Round up of housing law and news: August 2024

Case law

Varying an improvement notice

The local authority served an improvement notice requiring works to fire doors. On appeal, the First-tier Tribunal made no findings about whether the doors were a hazard but varied the notice requiring the property owner to obtain an expert report and carry out any identified works.

The Upper Tribunal held that the First-tier Tribunal can only vary a notice if it is satisfied a hazard exists. It cannot vary the notice to require the owner to investigate whether there is a hazard.

Curd v Liverpool City Council [2024] UKUT 218 (LC)

Suitability of accommodation offered to intentionally homeless applicant

The High Court held that Bexley had offered unsuitable accommodation to discharge its duty under s190 Housing Act 1988. The Court found the B&B room offered was unsuitable, even for a two week period. A letter from children's mental health services stated it was likely the youngest child would experience a 'deterioration in her mental health' if the family moved into shared accommodation.

The court held the authority's assessment under s17 Children Act 1989 was unlawful. It failed to address whether the education needs of the youngest child could be met by an offer of accommodation in Manchester.

ZRR, R (On the Application Of) v London Borough of Bexley [2024] EWHC 2073 (Admin)

News and guidance

Gypsies and travellers accommodation

This House of Commons Library research briefing explores gypsies and travellers accommodation in England, including housing needs and accommodation challenges.

Gypsies and Travellers: Accommodation in England - House of Commons Library (parliament.uk)

Leasehold reform

This House of Commons Library briefing examines the implementation of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 and forthcoming legislation.

Leasehold reform in England and Wales: What’s happening and when? (parliament.uk)

Afghan housing portal

The government closed the Afghan housing portal on 31 July 2024. The government is no longer accepting offers of homes to accommodate people arriving from Afghanistan.

[Withdrawn] Afghanistan housing portal - offer accommodation and other support - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Housing Ombudsman consultation

The Housing Ombudsman launched a consultation to help it understand how repair costs, complaints, and skill shortages are affecting residents' safety in their homes. The Ombudsman is seeking responses from residents, repair operatives, landlords, contractors, MPs and councillors.

The consultation closes on 25 October 2024.

'Repairing Trust' Call for Evidence | Engage Housing Ombudsman (housing-ombudsman.org.uk)

Shelter report on social housing demands

Shelter has launched its Brick by Brick campaign, identifying the barriers central government and local authorities face in building new social housing and how they can be overcome.

Brick by Brick: A plan to deliver the social homes we need (shelter.org.uk)

Data and trends

Over 150,000 children homeless in temporary accommodation

The government released statistics on statutory homelessness and mortgage and landlord possessions. The statistics show:

• 151,630 children are homeless in temporary accommodation, the highest figure since records began and an increase of 15 per cent in a year

• 2,916 private renters were evicted by bailiffs after a section 21 notice between April and June 2024, up 31 per cent in a year

• 8,322 landlords in England started section 21 court proceedings in the quarter to June 2024, up 11 per cent in a year.

Gov.uk: Statutory homelessness in England: January to March 2024 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Gov.uk: Mortgage and landlord possession statistics: April to June 2024 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Shelter: Record 151,000 children homeless in TA - Shelter England