Round up of housing law and news: May 2025

Legislation

Amendments to the Tribunal Procedure Rules.

Tribunal Procedure Rules

Under the Tribunal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2025, a tribunal must notify the parties in writing as soon as practicable when it sets aside a decision. These amendments came into force on 30 May.

The Tribunal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2025

Case law

Hotel room reasonable to occupy under main housing duty

The Court of Appeal upheld a decision that a homeless applicant was intentionally homeless for failing to occupy a single hotel room. The local authority provided the room as temporary accommodation under the main housing duty.

The court found that the hotel room was reasonable to continue to occupy on a short term basis. The applicant had dependent children but they were not living with him at the time.

Beach v South Hams District Council (2025) EWCA Civ 609

Reasonable to continue to occupy despite housing need

The High Court found that accommodation can be reasonable to continue to occupy even if the housing register application accepts the applicant needs a larger property.

The court decided that, although the homeless applicant had a recognised need for a larger property on the social housing register due to a disability, their current smaller accommodation was reasonable to continue to occupy. As a result, the applicant was not considered homeless for the purpose of making a homelessness application. The court found that the local authority had not breached the public sector equality duty.

RZH & Anor, R. (on the application of) v London Borough of Sutton [2025] EWHC 713 (Admin)

Council acted irrationally treating asylum seeker as an adult

The High Court ruled that a local authority acted irrationally in its decision to treat an asylum seeker as an adult and refuse support under the Children Act 1989. The applicant asserted that he was 16, but following an age assessment the Home Office concluded he was 23. There was no interpreter or appropriate adult present at the assessment.

The court found that it was procedurally unfair for the local authority to rely on the Home Office's age assessment without considering how the decision was made.

R (AJ) v West Sussex County Council [2025] 5 WLUK 183 (extempore)

Unsuitable temporary accommodation for family with disabled child

The County Court ruled that temporary accommodation offered to a family with a disabled child was unsuitable. The applicant highlighted significant risks in the property, including the stairs, and an occupational therapist provided a supporting letter.

Despite the difficulty in sourcing accommodation, the court stated that the local authority had not fulfilled its statutory duty.

Mohamed v London Borough of Hounslow, County Court at Central London (unreported)

Reported on Nearly Legal, 5 May 2025: Quashing or varying a review decision

Reduced costs award due to fictitious case law

The High Court queried the professional conduct of a claimant's legal team due to fictitious case law cited in their submissions. The claimant successfully overturned a non-priority need decision and obtained accommodation.

Ayinde, R (On the Application Of) v The London Borough of Haringey [2025] EWHC 1040 (Admin)

News and guidance

New statutory guidance on Independent Domestic Violence Advisers, a House of Commons Library guide on damp and mould in rented homes, information about mobile homeowner rights.

Independent Domestic Violence Adviser guidance

The government published new statutory guidance on Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs). The guidance sets out the role's support functions, responsibilities and required qualifications.

Under the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, relevant public bodies must consider the guidance and best practice.

Gov.uk: Independent Domestic Violence Adviser Statutory Guidance

Damp and mould in rented homes

This House of Commons Library guide outlines how tenants in the private and social housing sectors can escalate complaints about damp and mould when their landlords fail to act. It covers the legal responsibilities of landlords and local authorities, the housing ombudsman complaints process, and the options available to take legal action.

House of Commons Library: Helping tenants with damp and mould in their homes (England)

Homeowner complaints

This House of Commons Library information covers how homeowners in England can resolve housing complaints. It covers the buying and selling process, new build properties, antisocial neighbours, freehold homeowners on residential estates and more.

House of Commons Library: How can homeowners in England resolve housing complaints?

Mobile homeowner rights

This House of Commons Library information covers the rights of residential and holiday mobile homeowners. It examines how laws affect the rights of residents and owners.

House of Commons Library: The rights of residential and holiday mobile homeowners (England)

Data and trends

Findings from the English Housing Survey, a report from the Housing Ombudsman, the latest data on house prices in the UK.

English Housing Survey

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published the English Housing Survey 2023 to 2024. The report compiles evidence on the impact of the housing crisis on different households and demographics across England. The data shows:

• in 2023-24, private renters spent more than a third of their income on housing

• over the last decade, the number of first-time buyers grew by more than 350,000 households

• in 2023-24, the households most likely to seek social housing were typically aged 45-64, were of a white ethnic background, lived in London, were in the lowest income quintile, did not have dependent children, and lived in lone female households

Gov.uk: English Housing Survey 2023 to 2024: Experiences of the 'housing crisis' - GOV.UK

Housing Ombudsman calls for national tenant body

The Housing Ombudsman has released a report examining social housing repairs and maintenance complaints. The report includes a call for a national tenant body to strengthen tenant voice and landlord accountability. The report also shows:

• a 474% increase in repairs and maintenance investigations over the last five years

• almost half of complaints in 2024-25 were about repairs and maintenance

• an estimated 1.5 million children in England were living in a non-decent home in 2023

Housing Ombudsman: Housing Ombudsman calls for national tenant body and funding review

Housing market data

This House of Commons Library research briefing summarises the latest data on house prices, mortgage approvals and house building in the UK. The data shows:

• UK house prices rose 6.4% between March 2024 and March 2025

• London, Wales and Scotland saw the slowest house price growth

• mortgage approvals for house purchases rose 4% from March 2024 to March 2025

House of Commons Library: Housing market: Economic indicators