Housing

Round-up of recent decisions of the Housing Ombudsman

Court of Appeal rules that property guardian companies were subject to local authority licensing requirements and were running unlicensed HMOs

Global 100 Ltd v Jimenez & Ors [2023] EWCA Civ 1243

LGA calls on government to use Autumn Statement to restore LHA rates to 30th percentile

Responding to figures last week showing that the number of households in temporary accommodation has reached an all time high, government also urged to provide a long-term deal for council landlords in relation to rent increases

Scotland’s latest Ending Homelessness Together report shows Ministers ‘still have their heads in the sand’ about the housing emergency

Shelter Scotland says while the last year has seen huge increase in the number of people becoming homeless, the Scottish Government does not have an adequate plan to deal with the scale of the emergency

Welsh Government confirms continuation of policy of no evictions due to financial hardship for social sector tenants that engage with their landlords

Minister also advises that social rent increases will be capped at 6.7 per cent from April 2024, and reminds landlords that they are not required to charge the maximum

High Court rules that Secretary of State’s decision to house vulnerable asylum seeker in Swindon, away from his support network in South London, was unlawful

NS, R (On the Application Of) v Secretary of State for the Home Office [2023] EWHC 2675 (Admin)

Court of Appeal upholds High Court ruling that Housing Act 1985 provisions that prevented family member from succeeding to a secure tenancy when tenant was absent due to ill health before her death are lawful

Dudley Metropolitan Council v Mailley [2023] EWCA Civ 1246

Government to go ahead with proposal to deliver framework that ensures that all HMOs are valued as single properties for council tax purposes

Consultation outcome confirms intention to bring changes into effect before the end of 2023

Bill that strengthens council tax empty homes premium and introduces a second homes premium receives Royal Assent

Levelling Up and Regeneration Act also includes new powers for every region of England to seek a devolution deal to enable delegation of service delivery to local levels

Government issues emergency legislation to enable local authorities to provide housing and homelessness assistance to those fleeing situation in Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Lebanon

New statutory instrument

Amendments to habitual residence test for housing and homelessness assistance in Northern Ireland to support those fleeing situation in Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Lebanon

New statutory rule

Households affected by recent flooding as a result of Storm Babet to be eligible for council tax relief

Those in affected areas can also apply for up to £500 to help with immediate costs and for up to £5,000 to help make their homes more resilient to future flooding

Welsh Government goes ahead with proposal to exclude bed and breakfast accommodation used for homelessness purposes from being subject to an occupation contract

Minister lays draft regulations designed to maintain availability of bed and breakfast accommodation to 'help meet the current extreme shortage of temporary accommodation'

Commons votes to carry over Renters (Reform) Bill into next Parliamentary session

Motion agreed following Bill's Second Reading means that it will restart in the next session at the next stage

Housing Ombudsman finds that Islington Council’s disjointed approach and lack of clear leadership have led to repeated failures in housing service delivery

Special investigation report, which makes almost 200 orders for remedial action, identifies disrepair, anti-social behaviour and complaint handling as key areas for improvement

Government says that it will not proceed with the abolition of section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions until reforms to the justice system are in place

Response to Select Committee report says that changes will not take place until 'sufficient progress' has been made to improve the courts and stronger possession grounds are in place

Lower-priced rents were above the ‘30 per cent of income’ threshold for lower income households in England, Wales and Northern Ireland last year

New statistical release from the Office for National Statistics also highlights that private renters on a median household income could expect to spend around a quarter of their income on a median-priced rented home