Housing

Social housing bodies set up independent panel to make urgent recommendations for tackling poor quality housing in the sector

Move follows online campaigning and media coverage showing examples of people living in ‘unacceptable’ conditions in social housing properties

Amendment of commencement date for regulations relating to housing and homelessness assistance for people granted leave under the Ukraine Scheme Appendix of the Immigration Rules

New statutory instrument corrects ‘inadvertent’ error to bring coming into force date forward to 10 June 2022 as originally intended

Bill introduced to Parliament to provide the Regulator of Social Housing with stronger powers

Powers include enabling Regulator to issue unlimited fines, enter properties with only 48 hours’ notice, and make emergency repairs

House of Lords votes in favour of motion regretting that regulations amending immigration provisions in relation to employment and housing do not allow for physical proof of immigration status

While government says that the move towards digital is 'justified and proportionate', peers vote in favour of motion by 159 to 95

Eligibility for housing and homelessness assistance for people who have limited leave to remain granted under the Ukraine Scheme Appendix to the Immigration Rules following application made in UK

New statutory instrument

Round-up of recent Upper Tribunal housing case law

Government confirms intention to launch new Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service in place of the Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme

MoJ outlines new approach to the delivery of legal aid for housing possession proceedings in England and Wales following consultation

High Court rules that housing association must give more than a ‘generic’ decision when refusing a management transfer on grounds of domestic abuse

TRX v Network Homes Limited [2022] EWHC 456 (Admin)

High Court of Northern Ireland considers whether refugees who left Syria several years ago suffered ‘recent trauma’ in their current accommodation to qualify for additional points under Housing Executive allocation scheme

Swidani, Re Application for Judicial Review [2022] NIQB 17

Implementation of Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 delayed until 1 December 2022

Minister says that this will allow more time for landlords to complete preparations for changes which include a minimum twelve month contracts for renters and an increase in the notice period for 'no fault evictions'

Almost half of private landlords have limited awareness of, or engagement with, legislation and good practice

However, new research from DLUHC finds that overall compliance is unrelated to the number of years experience as a landlord

Housing Ombudsman makes finding of severe maladministration as a result of substantial delays in Hackney Council dealing with damp, mould and leaks at a resident’s property

Ombudsman also finds maladministration in relation to council's handling of the complaint and £60 compensation offer, making recommendations including to pay the resident an increased award of £1,500

High Court rules that a council housing applicant cannot be said to have caused their own statutory overcrowding by a ‘deliberate act’ if they lacked the funds to afford more suitable housing

Roman, R (On the Application Of) v London Borough of Southwark [2022] EWHC 1232

Increase in number of days that property is available for letting before being prevented from counting as a domestic property for purposes of council tax in Wales

New statutory instrument

Housing Secretary intends to take a ‘personal and direct interest’ in Clarion Housing’s approach to housing standards and management following recent findings of maladministration by Housing Ombudsman

Michael Gove says he is deeply disappointed that Clarion, as one of the largest housing associations in the UK, has not been able to meet fundamental standards

High Court rules that London Borough of Lambeth’s failure to properly consider Everyone In policy in refusing to accommodate woman with no recourse to public funds made decision unlawful

R(Cort) v London Borough of Lambeth [2022] EWHC 1085 (Admin)

Government’s quarterly possession statistics show private landlord ‘no-fault’ accelerated possession claims are at their highest level since 2018

Responding to the figures, Shelter warns that more landlords are kicking tenants out of their homes just as the cost of living crisis rages, and calls on government to scrap section 21 evictions now 'as every minute wasted puts another renter at risk’