Housing

Government says it is ‘not acceptable’ for social housing providers to increase service charges ‘as a means of boosting rental revenue’

Statement from DLUHC Minister made in response to allegations of widespread service charge abuse and a call for tighter controls and a regulator with a remit to investigate complaints

Ombudsman finds council relied on ‘gatekeeping’ of services to delay provision of interim accommodation until a homeless family’s situation became desperate

Tower Hamlets Council ordered to pay the family more than £1,300 compensation, decide if it now owes the family a main housing duty, and review their priority on the housing register

Government commits to ensuring that the Ombudsman has the skills and knowledge to handle disputes about whether landlords unreasonably refuse tenants’ requests to keep a pet

Assurance provided in DLUHC's response to the Animal Sentience Committee’s report on whether the Renters (Reform) Bill has due regard to the welfare of animals as sentient beings

Ending homelessness should sit alongside new First Minister’s ambition to end child poverty in Scotland ‘as a top priority’

Coalition of more than 30 housing and homelessness organisations also calls for appointment of a Cabinet Secretary to tackle the housing emergency

Government’s response to need for greater protection for tenants in unhealthy homes ‘lacks urgency’

Chair of Health and Social Care Committee says 'we are no closer to seeing an update and there’s no timetable for change to happen'

Round-up of recent decisions of the Housing Ombudsman

Round-up of recent Upper Tribunal housing case law

Almost 35,000 households were threatened with homelessness and owed a prevention duty in quarter to December 2023

New DLUHC statistics also show that, of these, almost 6,000 had been served a section 21 'no-fault' eviction notice, an increase of 10.9 per cent over the previous year

Local authority concedes judicial review challenge to policy of not taking homelessness applications from people aged under 25

Consent order, which has been published in interests of promoting open justice, confirms that Manchester City Council has now abandoned policy

Amendment to Renters Reform Bill requiring an assessment of the county court possession system before abolishing section 21 evictions passed in House of Commons

With approval of government amendment introduced by Housing Minister Jacob Young, Bill was read a third time and will now progress to the House of Lords

Court of Appeal rules that a council did not breach family’s Article 9 ECHR rights by making suitability decision without placing particular weight on their preference for a single-faith school

Ghaoui v London Borough of Waltham Forest [2024] EWCA Civ 405

High Court finds council breached duty to provide ‘suitable’ interim accommodation having left a family in B&B accommodation for six months before deciding their homelessness application

Pickford, R (On the Application Of) v Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council [2024] EWHC 756 (Admin)

Scottish Parliamentary Committees launch joint consultation on Housing (Scotland) Bill

Views sought on measures designed to prevent homelessness and strengthen tenants' rights

Increase in registered rents in Northern Ireland 2024/2025

New statutory rule makes provision for a 7.7 per cent increase

High Court rules widower retained secure tenancy and right to buy despite living elsewhere

Weintraub v London Borough of Hackney [2024] EWHC 845 (Ch)

High Court in Northern Ireland considers whether a disabled claimant’s living arrangements satisfied the tenancy condition for an award of a Disabled Facilities Grant

In the matter of an application by (a person under a disability) by her mother and next friend for judicial review [2024] NIKB 24

Government’s ‘inaction’ in abolishing section 21 evictions has led to tens of thousands of households unnecessarily facing homelessness

Calling on the government to pass the Renters (Reform) Bill unamended, Homeless Link highlights that section 21 evictions are continuing at a rate equivalent to 52 households a day