Seminar: Defending the undefendable - homelessness prevention in mandatory possession claims

Private landlords and Registered Social Landlords frequently bring possession proceedings against their tenants using s21 1988 Housing Act or Ground 8 of the 1988 Housing Act grounds for possession.

Both are mandatory claims which give the court no discretion to suspend possession. Many advisers and housing authorities wrongly conclude that such proceedings will inevitably lead to homelessness.

Seminar objectives

Delegates will be able to identify technical defects in notices and Court documents and as a result successfully intervene in cases to have possession proceedings dismissed or notices withdrawn. Delegates will look in detail at the legal requirements for notices under s21 and Ground 8, as well as the relevant Civil Procedure Rules and the impact of Tenancy Deposit Protection on mandatory possession

Seminar contains

Ground 8

• Notices seeking possession
• Counterclaims
• Impact of Disability Discrimination Act 1995
• Housing benefit and other adjournments
• Regulation of Use of Ground 8 by RSLs; introducing this issue into proceedings
• Civil Procedure Rules issues

Section 21

• Notice rules in detail
• Impact of Tenancy Deposit Protection on s21
• Impact of Disability Discrimination Act 1995

Who should attend?

Homelessness prevention officers, housing advisers and court duty scheme advisers who are familiar with basic landlord and tenant law.