You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience and security.
Round up of legislation, case law, guidance and news: February 2022
Posted on 28/02/22 in Housing Matters
The monthly round-up from Housing Matters
Legislation
Renting Homes: housing law in Wales is changing
The Welsh Government has announced that the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 will come into force on 15 July 2022. It has published guidance on the transition to the new occupation contracts and developed a dedicated website for landlords and tenants.
Renting Homes: housing law in Wales is changing
The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2022
Amendments to the Civil Procedure Rules 1998 come into force on 6 April 2022.
The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2022 SI 2022/101
Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022
The Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022 received Royal Assent on 8 February 2022. When in force, a leaseholder cannot be required to pay a monetary ground rent in a new long residential lease.
Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022
Cases
Repeat homelessness applications and local connection
The Court of Appeal ruled that a local authority must decide whether to accept a repeat application before investigating the accuracy of alleged new facts.
Minott v Cambridge City Council [2022] EWCA Civ 159
Suitability of accommodation offers
The Court of Appeal ruled that a local authority failed to consider the applicant's evidence of reasonable expenses when deciding whether an offer of accommodation was affordable.
Paley v London Borough of Waltham Forest [2022] EWCA Civ 112
Injunctions against persons unknown
The Court of Appeal ruled that injunctions against persons unknown can be binding on 'newcomers', who may not have been identified in the injunction or given an opportunity to contest the order.
London Borough of Barking and Dagenham & Anor v Persons Unknown & Ors [2022] EWCA Civ 13
House in multiple occupation licencing and joint landlords
The Upper Tribunal ruled that a local authority can impose separate financial penalties on each of any joint landlords where they have breached licencing requirements.
Gill & Anor v The Royal Borough of Greenwich [2022] UKUT 26 (LC)
Age assessments without an interpreter
The High Court held that an age assessment conducted by social services was unfair as they did not use an interpreter.
Guidance and news
Ukrainian crisis
The Home Office has issued immigration concessions for family members of British citizens in Ukraine, and is reassessing its policy on asylum claims by Ukrainian citizens.
Can Ukrainians take refuge in the UK? Immigration concessions and asylum policy
Allocating social housing in England
The House of Commons Library has published a research briefing explaining the framework that local authorities use when allocating their housing stock.
Allocating social housing in England
Social housing reform in England
A House of Commons Library briefing discussing the measures set out in the Government’s social housing white paper. The white paper is intended to delivery transformational change for social housing residents.
Social housing reform in England: what next?
Tackling the under-supply of housing in England
A House of Commons Library briefing looking at housing supply trends, barriers and solutions in the context of the Government’s aim to deliver 300,000 new home per year.
Tackling the under-supply of housing in England
The impact of rising energy prices on households
Government statistics show that rising energy prices are likely to disproportionately affect those on the lowest income.
Energy prices and their effect on households
Renters face eviction as living costs soar
Shelter published a press release in response to the government’s mortgage and landlord possession statistics.
14,000 renters face eviction as living costs soar
Mortgage and landlord possession statistics: October to December 2021
Council tax rebate
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has published guidance for local authorities on how to administer the council tax rebate to support households with the cost of living.
The council tax rebate 2022-23 - billing authority guidance
Households urged to get ready for £150 council tax rebate
Rough sleeping snapshot
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has released statistics about the annual single night snapshot of the number of people sleeping rough across England.
Rough sleeping snapshot in England: autumn 2021
Statutory homelessness statistics
The government published statutory homelessness statistics for July to September 2021.
Statutory homelessness in England: July to September 2021
Homelessness statistics collection
Households in temporary accommodation
This House of Commons Library research briefing provides data on homeless households in temporary accommodation. There were 96,060 households in temporary accommodation at the end of September 2021.
Households in temporary accommodation (England)
Consultations on support for domestic abuse victims
The Government is running consultations on local connection requirements for social housing victims of domestic abuse and the impact of joint tenancies on victims of domestic abuse. Both consultations close on 10 May 2022.
Consultation on local connection requirements for social housing for victims of domestic abuse
Consultation on the impacts of joint tenancies on victims of domestic abuse
More support for domestic abuse victims to rebuild their lives
Right to rent checks: information for landlords
The Home Office has updated a factsheet for landlords on right to rent checks and the online checking service. Since 1 July 2021, EU, EEA and Swiss citizens who are tenants or prospective tenants have had to evidence their right to rent in the UK.
Right to rent checks from July 2021: information for landlords
Mortgage prisoners
The House of Commons Library has published a research briefing discussing people who are trapped in expensive mortgage deals and are unable to switch.
Posted on Wed, September 06, 2023
How to check a local authority allocations policy
Posted on Thu, August 31, 2023
Round up of legislation, case law, guidance and news: August 2023
Posted on Wed, August 30, 2023