the UTT considered that the respondents held a portfolio of properties and were expected to keep abreast of their professional and legal responsibilities. Inadvertence was not mitigation.

It was pointed out to the UTT that for one-quarter of the tenancy there was no breach of the HMO regulations as the property was not a licensable HMO until 1 October 2018.

The UTT set aside the decision of the FTT and substituted its own. It ordered rent repayment in the sum of £3,361.87. This was calculated on the basis of 100 per cent of the rent for the period during which the property was licensable.

Summary by Morgan Brien, 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.

Impact of Covid-19 on tenants, landlords, rough sleepers and homelessness
The House of Commons Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee has issued a further call for evidence on the impact of Covid-19 on tenants, landlords, rough sleepers and homelessness. The call follows the Committee’s interim report, published in May, which found that successful efforts to tackle rough sleeping during the Covid-19 pandemic risked being squandered if the Government failed to implement and fund a comprehensive exit strategy.

The Committee seeks to understand how effective Government support has been in tackling the negative impact of Covid-19 on tenants, landlords, rough sleepers and the homelessness. It will also consider what additional support may be needed over winter months and following the increase in infection rates. The Committee invites evidence on the following issues:

• How effective has the support provided by the Government been in addressing the impact of Covid-19 on tenants, landlords, rough sleepers and the homeless?
• What might the impact be of a second wave of coronavirus on homelessness and the private rented sector?
• What estimates or data are available on the number of eviction notices served during the ban on evictions?
• What are the best policy options for helping tenants with rent arrears caused by coronavirus?

The deadline for submissions is 27 November 2020. For information about how to submit evidence, click here.

HOUSING LAW ARTICLES & PUBLICATIONS

Housing law: time for a large Scotch? Nic Madge Legal Action 20 October 2020 – to read the article, click here

Renting as a family under Section 21 – Laura's Story Tilly Smith Generation Rent 21 October 2020 – to read the article, click here

Want to fix the housing crisis? Give young people the right to a low-cost home Sonia Sodha Guardian 21 October 2020 – to read the article, click here

Re-opening the Housing Revenue Account Ian Doolittle Trowers and Hamlins 21 October 2020 – to read the article, click here

Committal changes and anti-social behaviour Sarah Salmon Local Government Lawyer 22 October 2020 – to read the article, click here

Which Tier are you in, or out? Giles PeakerNearly Legal 22 October 2020 – to read the article, click here

Social housing allocations and the Equality Act 2010 Alexander Campbell Local Government Lawyer 23 October 2020 – to read the article, click here

Legal services are an oasis of support Gareth Owen Shelter Blog 23 October 2020 – to read the article, click here

This isn’t going to be Priti J Nearly Legal 24 October 2020 – to read the article, click here

Rent Repayment Orders – the Upper Tribunal is firm Giles PeakerNearly Legal 24 October 2020 – to read the article, click here

Tenants are facing eviction again, despite the UK government's promises David Renton Guardian 25 October 2020 – to read the article, click here

Homeless charities are saving lives, so why refuse them crucial funding? Francisco Garcia Guardian 26 October 2020 – to read the article, click here

Housing case law update - October 2020 Daniel Skinner, Rebecca Asady and Natalie Hurst Local Government Lawyer 26 October 2020 – to read the article, click here

Stock transfers and COVID-19 Susie Rogers and Wilson Tang Local Government Lawyer 26 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

29 October 2020                                   
House of Lords Committee stage begins for the Fire Safety 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)

6 November 2020                                 
Second reading of Mobile Homes Act 1983 (Amendment) Bill (see Housing Laws in the Pipeline)

6 November 2020                                 
Second reading of Caravan Sites Bill (see Housing Laws in the Pipeline)

13 November 2020                               
Closing date for submissions to the consultation on Funding allocation methods: new domestic abuse duty (see Housing Law Consultations)

27 November 2020                               
Stage 2 consideration of the Renting Homes (Amendment) (Wales) Bill will take place in Committee (see Housing Laws in the Pipeline)

27 November 2020                               
Postponed second reading of Domestic Properties (Minimum Energy Performance) Bill (see Housing Laws in the Pipeline)

27 November 2020                               
Closing date for submissions to the consultation on Impact of Covid-19 on tenants, landlords, rough sleepers and homelessness (see Housing Law Consultations)

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