I’m deeply saddened at the tragic loss of Giles Peaker. Giles was not only an exceptionally talented housing lawyer but a real force for good in the world who played an integral role in the development of the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act. My heartfelt condolences to all who loved him.
I am very much saddened to report that my friend, @nearlylegal.co.uk passed away this weekend.
nearlylegal.co.uk/2026/04/gile...
A mere 23 days after you asked!
I can find two for Scotland, one for Wales and one for England which is only about enabling powers, not substantive commencement.
I think that's right. We've got loads of regulations and orders floating around but I haven't seen the Commencement No.1 order yet.
Ooh we've had some excellent District Judge appointments announced. District Judges Angela Hall, Sarah McKeown, Adrian Davis and Emma Godfrey all in the last few weeks. Just in time for the Renters' Rights Act to kick off!
www.judiciary.uk/appointments...
Presumably not just about the money ('tho TA rents are high). I suspect it's also because new Ground 5G (see Sch.1, para.18, Renters' Rights Act 2025) creates a new mandatory ground for possession in some circumstances where a private landlord houses a homeless person at the request of the council.
"Rent" in the Housing Act 1988 means the same as "Rent" under the Rent Act 1977: caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ewca/civ/202...
Our @sophieearnshaw.bsky.social has been granted permission to intervene in a case that will be heard at the Supreme Court.
This case concerns homeless applicants and the circumstances in which a local authority's duty to accommodate ends #housinglaw
@landmarkch.bsky.social
shltr.org.uk/JfQ6y
I can feel your pain through the screen...
In the wake of the publication of our draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill on Tuesday, lots of existing leaseholders have been in touch seeking clarity as to when the government plans to make it cheaper and easier to extend a lease or buy a freehold 🧵
Renters’ Rights Act anti-discrimination (children and benefits) powers devolved to Wales on 1 June www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2026/6/c...
An early Christmas gift for homelessness lawyers and public lawyers more generally. R (UYR) v Derby CC [2025] EWCA Civ 1648
Is De Falco and the "strong prima facie case" test (to secure mandatory orders for housing as part of interim relief) wrong? I think the CA is hinting it is wrong...
Oh my goodness
Homelessness strategy now out - calling it A National Plan to End Homelessness certainly shows the right level of ambition
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Memorandum of understanding between the Regulator of Social Housing and the Charity Commission. Important for charitable social landlords in England:
www.gov.uk/government/p...
This is a remarkable case which will see the Chief Constable punished for contempt! Much to unpack but huge praise due to junior counsel for the appellant and, for very different reasons, to counsel for the Chief Constable
caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ewca/civ/202...
Permission to appeal to the Supreme Court has been refused in the case of Beach v South Hams DC. The case concerned accom offered to a man where the LA had accepted the full housing duty; he was in priority need as he had children, but he presented without the children, in need of emergency accom
I don't imagine they have much hope of winning in the domestic courts. I had always assumed that the plan was to exhaust domestic remedies as quickly as possible and then roll the dice in the ECtHR
As it was a Div Ct, I wonder if they'll try for a leapfrog directly to the SC?
This isn't an exclusive. These LA-owned/controlled housing companies have existed for decades. And have many legitimate purposes (e.g. to allow social housing to be built without attracting the RTB).
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Can't think of many better illustrations of how badly we have botched housing policy than the fact that our bill for housing homeless families (£2.8bn pa) is now higher than the money we spend each year on new affordable housing (£2.3bn)
www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/english...
Ye gods. Westminster accept a breach of s.193(2) HA 1996 and accept they have been in breach for months. They want 12 weeks to comply. The court gave them 4. They went down for a proportion of C's costs plus their own.
caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ewhc/admin/2...
Rayner says in her resignation letter: "The challenges of government are nothing compared to the challenge of putting food on the table and getting a roof over our head when I brought up kids working as a home help."
Absolutely. A shame to lose that perspective from the cabinet table.
The long tradition of the position of Sec of State for housing being a cursed one continues.
Ooh - that's a very important discovery.
This isn’t a hard one. Right to Buy massively benefited one generation of tenants (and good luck to them) but at the expense of subsequent generations of people in housing need. And the consequential homelessness costs are destroying the finances of local councils to this day.