What's new on Shelter Legal
The pages on Shelter Legal are updated regularly to reflect changes in the law.
This page lists the most recent updates to Shelter Legal.
Rents and rent increases for assured and assured shorthold tenancies
29 April 2022
In Johnson v Richmond Housing Partnership Ltd [2022] UKUT 80 (LC) the Upper Tribunal held that the First-tier Tribunal had jurisdiction to consider a tenant's challenge to a rent increase. The tenant had used the correct form but mistakenly included the notice of rent increase from a previous year. The Upper Tribunal held that application was made in substantial compliance with the statutory requirements and the tribunal had jurisdiction to direct the tenant to correct the error.
View amended articleEligibility for homelessness help in Wales
29 April 2022
The Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Eligibility)(Wales)(Amendment) Regulations 2022 SI 2022/485 inserts a new category of people eligible for homelessness assistance and social housing in Wales. People who left Ukraine because of the Russian invasion are eligible if they have been given leave in accordance with the Immigration Rules.
View amended articleLegal aid for housing problems
11 April 2022
The Early Legal Advice Pilot Scheme Order 2022 SI 2022/397 provides for certain housing, debt, and welfare benefits issues to be in scope for legal aid for the purposes of the pilot. Under the scheme, clients can receive up to three hours of advice and assistance, but not representation. There are no means or merits tests. The pilot runs from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2024 and is available to individuals living or habitually resident in the area of Manchester City Council or Middlesbrough Council who are selected to take part.
View amended articleSection 21 notices for assured shorthold tenancies
6 April 2022
Following feedback, this page has been updated to clarify that in the case of a joint tenancy the prevailing view confirms the common law position that a valid section 21 notice must contain the names of all joint tenants and be served on at least one of them. In the unreported case of Hacking v Jones (2012), Croydon County Court decided that the tenant is all of the persons who share the joint and several liability, and the tenant is correctly named by inclusion of all of those names.
View amended articleMoney claims process under Part 7 Civil Procedure Rules
6 April 2022
This page contains more information about how an acknowledgment of service can be amended or withdrawn under CPR 10.
View amended articleRight to rent immigration checks
5 April 2022
From 6 April 2022, the Immigration (Restrictions on Employment and Residential Accommodation) (Prescribed Requirements and Codes of Practice) and Licensing Act 2003 (Personal and Premises Licences) (Forms), etc., Regulations 2022/242 implement changes to who has a right to rent in the UK and how landlords and agents can perform checks on prospective tenants. The regulations implement an updated Code of Practice and new guidance contains full details of the changes, including how holders of biometric residence cards or permits can prove their right to rent. The COVID-19 temporary adjusted right to rent checks have been extended until 30 September 2022.
View amended articleBenefits to pay for a homeless hostel
1 April 2022
This new page explains which benefits people can claim to help pay for staying in a homeless hostel, and how to calculate how much they are entitled to claim.
View amended articleRules for managing HMOs
29 March 2022
The Housing (Approval of Code of Management Practice) (Student Accommodation) (England) Order 2022 SI 2022/198 came into force on 22 March 2022. The order approves a new code of practice relating to the management of student HMO accommodation. The 2006 code of practice is withdrawn.
View amended articleTenancy deposit protection prescribed information
28 March 2022
This page has been updated to confirm that the required information under Housing (Tenancy Deposits) (Prescribed Information) Order 2007 can be signed by an employee of the landlord, if the landlord is a company. It does not have to be signed by a director of the company.
View amended articleAssured tenancy notice seeking possession
28 March 2022
This page has been updated to confirm that a section 8 notice can be signed by an employee of the landlord, if the landlord is a company. It does not need to be signed by a director of the company, or witnessed, as section 44 Companies Act 2006 does not apply.
View amended article