16th February 2022
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HOUSING LAW NEWS & POLICY ISSUES
 

Domestic abuse and housing: consultations launched and extra funding announced
On 15 February 2022 the DLUHC announced:

  • A further £125 million in funding so that English councils can ensure that safe accommodation spaces, such as refuges and shelters, are able to provide victims with vital support services including healthcare, social workers and benefits.
  • A consultation which will consider removing Local Connection Tests for abuse victims, which can stop victims from applying for social housing if they do not have a connection to a local area.
  • A second consultation which will consider whether and how to change current rules that make it difficult for victims to remove their perpetrators from joint tenancies, with the consequence that victims either feel forced to stay in their home or are at risk of being made homeless by their abuser.

For the announcement of these measures, including comment by the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, click here. For more details of the consultations, see Housing Law Consultations (below).

Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022
On 8 February 2022 the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill received Royal Assent. The Act restricts ground rents on newly created long leases of houses and flats to an annual rent of one peppercorn (a token of no financial value). For the Act, click here. For a House of Commons Library briefing, published on 20 January 2022, explaining the background to the Bill (as it then was) and its main provisions, click here.

Landlord possession statistics – England and Wales
On 10 February 2022 the Ministry of Justice published quarterly national statistics on possession claim actions in county courts by mortgage lenders and social and private landlords. The statistics cover the period from October to December 2021. When compared to the same quarter in 2019, landlord possession claims, orders, warrants and repossessions by county court bailiffs decreased by 43, 67, 67 and 64 per cent respectively. However, when compared to the same quarter in 2020, over 100 per cent increases were recorded across all actions, except for claims issued which rose 72 per cent. Possession claims rose from 8,382 to 14,433, orders from 2,195 to 6,849, warrants from 1,792 to 4,256 and repossessions from 548 to 2,706. For the statistics (combined with those for mortgage possession below), click here. For the response of Crisis, click here. For comment by Shelter, click here.

Mortgage possession statistics – England and Wales
On 10 February 2022 the Ministry of Justice published quarterly national statistics on possession claim actions in county courts by mortgage lenders and social and private landlords. The statistics cover the period from October to December 2021. Compared to 2019, pre-Covid-19, mortgage possession claims, orders, warrants and repossessions by county court bailiffs decreased by 59, 63, 71 and 73 per cent respectively. However, compared to the same quarter in 2020, all mortgage actions increased by over 100 per cent. Mortgage possession claims increased from 255 to 2,568, orders from 29 to 1,656, warrants from 45 to 1,114 and repossessions by county court bailiffs increased from 7 to 309. For the statistics (combined with those for landlord possession above), click here.

Amendments to the Home Office code of practice for landlords
On 11 February 2022 the Home Office launched a consultation on proposed amendments to the Home Office code of practice for landlords on avoiding unlawful discrimination when conducting ‘right to rent’ checks in the private rented residential sector. For more details, see Housing Law Consultations (below).

Rough sleepers
On 11 February 2022 the DLUHC announced £174 million funding for councils to provide homes for rough sleepers. The funding, which forms part of the government’s Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme, will create over 2,900 move-on homes by 2024 as part of the £433 million programme. Teams of specialist staff offering mental health and substance misuse treatment will help rough sleepers recover and move on. Councils across England are invited to bid for the funding available for long-term homes. For the announcement, click here. For an overview of the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme 2021-24, click here. For comment by Crisis, click here.

Households in temporary accommodation – England
On 13 February 2022 the House of Commons Library published a paper providing data on homeless households in temporary accommodation in England and outlining initiatives and issues associated with the use of temporary accommodation. For the paper, click here.

Mortgage prisoners
On 10 February 2022 the House of Commons Library published an overview of how many mortgage-holders became trapped in expensive deals, and of efforts made to help resolve the situation. For the overview, click here.

Forces Help to Buy Scheme quarterly statistics: 2021/22
On 10 February 2022 the Ministry of Defence published quarterly summary statistics on applications, payments and purchases made under the Forces Help to Buy (FHTB) scheme. Between 1 October and 31 December) 2021:

  • 1,309 First Stage applications (ie those which pass initial eligibility checks) were received.
  • 550 Second Stage applications (ie those which pass detailed eligibility checks) were received.
  • 581 payments were made to Service personnel.

For the full statistics, click here.

Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016: responses to consultation
On 11 February 2022 the Welsh Government published a summary of responses to its consultation on Regulations relating to model written statements of occupation contracts and explanatory information in respect of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016. Generally, correspondents welcomed the principle of having model written statements and there being mandatory explanatory information that must be included as part of every written statement. However, there was a very wide range of contrasting views on the suitability of the draft model written statements provided and the proposed mandatory explanatory information. For the summary of responses, click here.

Social housing conditions and disrepair – Wales
On 11 February 2022 the Welsh Government published an analysis of information received from social landlords in response to a letter from the Government seeking assurance that landlords are doing all they can to ensure tenants are not subject to similar conditions. For the document, click here.

Creating a converted occupation contract: guidance for landlords – Wales
On 11 February 2022 the Welsh Government published guidance for landlords about how to create a written statement for a converted occupation contract. For the guidance, click here.

Social Housing Grant: guidance for registered social landlords and local authorities – Wales
On 11 February 2022 the Welsh Government published guidance for registered social landlords and local authorities explaining how to submit a scheme and fill out the forms needed at each stage. For the guidance, click here.

Model written statement for periodic standard contracts – Wales
On 11 February 2022 the Welsh Government published a model written statement that landlords can use as the basis for creating a new periodic standard contract. For the document, go to wales.gov, then to ‘Housing’, and then to ‘Publications’.

Model written statement for secure contracts – Wales
On 11 February 2022 the Welsh Government published a model written statement that landlords can use as the basis for creating a new secure contract. For the document, go to wales.gov, then to ‘Housing’, and then to ‘Publications’.

Housing Ombudsman issues 19 complaint handling failure orders 
On 9 February 2022 the Housing Ombudsman published its latest quarterly report which shows that the HO issued 19 complaint handling failure orders between October and December 2021, highlighting issues with progressing complaints and meeting its standards. In all cases, landlords complied with the orders. Orders were issued to ten councils and nine housing associations over the period. It is the first time the number of complaint handling failure orders has gone down over a quarterly reporting period since January 2021 (when the reports began) and compliance rates have improved. For the report, click here. For the latest issue of the HO’s monthly Enewsletter, click here.

Private rented sector: complaints to local authorities
On 9 February 2022 the National Residential Landlords Association published research which reveals that a majority of local authorities in England do not accurately record the number of private rented sector tenure complaints which they receive. These findings, based on Freedom of Information Act requests, indicate that, in all, 56 per cent of councils do not accurately record the number of complaints they receive concerning private rented sector housing. This figure rises to 61 per cent for those local authorities which have selective licensing schemes. For the report, click here.

‘UK needs 230,000 new private rented homes a year’
On 14 February 2022 the National Residential Landlords Association published a report by the economics consultancy, Capital Economics, which shows that almost 230,000 new private rented homes a year are needed to meet government housing targets across the UK. The report, commissioned by the NRLA, observes that Government targets would amount to the need for 340,000 new homes a year across the UK by the middle of the decade. For the report, click here. For an article in the Guardian, click here.

Energy efficiency and interwar housing
On 11 February 2022 the Royal Institute of British Architects published a report – Homes for Heroes: solving the energy efficiency in England’s interwar suburbs – which urges the government to focus a new National Retrofit Strategy on updating 3.3m homes in England that were built between 1919 and 1939. RIBA says that in 2021, 17 per cent of households in interwar suburbs were in fuel poverty, proportionally higher than the overall national rate of 13 per cent. Largely due to their poor insulation, solid wall construction, and high gas reliance, many interwar homes leave residents vulnerable to soaring energy prices. Only 10 per cent of interwar homes achieve an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) above Band C. If current Band D rated homes were retrofitted to achieve Band C performance, households would save £483 per year under the 2022 energy price cap. For the report, click here and scroll to the link at the foot of the page. For an article in the Guardian, click here.

Queen’s Bench Division Guide 2022
On 7 February 2022 the Queen’s Bench Division Guide 2022 was published, replacing last year’s version. It is the eighth edition of a guide to the working practices of the Queen’s Bench Division within the Royal Courts of Justice in London. Changes in the guide include: Interim and out of hours applications; Urgent and Short Applications before the Masters; Electronic bundles; the procedure for issuing claim forms following urgent interim injunction applications; Pre-Trial Reviews in Media and Communication List cases; Amendment to court plans; Payment of court fees; QB Masters Clerks contact details. For the Guide, click here.

Judicial Review and Courts Bill
On 10 February 2022 the Law Society published a briefing on the Judicial Review and Courts Bill, which had its second reading in the House of Lords on 7 February 2022. The Bill will make significant changes to judicial review processes, alongside other provisions relating to courts. For the briefing, click here.

Human Rights Act reform: Parliamentary committee inquiries continue
On 8 February 2022 the House of Commons Justice Committee questioned former Supreme Court Justice Lord Carnwath, human rights barrister Kirsty Brimelow QC and leading academics in the second of two sessions examining proposals to reform the UK’s Human Rights Act. To watch the session, click here. For more details of the Committee’s inquiry, click here.

On 9 February 2022 the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights continued its own inquiry into proposed reforms of the Human Rights Act by taking evidence from Schona Jolly QC, Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC, Elizabeth Prochaska and Professor Conor Gearty, Professor of Human Rights Law, London School of Economics. For more details of the Committee’s inquiry, click here.

Tenants on east London estate revolt over damp and mouldy homes
On 10 February 2022 the Guardian reported that the Industrial Dwellings Society is facing a revolt from tenants who are “tired of living in cramped, damp and mouldy homes that some say are damaging children’s health”. About 120 have signed a petition demanding better conditions and improved responsiveness from their landlord, after the London Renters Union helped them to organise. They staged a protest on Wednesday outside the landlord’s offices. For the report, click here.

UK rental costs: Zoopla
On 9 February 2022 Zoopla reported that average UK rents are approaching £1,000 pcm – £62 per month more than at the start of the pandemic – as the increase in the cost of living squeezes households. Zoopla has found:

  • Average annual UK rental growth has reached a 13 year high, with rents increasing to £969 (+8.3 per cent) in Q4 2021, up £62 per month since the start of the pandemic.
  • The average rent now accounts for 37 per cent of gross income for a single earner – up from a pandemic dip of 34 per cent during most of 2021 but broadly in line with the 10-year average of 36 per cent.
  • Overall, average rents are up nearly 12 per cent over the last five years.
  • Demand for rental properties in January was 76 per cent higher compared to the New Year market between 2018 and 2021.
  • The stock of rental properties currently available across the UK is 39 per cent lower than the five-year average around this time of year.
  • Inner city London has seen a rental growth of 11 per cent compared to the same time last year – but the decline in rents during the pandemic means this has translated into an increase of just £18 per month in rent compared to March 2020.

For more detail, click here.

HOUSING LAWS IN THE PIPELINE
 

Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022
The Government Bill to make provision about the rent payable under long leases of dwellings received Royal Assent on 8 February 2022. The Bill completed its House of Lords stages on 14 September 2021 and was presented to the House of Commons on 15 September 2021. The Bill had its third reading in the Commons on 24 January 2022. The Bill returned to the House of Lords on 7 February 2022 for consideration of Commons amendments. Both Houses agreed on the text of the Bill on that day. For the full text of the Act of Parliament as passed by Parliament, click here. For a House of Commons Library briefing concerning the Bill, published on 20 January 2022, click here.

Building Safety Bill
This Government Bill would make provision about the safety of people in or about buildings and the standard of buildings, to amend the Architects Act 1997, and to amend provision about complaints made to a housing ombudsman. The Bill completed its passage through the House of Commons on 19 January 2022. It received its first reading in the House of Lords on 20 February 2022. It received its second reading on 2 February 2022. Committee stage begins on 21 February 2022. For the Bill as brought from the House of Commons, click here. For the Government response to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee's pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill, click here. For a House of Commons Library briefing about the Bill, published on 17 January 2022, click here. For a briefing produced by the Local Government Association in advance of the second reading in the House of Commons, 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 requirements for caravan site licence applications made under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960. It was presented to Parliament on 21 June 2021 and its second reading was been further postponed to 25 February 2022.The Bill awaits publication. To follow progress of the Bill, click here.

Housing Standards (Refugees and Asylum Seekers) Bill
This Private Members’ Bill, sponsored by Chris Stephens, would make provision for national minimum standards in accommodation offered to refugees and asylum seekers. It was presented to Parliament on 21 June 2021 and will receive its postponed second reading on 25 February 2022.The Bill awaits publication. To follow progress of the Bill, click here.

Mobile Homes Act 1983 (Amendment) Bill
This Private Members’ Bill, sponsored by Sir Christopher Chope, would amend the Mobile Homes Act 1983. It was presented to Parliament on 21 June 2021 and will receive its postponed second reading on 25 February 2022. The Bill awaits 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. It was presented to Parliament on 21 June 2021. Second reading has been further postponed to 25 February 2022. The Bill awaits publication. To follow progress of the Bill, click here.

Evictions (Universal Credit) Bill
This Private Members’ Bill, sponsored by Chris Stephens, would place a duty on the Secretary of State to prevent the evictions of Universal Credit claimants in rent arrears. It was presented to Parliament on 21 June 2021 and will receive its postponed second reading on 25 February 2022.The Bill awaits publication. To follow progress of the Bill, click here.

Fire Safety Remediation Charges (Recovery and Enforcement) Bill
This Private Members’ Bill would introduce a moratorium on recovery and enforcement action by freeholders and managing agents relating to service charges increases, fees or demands for payment in respect of leaseholders’ share of the costs of fire safety remediation work. It was presented to Parliament on 24 January 2022. Second reading is scheduled to take place on 18 March 2022. The Bill awaits publication. To follow progress of the Bill, click here.

Caravan Site Licensing (Exemptions of Motor Homes) Bill
This Private Members’ Bill, sponsored by Sir Christopher Chope, would exempt motor homes from caravan site licensing requirements. It was presented to Parliament on 21 June 2021. Second reading was further postponed to 14 January 2022 but was nit debated on that day. The Bill awaits publication. 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 establish asylum seeker accommodation eviction procedures for public authorities. It was presented to Parliament on 21 June 2021. The second reading was postponed to 14 January 2022 but was not debated on that day.The Bill awaits publication. To follow progress of the Bill, click here.

Fire and Building Safety (Public Inquiry) Bill
This Bill, sponsored by Daisy Cooper, would establish an independent public inquiry into the Government’s response to concerns about fire and building safety. It was introduced to Parliament on Tuesday 6 July 2021 under the Ten Minute Rule. Second reading has been rescheduled to 18 March 2022. For the Bill, as introduced, click here

Under-Occupancy Penalty (Report) Bill
This Private Members’ Bill, sponsored by Chris Stephens, would require the Secretary of State to report to Parliament on the merits of repealing those provisions of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 which provide for persons to be paid reduced rates of housing benefit or Universal Credit because their accommodation is deemed to be under-occupied. It was presented to Parliament on 21 June 2021 and will receive its second reading on 14 January 2022.The Bill awaits publication. To follow progress of the Bill, click here.

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NEW HOUSING CASES
 

Paley v London Borough of Waltham Forest [2022] EWCA Civ 112

The Court of Appeal considered whether the local authority made proper inquiries and conducted an appropriate objective assessment of the affordability of a private rental property offered to Ms Paley sufficient to discharge their duty to rehouse her pursuant to s 193(2) HA 1996.

The appeal was dismissed in relation to Ground 1, the reasonableness of the inquiries made by the local authority. The court allowed the appeal in relation to Ground 2, the approach of the local authority to the affordability exercise which it found to have not been conducted properly.

The Law

Under section 193 of the Housing Act 1996, if the local authority is satisfied that the applicant is homeless, eligible for assistance, has a priority need and it is not satisfied that the applicant is intentionally homeless, then the local authority will ordinarily owe a duty to rehouse the applicant. That duty continues until one of the events at s 193(5)-(7AA) occurs, including an offer of private rented accommodation. By virtue of s193(7F)(ab) HA 1996 the local housing authority should not make such an offer ‘unless they are satisfied that the accommodation is suitable for the applicant’.

Suitability includes both the location of the property and its affordability. Under section 208(1) HA 1996 the local authority shall, so far as is reasonably practicable, secure accommodation in the district of the applicant. If the property is not suitable, then by virtue of s 206 (1)(b), the main housing duty will not be discharged.

Background

Ms Paley lives with her 4 children, aged 21 to 5. After being served with a section 21 notice, she presented to the local authority as homeless and in November 2016, the family was placed in temporary accommodation in Bexley. On 3 June 2017, the local authority accepted that it owed Ms Paley a full housing duty under s 193(2) HA 1996.

In applying for housing, Ms Paley completed an Accommodation Needs form, setting out her expenditure and confirming that none of her children had exams coming up. Ms Paley then had an updating conversation with a senior housing officer about her circumstances

The local authority offered her accommodation in the private rental sector. The property offered to Ms Paley was a flat in Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire, some 161 miles outside the local authority area.

Ms Paley contended that the property is not suitable due to its location and affordability. In relation to ground 1, it was submitted that the local authority had failed in that they did not specifically consider the relationship between the children and their father, in spite of this not having been raised by Ms Paley in her correspondence with them.

In relation to ground 2, Ms Paley took issue with the council’s approach to the affordability exercise.

Judgment

The court highlighted the decision of Baroness Hale in Nzolameso v Westminster [2015] UKSC 22, a case which highlighted the duty on the local authority to accommodate in borough where reasonably practicable and to take into account the welfare of each child.

The court then looked at the Supreme Court’s decision on affordability in Samuels v Birmingham City Council [2019] UKSC 28, where Lord Carnwath emphasised at [34] that the assessment of reasonable living expenses requires an objective assessment and cannot depend simply on the subjective view of the case officer.

In line with the decision in Runa Begum v Tower Hamlets LBC [2003] UKHL 5, the court approached the appeal on judicial review principles.

The court relied upon the judgment in Cramp v Hastings [2005] H.L.R. 48 to find that the case did not succeed on this ground, stating that ‘the court should be hesitant indeed to find that there has been an error of law in circumstances where the reviewing officer was never invited to consider a matter now relied upon by the applicant’ [66]. The appeal under ground 1 was therefore dismissed in that the arguments regarding location and proximity of the father’s children had not been raised with the local authority by Ms Paley.

Interestingly, in its assessment on this ground the court observed that

‘the whole of the process, including the right to make submissions by the applicant, is part of the discharge by the local authority of their duty. The ‘minded to’ letter is proactive, the local authority is making further inquiries…the applicant is given a further opportunity to inform the local authority of any other areas which should be further investigated’ [64].

In coming to their decision on Ground 2, affordability, the local authority had disregarded what Ms Paley stated were her transport costs and also decided that the amount she was paying in service of her debts was particularly high. The court was clear that:

‘A local authority is acting irrationally if, in order to make the figures work, they simply omit expenditure which on any objective view would be reasonable for the particular applicant who is in receipt of universal credit, to incur in order to meet her objectively reasonable responsibilities and liabilities’ [77].

Accordingly, it was found that no reasonable authority could on any objective assessment of the budget have concluded that the Stoke property was affordable. This finding that the local authority had failed to conduct an objective assessment was made in spite of Ms Paley failing to provide updated figures or challenge those figures provided to her. The court concluded that it would be ‘unrealistic to make the lawfulness of the assessment of affordability dependant on the direct input of the applicant upon the affordability exercise’ [79-81]. 

Summary by Parissa Najah, barrister, Trinity Chambers. For the judgment, click here

HOUSING LAW CONSULTATIONS
 

Local connection requirements for social housing for victims of domestic abuse
The DLUHC is seeking views on:

  • Proposals to introduce regulations to enable victims of domestic abuse who need to move to another local authority district to qualify for an allocation of social housing in the new area; and
  • How local authorities are making use of the existing legislation and guidance to support victims of domestic abuse who wish to move within and across local authority boundaries.

During the passage of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 concerns were raised relating to local connection tests for domestic abuse victims who apply for social housing. The consultation closes on 10 May 2022. For the consultation document, click here.

The impacts of joint tenancies on victims of domestic abuse
The DLUHC is seeking views on the impacts of the law on joint tenancies on victims of domestic abuse in the social rented sector. It is interested in whether:

  • Perpetrators are using their ability to end a joint tenancy to threaten the victim with homelessness;
  • Victims feel trapped in their joint tenancy with the perpetrator;
  • The current guidance for social landlords is sufficient to support victims in joint tenancies; and
  • The law on transferring joint tenancies is functioning successfully for victims.

During the passage of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, concerns were raised over the current rules on joint tenancies, which mean that victims of domestic abuse who are in a joint tenancy with their abuser can be vulnerable to the threat of being made homeless by their abuser. Should the victim want to stay in the family home, there is currently no straightforward means to remove the abuser from the tenancy and remove the risk of homelessness.

The DLUHC is gathering evidence from victims, landlords, the legal profession, advisory services and other organisations and individuals associated with the domestic abuse sector with an understanding of the issues impacting victims in joint social housing tenancies.

The consultation closes on 10 May 2022. For the consultation document, click here.

Regulator of Social Housing: Consultation on the introduction of tenant satisfaction measures
The Regulator of Social Housing is seeking views on its proposals for tenant satisfaction measures which are part of implementing changes to consumer regulation set out in the Government’s ‘The Charter for Social Housing Residents: Social Housing White Paper’. The measures would provide data about social housing landlords’ performance and the quality of their services to help tenants hold their landlord to account and help RSH in its future consumer regulation role. The Regulator looks forward to hearing from landlords, tenants and anyone with an interest in social housing by 3 March 2022. For the consultation documents, click here.

Reforming the leasehold and commonhold systems in England and Wales
The DLUHC is consulting on a number of Law Commission recommendations that would broaden access to enfranchisement (buying the freehold) and the ‘right to manage’ a building. The proposals would increase the ‘non-residential limit’ from 25 to 50 per cent, allowing leaseholders in buildings with up to 50 per cent non-residential floorspace to buy their freehold or claim a right to manage. The DLUHC is also considering recommendations that allow leaseholders to require that a landlord take on leases for any non-participating units following a collective enfranchisement; the introduction of a non-residential limit for individual freehold acquisitions; and changes to voting rights in right to manage companies. On Commonhold, the Department is considering how shared ownership products could work in commonhold settings; and the provision of information for buying and selling a commonhold property.

For the consultation, which closes on 22 February 2022, click here.

Amendments to the Home Office code of practice for landlords
This consultation seeks views on proposed amendments to the Home Office code of practice for landlords on avoiding unlawful discrimination when conducting ‘right to rent’ checks in the private rented residential sector. The consultation is aimed at landlords and those who undertake ‘right to rent’ checks on a landlord’s behalf, such as letting agencies. This consultation closes on 25 February 2022. For the consultation document, click here.

London Fire Safety Guidance
On 11 February 2022 the London Mayor launched a consultation on the draft Fire Safety London Plan Guidance (LPG). It sets out how applicants should demonstrate compliance with London Plan Policies D12 Fire Safety and D5(B5) Inclusive design (evacuation lifts) in order to demonstrate their schemes achieve the highest standards in fire safety. The Fire Safety LPG reiterates that the fire safety of developments needs be considered from the outset to ensure the most successful outcomes are achieved for building occupants and users. It is essential fire safety measures and the evacuation strategy are integral to the overall layout and design of a development, rather than considered for the first time at Building Control stage. For the consultation, that closes for submissions on 20 June 2022, click here.
HOUSING LAW ARTICLES & PUBLICATIONS
 

Temporary accommodation: the new social housing? Hannah Rich Shelter Blog 8 February 2022 – to read the article, click here

Notes (various) Giles Peaker Nearly Legal 10 February 2022 – to read the article, click here

‘Absolutely freezing’: life in England’s draughty 1930s homes Robert Booth and Jessica Murray Guardian 11 February 2022 – to read the article, click here

This is not my beautiful house Giles Peaker Nearly Legal 13 February 2022 – to read the article, click here

“There’s always a niggling feeling that someone will reject you.” How homelessness services can better engage young trans people Nye Jones Homeless Link 14 February 2022 – to read the article, click here

The human cost of temporary accommodation Sam Stroud Shelter Blog 14 February 2022 – to read the article, click here

Housing conditions: update (Feb 22) Catherine O’Donnell Legal Action – to read the article (subscription required), click here

Housing: recent developments (February 22) Jan Luba QC and Sam Madge-Wyld Legal Action – to read the article (subscription required), click here

HOUSING LAW DIARY
 

21 February 2022                                 
Committee stage begins in the House of Lords of the Building Safety Bill (see Housing Laws in the Pipeline)

22 February 2022                                 
Closing date for submissions to the consultation on Reforming the leasehold and commonhold systems in England and Wales (see Housing Law Consultations)

25 February 2022                                 
Postponed second reading of the Caravan Sites Bill (see Housing Laws in the Pipeline)

25 February 2022                                 
Postponed second reading of the Mobile Homes Act 1983 (Amendment) Bill (see Housing Laws in the Pipeline)

25 February 2022                                 
Postponed second reading in the House of Commons of the Homeless People (Current Accounts) Bill (see Housing Laws in the Pipeline)

25 February 2022                                 
Postponed second reading in the House of Commons of the Housing Standards (Refugees and Asylum Seekers) Bill (see Housing Laws in the Pipeline)

25 February 2022                                
Postponed second reading in the House of Commons of the Evictions (Universal Credit) Bill (see Housing Laws in the Pipeline)

25 February 2022                                
Closing date for submissions to the consultation on amendments to the Home Office code of practice for landlords (see Housing Law Consultations)

3 March 2022                                       
Closing date for submissions to the consultation on Regulator of Social Housing: Consultation on the introduction of tenant satisfaction measures (see Housing Law Consultations)

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