HOUSING LAW NEWS & POLICY ISSUES

Kerslake Commission on Homelessness and Rough Sleeping
On 23 March 2021 Lord Kerslake announced the formation of a new independent Commission established to examine and learn the lessons from the emergency response which supported people sleeping rough during the Covid-19 pandemic, describing it as a ‘watershed moment’. Chaired by Lord Kerslake, it aims to help all agencies involved in supporting those who are rough sleeping, or homeless and at risk of rough sleeping, to understand what worked during the pandemic and what is now needed to embed the good practice of the past year. An Advisory Board comprised of 17 people from housing, health and homelessness bodies will meet four times between March and September 2021. Secretariat support for this independent Commission will be provided by St Mungo’s. The Commission will gather evidence from across housing, health and homelessness sectors to feed into a report produced in the autumn with recommendations of how to consolidate and improve this way of working for the future. For the website of the Commission, click here. For the response of the Local Government Association, click here.

Legal aid statistics quarterly: October to December 2020
On 25 March 2021 the Ministry of Justice published legal aid statistics for October to December 2020. In that period, there were 4,892 legally aided housing cases (down 39 per cent on a year ago) costing £4.9 million (down 26 per cent on a year ago). Almost 80 per cent of housing work volume is made up of legal help (ie advice and assistance about a legal problem, but not including representation or advocacy in proceedings). In October to December 2020 there was a 33 per cent decrease in housing work starts compared to the same quarter the previous year. There were also decreases in completed claims (36 per cent) and decreases in expenditure (19 per cent). Following a six-month period with no starts between April and September 2020, HPCDS resumed in October 2020. There was an average of 154 starts per month between October and December 2020, with an increase to 454 starts in January 2021. For the full statistics, click here.

Grenfell Tower Inquiry
On 29 March 2021 the Guardian reported claims made at the Grenfell Tower Inquiry that in 2010 a resident had warned the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in writing that an “inferno” could engulf the building and “trap the residents … with no escape”. Lawyers for the bereaved and survivors accused the council of an “ethos of indifference or hostility [that] came to permeate the non-negotiable matter of fire safety” and claimed the fire was “a landmark act of discrimination against disabled and vulnerable people”. For the report, click here.

Private renting: Citizens Advice
On 26 March 2021 Citizens Advice published research showing that it is “now helping one person every minute with problems relating to renting from a private landlord”. Figures from the charity's website show that in the first two months of the year 69,000 people viewed its advice pages dealing with problems related to private tenancies. In the same period Citizens Advice also helped 16,530 people with one-to-one advice on these issues. That figure includes:

• 4,781 (29 per cent) who had problems with repairs or maintenance
• 1,541 (9 per cent) who were worried about possession action not related to rent arrears
• 848 (5 per cent) who reported harassment by their landlord
• 670 (4 per cent) who wanted help with a possible illegal eviction.

Two-thirds of those surveyed had experienced problems with maintenance or disrepair in the last three months. Citizens Advice says the forthcoming Renters’ Reform Bill is an opportunity to lay the foundations of a more equitable private rented sector. The charity wants:

• An end to Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions, as promised by the government in 2019.
• Indefinite tenancies used as standard, to give renters more certainty and flexibility, and reduce their exposure to annual rent increases.
• A new National Housing Body and register to set consistent standards, give tenants greater protection, and help responsible landlords 

For more details, click here.

Private renting: NRLA
On 26 March 2021 the National Residential Landlords Association published research which shows that there are an estimated 840,000 private tenants who have accumulated rent arrears since lockdown measures began. With no action possible against them, the NRLA says that these debts are increasing to the point where there is no hope of many being able to afford to pay them back. In the opinion of the NRLA, the outcome will be that most will have to leave their homes as emergency measures taper down from June; and the situation for landlords is being made worse by the strains that the courts are now under in hearing the relatively few cases that are being allowed to go ahead. The NRLA is calling on the courts to make much better use of technology to ensure that legitimate possession cases can be heard more swiftly. For the research results, click here. For the associated press release, click here.

Charities call for an end to homelessness, hunger and poverty
On 26 March 2021, the anniversary of Everyone In, Crisis, Joseph Rowntree Foundation and The Trussell Trust wrote an open letter to the Prime Minister to seek a new commitment that no one should be homeless, hungry or living in poverty today. For the letter, click here.

Call for investment in long-term solutions to end homelessness
On 26 March 2021 Homeless Link, Centrepoint, National Housing Federation and Shelter called for investment in long-term solutions to end homelessness. For the full statement, click here.

Average weekly social housing rents
On 25 March 2021 the MHCLG published tables showing the average local authority weekly rents, organised by district (table 702) and private registered provider average weekly rents, organised by district (table 704). For the tables, click here.

Housing options for serving and ex-military personnel
On 24 March 2021 the House of Commons Library published a paper outlining the housing options open to serving and ex-military personnel. It does not cover service accommodation provided by the Ministry of Defence. For the paper, click here.

Government’s Independent Review of the Human Rights Act
On 23 March 2021 the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, in the final session of its inquiry into the Government's Independent Review of the Human Rights Act, considered the impact of the Act on the enforcement of human rights in the UK and whether there is any case for reform of the Act. Topics for questions included:

• The balance between enabling individuals to enforce their rights and effective government
• The impact of the Human Rights Act on Parliamentary sovereignty
• Territorial limits on the application of the Human Rights Act
• The impact of any potential reforms on the right to an effective remedy
• Whether more could be done to address negative misconceptions about the Act.

To view the session, click here. For more details of the inquiry, click here. 
 
Covid-19: Protecting tenants from eviction – Wales
On 26 March 2021 Julie James, the Welsh Government’s Minister for Housing and Local Government, provided a written statement on the range of powers granted by the Coronavirus Act 2020 to the Welsh Ministers to respond to and manage the transmission of the virus. For the statement, go to the Welsh Government website at www.gov.wales and click on ‘Housing’.

Tenancy Saver Loan Scheme and Discretionary Housing Payments – Wales
On 24 March 2021 Julie James, the Welsh Government’s Minister for Housing and Local Government, provided a written statement concerning an extension to the Tenancy Saver Loan Scheme and additional funding for Discretionary Housing Payments. For the statement, go to the Welsh Government website at www.gov.wales and click on ‘Housing’.

Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 consultations
On 24 March 2021 the Welsh Government launched a consultation on:

• draft model written statements regulations, including the design, structure and order of the model written statements
• draft explanatory information regulations for written statements.

The consultation ends on 16 June 2021. For the consultation document, click here. For the draft regulations, click here. For the outcome of a consultation on proposed regulations, made under section 94 of the Act, for determining whether a dwelling is fit for human habitation, click here.

Homelessness accommodation provision and rough sleeping: January 2021 – Wales
On 25 March 2021 the Welsh Government published information on persons placed into temporary accommodation and rough sleepers for January 2021. In January 2021:

• Throughout Wales, 1,296 people presenting as homeless were placed into temporary accommodation during the month, 377 more than in December 2020. Of these, 161 were dependent children aged under 16, an increase of 54 from December 2020.
• At 31 January 2021, 5,952 individuals were in temporary accommodation, an increase of 419 from 31 December 2020. 1,249 of these were dependent children aged under 16, an increase of 57 from 31 December 2020.
• 469 homeless individuals were moved into suitable long-term accommodation, 76 fewer than in December 2020. Of the individuals moved into suitable long-term accommodation, 134 were dependent children aged under 16, a decrease of 47 from December 2020.
• At 31 January 2021, there were an estimated 59 individuals sleeping rough throughout Wales. This is a decrease of 2 from the 61 individuals sleeping rough at 31 December 2020.
• As at 31 January 2021, Newport (16), Caerphilly (8), Powys (6) and Ceredigion (5) were the local authorities reporting the highest numbers of individuals sleeping rough. All other local authorities reported fewer than five individuals sleeping rough, with nine local authorities reporting zero.

For the full data, go to the Welsh Government website at www.gov.wales and click on ‘Housing’.

Absence from school amongst children living in homeless households – Wales
On 24 March 2021 the Welsh Government published data comparing school age children living in households who approach the City and County of Swansea housing team, with those who do not or the ‘stabily’ housed. The main findings are:

• In any given academic year, just over 1 per cent of pupils (between the ages of 5 and 16 years old) were living in households that have accessed the City and County of Swansea housing team.
• The proportion of children who were eligible for free school meals was greater amongst households accessing the Swansea housing team.
• Absenteeism varied with academic year, but rates were consistently higher amongst children living in households that were accessing the Swansea housing team.
• Becoming homeless or at risk of homelessness was associated with a 7 per cent increase in total sessions absent from school.

For the report, go to the Welsh Government website at www.gov.wales and click on ‘Housing’.

Housing and homelessness “critical” issue in local elections
On 24 March 2021 Homeless Link launched a new campaign to raise the profile of homelessness in the forthcoming local elections in England. Homeless Link say that every person who is elected will have some responsibility for housing and homelessness. The charity is working through its 850+ member organisations across the country to call on every candidate to sign the Everyone In For Good Pledge. The pledge commits elected candidates to prioritising homelessness and working to end homelessness for good. Local members will be meeting with candidates and organising hustings in some areas. For more details, click here.

Housing Ombudsman
On 24 March 2021 the Housing Ombudsman published a new Systemic Framework setting out how the Ombudsman will look beyond individual disputes to identify key issues that impact on residents and landlords’ services. Learning will be shared with the sector to promote good practice and support a positive complaint handing culture. For more information, click here.

Right to Buy fraudster ordered to pay back £90,000
On 22 March 2021 Newcastle City Council reported that Monica Li has been ordered to repay more than £90,000 for her part in a Right to Buy fraud. In July 2020 Ms Li received a 10-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months for the fraud. In 2011 she purchased her council house, valued at £65,000, from Your Homes Newcastle for £40,950, successfully applying for a £24,050 discount on the strict condition that the property was her principal home. She was actually living in another house in Sunderland. After buying the property at the discounted price, she rented it out. At a Proceeds of Crime hearing in March Ms Li was ordered to pay back £90,950 after the judge took into account the discount at the time of the purchase, the rental income, appreciation in the value of the property over 10 years and other assets she had accrued. For the report, click here.

Green homes funding
On 27 March 2021 the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy announced that £300 million of extra funding is to be invested to cut greenhouse gas emissions from the nation’s homes through energy efficiency and low carbon heating schemes. The funding will focus on delivering energy saving upgrades and low carbon heating to homes through local authorities in England. Following a review, the Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme, launched last year, will close to new applications on 31 March at 5pm. Applications made before the deadline will be honoured and any vouchers already issued may be extended upon request. For more details of the new funding, click here. For the response of the National Residential Landlords Association, click here.

Adapted properties
On 23 March 2021 the National Residential Landlords Association launched guidance to help inform landlords of the role they can play in supporting the UK’s ageing population and disabled renters. It also called for greater co-operation between private landlords and local authorities “to resolve the urgent need for more adapted private rented accommodation”. For more information, click here.

Mortgage payment problems: FCA guidance
On 25 March 2021 the Financial Conduct Authority published finalised guidance for firms, to ensure that mortgage customers whose homes may be repossessed are treated fairly and appropriately, particularly where there are risks of harm to customers who are vulnerable, including as a result of coronavirus. This means that firms considering or taking repossession action should do so only as a last resort and when all other reasonable attempts to resolve the situation have failed. Firms should also take additional care when taking action to enforce repossession if their customer would be at greater risk of harm from coronavirus if made to vacate the property. For the guidance, click here.

HOUSING LAWS IN THE PIPELINE

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. Both Houses have agreed on the text of the bill which now waits for the final stage of Royal Assent when the Bill will become an Act of Parliament. Royal Assent is yet to be scheduled. For the bill, as amended by the 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.

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 a date to be announced. For the bill as introduced, click here. To follow progress of 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 was completed on 29 October 2020. The report stage took place on 17 November 2020. The third reading took place on 24 November 2020. The House of Lords returned the Bill to the House of Commons with amendments. The House of Commons considered the Lords Amendments on the floor of the House on 24 February 2021. The House of Lords considered the Commons amendments to the Bill on 17 March 2021. Outstanding issues on the bill were returned to the Commons for consideration. The Commons considered the Lords message on the Bill on 22 March 2021 and have returned the Bill to the Lords as they disagreed with certain Lords amendments. For the bill, as amended on report, click here. To read debates on all stages of the bill, click here. For a briefing paper, published by the House of Commons Library on 19 March 2021, click here. 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 Bill was agreed by the Senedd on 23 February 2021. The bill now awaits Royal Assent. For impact assessments, click here. For the bill as passed at Stage 4, all other documents relating to it, and to follow progress on the  bill, click here.

Housing and Homelessness (Local Accommodation Duty) Bill
This private member’s bill, sponsored by Karen Buck, would place a duty on local authorities to ensure that persons for whom a homeless duty has been accepted are accommodated in the local area, including on discharge into private rented accommodation; and would require local authorities to publish annual reports on steps relating to housing demand and supply taken or intended to be taken to meet that duty. The bill had its first reading on 8 March 2021 and is due to have a second reading on a date to be announced. The bill is being prepared for publication. To follow progress of the bill, click here.

Supported Accommodation Bill
This private member’s bill, sponsored by Steve McCabe, would require developers to disclose for planning purposes an intention to use a building for supported housing or other accommodation that is specified for the purposes of Universal Credit and Housing Benefit; establish a suitability test for accommodation proposed for such use; and make provision about the fitness of persons to be landlords or managers of supported or other specified accommodation. The bill had its first reading on 18 November 2020 and is due to have its second reading on a date to be announced. The bill is being prepared for publication. To follow progress of the bill, click here.

Supported Housing (Regulation) Bill
This private member's bill, sponsored by Kerry McCarthy, would regulate supported housing; make provision about local authority oversight and the enforcement of standards of accommodation and support in supported housing; and prohibit the placing of children in care in unregulated accommodation. It received its first reading on 11 November 2020. The second reading has been further postponed to a date to be announced. The bill is being prepared for publication. 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 further postponed to a date to be announced. The bill is being prepared for publication. 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 yet further postponed to a date to be announced. 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 yet further postponed to a date to be announced. 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. The second reading has been further postponed to a date to be announced. The bill is being prepared for publication. 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 further postponed to a date to be announced. 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 further postponed to a date to be announced. For the bill as introduced, click here. To follow progress of the bill, click here.

Asylum Seekers (Accommodation Eviction Procedures) Bill
This private members’ bill, sponsored by Chris Stephens, would make provision for asylum seekers to challenge the proportionality of a proposed eviction from accommodation before an independent court or tribunal and would establish asylum seeker accommodation eviction procedures for public authorities. The first reading was on 10 February 2020. The second reading has been postponed to a date to be announced. The bill is being prepared for publication. 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 a date to be announced. For the bill as introduced, click here. 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.

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 a date to be announced. 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 a date to be announced. To follow progress of the bill, click here.

NEW HOUSING CASES

Ngnoguem v Milton Keynes Council [2021] EWCA Civ 396

The appeal raised two related points of law. Firstly, where an applicant who is dissatisfied with a decision made pursuant to section 184 of the Housing Act 1996 (“a s.184 Decision”) requests a review of that decision pursuant to section 202 of the Housing Act 1996, what is the legal status of the requested decision (“a Review Decision”) when the authority had issued and notified the applicant of the Review Decision out of time? Secondly, where a Review Decision has been issued and notified to the applicant late, is it open to the applicant to commence an appeal to the county court against the original s. 184 Decision relying upon the terms of section 204(1)(b) of the Housing Act 1996.

The Court of Appeal confirmed the decision of HHJ Clarke in the county court and dismissed the appeal on both grounds.

Background

The appellant and her young daughter had fled the family home due to domestic violence and had been living in a refuge in Merton since September 2017. In January 2018, she made an application for assistance to Milton Keynes Council, as she felt that Milton Keynes was a safe distance away from her ex-partner.

On the 10th April 2018, the respondent notified the appellant that her application had been successful. However, before the s.184 Decision was made, the appellant changed her mind and wanted to live in London. She had not withdrawn the application. On 10th September 2018, months out of time, the appellant requested a review of the s.184 Decision. The respondent notified and issued the Review Decision (confirming the s.184 Decision) four days late.

The appellant then issued separate proceedings: the first challenged the s.184 decision, the second challenged the validity of the Review Decision.

The appeals came before HHJ Clarke on 24th May 2019. She held that the Review Decision, despite being issued late, was a decision which superseded the s.184 Decision and became the decision in relation to which the appellant had a right of appeal. She, therefore, dismissed the appeal against the s.184 Decision. The judge then went on to consider the appellant’s appeal against the Review Decision on its merits and dismissed it.

The Judgment

The appeal was originally listed to be heard alongside Stanley v Welwyn Borough Council [2020] EWCA Civ 1458, which raised similar issues. This did not happen. However, the judgment in Stanley includes obiter dictum on the current case, namely HHJ Clarke “was correct to say that, as at the date of the review decision, that decision replaced the original decision of the authority and there would be no legitimate interest in doing other than addressing such legal challenge as there might be to what was the decision on review.”

The Court of Appeal confirmed the obiter dictum in Stanley, save that it be only in exceptional cases, where there is an enduring benefit to the applicant, that there is a justification for pursuing an appeal to the county court against the s.184 Decision. In all other cases, there is no such justification.

In dismissing the appeal, Stuart-Smith LJ clearly set out the Court’s conclusions at paragraph 40:

i)         Where an applicant is dissatisfied with a s.184 Decision, their primary remedy is to request a Review Decision;

ii)          If such a request is duly made, the authority is under a mandatory obligation to review its s.184 Decision and to notify the appellant of its decision in the light of that Review

iii)         Where the authority provides a Review Decision, it becomes the authority’s sole effective and operative decision whether the Review Decision is provided within time (as specified in the regulations or as extended by agreement in writing) or is provided late;

iv)         Where the applicant has requested a review and is not notified of the Review Decision within time then, provided a (late) Review Decision has not been notified before the appeal is brought, the applicant has 21 days form the date on which it should have been notified to bring an appeal to the County Court on any point of law arising from the original s.184 Decision. If the authority provides a Review /decision after such an appeal to the County Court has been commenced, it will render the appeal academic save in exceptional circumstances;

v)         Where the applicant has requested a review and is notified of the Review Decision within time but a (late) Review Decision has been provided before the appeal is brought, the applicant’s remedy is to appeal to the County Court on any point of law arising from the Review Decision

vi)         An appeal to the County Court against the s.184 Decision should not be commended
after notification of a Review Decision, whether that notification was in time or late.”

Summary by Shada Mellor, barrister, Trinity Chambers. For the judgment, click here.  

HOUSING LAW CONSULTATIONS

Safer buildings in Wales
The Welsh Government is consulting on proposals for comprehensive reform of legislation that contributes to building safety in Wales. It focuses on legislative change across the lifecycle of buildings as well as setting out aspirations for culture change in the way buildings are designed, constructed and managed. The consultation ends on 12 April 2021. For the consultation documents, click here.

Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 Draft Regulations
The Welsh Government is consulting on:

• draft model written statements regulations, including the design, structure and order of the model written statements
• draft explanatory information regulations for written statements.

The consultation ends on 16 June 2021. For the consultation document, click here. For the draft regulations, click here.

HOUSING LAW ARTICLES & PUBLICATIONS

The dangers women face as private renters Tilly Smith Generation Rent 22 March 2021 – to read the article, click here

This Much We Know Podcast: a podcast all about Social Enterprises in the homeless sector Murphy Hopkins-Hubbard Homeless Link 23 March 2021 – to listen to the podcast, click here

Leasehold reform proposals: Fairer for all? Kyle Holling, William Bethune and Suzanne Benson Trowers and Hamlins 24 March 2021 – to read the article, click here

Mandatory relief when left in unsuitable temporary accommodation Giles Peaker Nearly Legal 28 March 2021 – to read the article, click here

Why it’s time for the Renters’ Reform Bill Bronya Smolen Shelter Blog 29 March 2021 – to read the article, click here

Jobs and Homes: Stories of the law in lockdown David Renton Legal Action March 2021 – to read the excerpt – click here

Housing: recent developments (April 21) Jan Luba QC and Sam Madge-Wyld Legal Action February 2021 – to read the article (subscription required), click here

HOUSING LAW DIARY

31 March 2021                                     
Coronavirus Act 2020 (Residential Tenancies: Protection from Eviction) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2021 come into force

1 April 2021                                          
Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 come into force

1 April 2021                                          
Housing (Shared Ownership Leases) (Exclusion from Leasehold Reform Act 1967 and Rent Act 1977) (England) Regulations 2021 come into force

6 April 2021                                          
Tribunal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2021 come into force

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