Housing

Government announces package of new measures to support households with rising energy costs, including council tax rebates for those in bands A to D

Alongside a £200 energy bill rebate, eligible households will receive a £150 rebate on their council tax bill for 2022/2023

Bill providing for private rented sector eviction grounds to be made discretionary introduced to Scottish Parliament

In support of Scottish Govenment's Covid Recovery Stategy, Bill proposes making temporary changes introduced by Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020 permanent

Government pledges to extend Decent Homes Standard to private rented sector

Housing measures in Levelling Up White Paper also include abolition of 'no fault' evictions and 'tough action' against rogue landlords

Housing Ombudsman issues Special Report on repeated failures of Lambeth Borough Council’s complaints handling system

Poor record keeping, significant delays, and failings in housing repair responses identified as key themes in recent cases

Round-up of recent Upper Tribunal housing case law

Almost 68,000 households were owed a statutory homelessness duty in England between July and September 2021

New DLUHC statistics also show that number of households threatened with homelessness due to service of Section 21 notice increased by almost 60 per cent compared to same quarter in 2021

Housing Ombudsman makes finding of severe maladministration after landlord failed to deal with repairs to leaking roof within a reasonable timeframe leading to condition worsening and further damage

With the investigation also highlighting maladministration in handling of the subsequent complaint, Metropolitan Thames Valley ordered to pay compensation of £2,150

Government confirms that Identification Document Validation Technology will enable more people to verify their immigration status online to comply with the ‘right to rent’ and ‘right to work’ regimes

Certified service providers will carry out the checks on behalf of landlords, letting agents and employers, making ID checking 'quicker, easier and more secure'

Crisis urges government to ‘finish the job’ as peers back repeal of ‘appalling and outdated’ Vagrancy Act

However, amendment to Police and Crime Bill must still be passed by MPs when the Bill returns to the House of Commons

High Court dismisses judicial review that argued that the Housing Secretary was in breach of public law duties by adopting an unpublished position when taking steps to curtail the Everyone In initiative

ZLL, R (On the Application Of) v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government [2022] EWHC 85 (Admin)

Housing Ombudsman makes finding of severe maladministration after council failed to deal with mould growth in resident’s home for several months

Having also failed in its handling of the subsequent complaint, Great Yarmouth Borough Council ordered to apologise to resident and pay £1,700 compensation

Prescribed model written statements for ‘occupation contracts’ under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016

New statutory instrument

Requirement that second homes in England must be let for a minimum of 70 days a year to qualify for a council tax exemption to be introduced from April 2023

New measures 'will create a fairer system, ensuring that second homeowners are contributing their share to the local services they benefit from', says Housing Secretary

Welsh Government extends Tenancy Hardship Grant eligibility conditions to include rent arrears built up between July and December 2021

Minister also confirms decision to make grants available to social housing tenants who were not in receipt of housing-related benefits when arrears built up

Supreme Court rules that leaseholders’ ‘right to manage’ one of ten blocks on an estate did not extend to management of shared estate facilities

FirstPort Property Services Ltd (Appellant) v Settlers Court RTM Company and others (Respondents) [2022] UKSC 1

Government launches consultation on plans to reform the leasehold and commonhold systems in England and Wales

Proposals include allowing more leaseholders in mixed-use buildings to take control and ownership of their building

Welsh Government announces intention to implement the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 on 15 July 2022

Provisions under the Act, including replacement of the secure and assured shorthold tenancy regime with new 'occupation contracts', represent the biggest change to housing law in Wales for decades, Minister says