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.
Local authority steps in personalised housing plans
17 July 2025
In AA, R (on the application of) v London Borough of Waltham Forest [2025] EWHC 1625 (Admin), the High Court held that where a homeless applicant needed support to apply to the housing register, it was unreasonable to exclude this from the steps agreed under a personalised housing plan. Steps to secure accommodation through a Part 6 housing allocation could be steps to relieve homelessness.
View amended articleHomeless applicant assessment of needs
17 July 2025
In AA, R (on the application of) v London Borough of Waltham Forest [2025] EWHC 1625 (Admin), the local authority argued a homeless applicant was wrong to challenge a housing needs assessment through judicial review. The authority suggested the applicant should wait for an offer of accommodation and then request a section 202 internal review of suitability. The High Court held judicial review was the correct approach, as there was no right to an internal review of the housing needs assessment under section 202 Housing Act 1996. The applicant did not have to wait for an offer of accommodation.
View amended articlePermission for company directors in a DRO
15 July 2025
This page has been updated to reflect the increase in fees for a debtor applying for permission to act as a company director during a DRO moratorium. The Court and Tribunal Fees (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2025 has increased the fee from £308 to £318.
View amended articleChallenging a tenancy guarantee debt
14 July 2025
This updated page explains how a guarantor for a tenancy can challenge the debt or limit their liability under the guarantee.
View amended articlePeople who qualify for local authority housing
10 July 2025
From 10 July 2025, some domestic abuse survivors and care leavers under 25 are exempt from local connection or residence requirements in a local authority's allocation scheme. The Allocation of Housing (Qualification Criteria for Victims of Domestic Abuse and Care Leavers) (England) Regulations 2025 amend the rules on qualifying persons in section 160ZA of the Housing Act 1996.
View amended articlePreventing enforcement of a charging order
27 June 2025
This new page explains how a debtor can apply to attach conditions to a charging order at the application stage or by an application to vary an existing charging order to prevent enforcement by sale of the property. This page was produced in partnership with Shelter's Specialist Debt Advice Service.
View amended articleDeductions from universal credit for non-dependants
26 June 2025
Amended to update the rate of housing cost contributions to the current rate for 2025/26 of £93.02.
View amended articleDeductions from universal credit for debts
26 June 2025
This page has been amended to reflect changes to DWP policy introduced by the Autumn 2024 budget limiting most deductions to a total of 15% of the standard allowance, as well as to make several clarification regarding the right to appeal the decision to make a deduction. In Roberts v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2025] EWHC 51 (Admin), the High Court held that where the DWP is minded to make a deduction from the standard allowance to pay a rent arrears debt to a third party the claimant's consent is not required, but the DWP must notify the claimant and give them the opportunity to make representations before making the payments.
View amended articleRent repayment orders
26 June 2025
In Pearton v Betterton Duplex Limited [2025] UKUT 175 (LC), the Upper Tribunal held that that a rent repayment order could not include rent paid before the offence was committed. The tenants were unable to reclaim rent as their only payment was six months' rent in advance at the start of the tenancy, before the relevant offence.
View amended articleLocation and suitability of accommodation for homeless applicants
17 June 2025
Between 1 June 2022 and 1 June 2025, a local authority needed to consider different rules for the suitability of accommodation when the applicant made a homelessness application within two years of their arrival to the UK. These rules no longer apply as article 5 of the Homelessness (Suitability of Accommodation) (Amendment) (England) Order 2022/521 expired on 1 June 2025.
View amended article