Housing

Government to begin ‘naming and shaming’ failing social landlords in England

Poor practice to be highlighted by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, including on its social media platforms

25 per cent of Homes for Ukraine sponsors intend to only continue hosting arrangements for six months or less

New ONS statistics also show that around a third of sponsors report that the rising cost of living is affecting their ability to provide support either ‘quite a lot’ or ‘very much’

Numbers of landlord and mortgage claims for possessions in England and Wales continue to rise

New MoJ statistics highlight that there were more than 18,000 landlord claims and almost 3,500 mortgage claims between April and June 2022

Temporary housing changes introduced in Scotland at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic made permanent

Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill receives Royal Assent

Process for escalating complaints to the Housing Ombudsman Service to be made easier from October 2022

Tenants will no longer have to refer their unresolved complaints to a ‘designated person’ or wait eight weeks after the landlord's final response before the Ombudsman can consider it

Government allocates £6 million in funding for four local authorities to enforce standards in supported housing sector

First tranche of £20 million Supported Housing Improvement Programme awarded to Birmingham, Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, and Hull

Housing Ombudsman makes finding of severe maladministration in relation to landlord’s response to silverfish infestation

Metropolitan Thames Valley ordered to apologise to tenant and pay compensation of £1,800 on top of £450 already awarded

Round-up of recent Upper Tribunal housing case law

High Court grants mandatory relief against Lambeth Council for its failure to meet its duty to provide suitable accommodation for a family with multiple disabilities

Princess Bell v Lambeth LBC [2022] EWHC 2008

Almost 75,000 households were initially assessed as owed a homelessness prevention or relief duty in England between January and March 2022

New DLUHC statistics show that this is a more than 10 per cent increase compared to the previous quarter

Almost 80 per cent of eligible households have now received their £150 cost of living council tax rebate

DLUHC advises that households should check if payment has been received and, if not, should claim before the deadline of the end of September 2022

Court of Appeal dismisses challenge to ending of ‘Everyone In’ initiative finding that it was an evolving policy and that no decision had been identified that was open to judicial review

ZLL, R (On the Application Of) v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government [2022] EWCA Civ 1059

Housing Ombudsman makes finding of severe maladministration in relation to Clarion Housing’s failings in resolving leak

Resident awarded compensation of £1,250 in case forming part of wider investigation into Clarion

Court of Appeal rules that rent payments made after period of an offence do not count towards rent repayment order and rent arrears can be relevant tenant conduct for reducing award

Kowalek & Anor v Hassanein Ltd [2022] EWCA Civ 1041

Select Committee launches inquiry into government’s plans for reform of private rented sector

Views sought on proposals including the abolition of section 21 'no-fault' evictions, and reforms to possession grounds, speeding up court processes, and to prevent blanket ‘no DSS’ rental practices

Too many social housing tenants are living in uninhabitable homes, experiencing appalling conditions with potential serious impacts on their mental and physical health

New Select Committee report calls on government to assess cost of remediating all social housing stock and for Housing Ombudsman to be empowered to award 'far higher' compensation in maladministration cases

Government launches expert panel to help social housing landlords tackle anti-social behaviour

New group to be tasked with gathering evidence and developing good practice in relation to the links between anti-social behaviour and 'vulnerable perpetrators'