The monthly round-up of news, guidance, legislation, and case law from Shelter's Specialist Debt Advice Service.
News and legal updates
In this month's legal round-up, find details on published consultations, changes on how to address judges, and a cost-of-living impact report on people’s mental health.
Consumer Credit Act consultation
HM Treasury has published its consultation seeking input on the reform of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 with the intention of moving many consumer protections to FCA regulation.
The consultation closes on 17 March 2023.
Reform of the Consumer Credit Act: consultation
Consultation on changes to homelessness legislation
The government has published a consultation on the impact of various changes to homelessness legislation. The proposed changes include the removal of 'no fault' section 21 evictions, assured shorthold tenancies, and fixed-term tenancies.
The consultation will close on 25 January 2023.
Technical consultation on consequential changes to the homelessness legislation
Enforcement agents to wear body cameras
The Ministry of Justice has announced that it plans to make body-worn cameras compulsory for enforcement agents. The measures are to be brought forward in legislation following a short consultation, but a time frame has not yet been set for when this will happen.
Ministry of Justice announcement
New guidance on modes of address in courts and tribunals
The Courts and Tribunals Judiciary has announced that Judges in the following courts and tribunals should no longer be addressed as ‘Sir’ or ‘Madam’, but only as ‘Judge’:
High Court Masters
Tribunal judges (First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal)
Employment Tribunal judges
District judges (including Magistrates Courts)
Non-legal members should continue to be addressed as ‘Sir’ or ‘Madam’ in court or tribunals.
The Courts and Tribunals Judiciary’s webpage ‘What do I call a judge?’ has been updated to reflect the latest changes.
The Courts and Tribunals Judiciary announcement
The impact of the cost-of-living crisis
The Money and Mental Health Policy Institute (MMHPI) has published a policy note that explores the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on people’s mental health and finances. The MMHPI is calling on the government and the FCA to set clear limits on the number of times creditors can contact people in debt.
Case law
Find debt case law summaries by topic on Shelter Legal.
Liability for council tax on the last day of a tenancy
The Valuation Tribunal for England decided the owner and landlord of a property was liable for council tax on the last day of a tenancy agreement, as the tenant's rolling tenancy did not constitute a material interest.
DV-W v Cheshire West and Chester Council
Deductions from universal credit for debts
Deductions can be set up from universal credit when a claimant owes money to the DWP or some other creditors.
Our new content includes deduction rates, information about the temporary pause on fuel suppliers being able to request deductions for ongoing fuel costs, and how people can ask for a refund if they asked for recovery of hardship payments to be waived between 1 January 2014 and 11 January 2021.
Read Deductions from universal credit for debts on Shelter Legal.