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Round up of legislation, case law, guidance and news: February 2022

Posted on 28/02/22 in Housing Matters

Round up of legislation, case law, guidance and news: February 2022

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.

SB (A Child), R (On the Application Of) v Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea [2022] EWHC 308 (Admin)

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.

Mortgage prisoners