Housing

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Crisis urges government to ‘finish the job’ as peers back repeal of ‘appalling and outdated’ Vagrancy Act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dismisses judicial review that argued that the Housing Secretary was in breach of public law duties by adopting an unpublished position when taking steps to curtail the Everyone In initiative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

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

Supplementary provisions to be incorporated into new ‘occupation contracts’ in Wales subject to provisions within Renting Homes Wales Act 2016

New statutory instruments

Explanatory information for written statements of new ‘occupation contracts’ in Wales

New statutory instrument

Requirement for landlord to ensure that dwelling is fit for human habitation under Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016

Property Chamber issues practice statement on the matters a tribunal in England should consider when appointing a manager in order to resolve property management issues

New guidance to leaseholders, prospective managers, and landlords in England sets out detailed requirements that should be met by proposed managers

Housing Ombudsman makes finding of severe maladministration after council’s failures contribute towards six-year delay to fix resident’s leaking roof

London Borough of Ealing ordered to pay £3,600 compensation to resident for failures in complaint handling processes and delayed repairs

Government to provide ‘guarantee’ that leaseholders in medium-rise buildings will not face the cost of fixing dangerous cladding

New leaseholder protection forms part of government's new approach to fixing the 'broken system' of building safety in England

Additional £16 million funding to be provided to councils in Scotland to progress rapid rehousing

Scottish Government confirms that funding includes £6.5 million for Housing First pathfinder to support people with multiple and complex needs

Round-up of recent Upper Tribunal housing case law