An Avoidable Death
“Every death was avoidable” said Richard Millett KC at the closing submission to the Grenfell Inquiry. Now we know from the inquest verdict into the death of two year old Awaab Ishak’s that this death...
View ArticleAwaab Ishak – Coroner’s ruling and Reg 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths
We now have the Coroner’s Findings and Conclusion for the inquest into the death of Awaab Ishak, and also the Regulation 28 Report for the purpose of preventing future deaths. (My previous post on the...
View ArticleOmbudsman’s decisions and housing conditions claims
I’m going to break one of our rules (well, more of a guideline really) and comment on a case in which I had a role. I supervised the case, in which one of my colleagues acted for the claimant. It is...
View ArticleWhat happens after a banning order? The further adventures of Mr Rasool
Mohammed Rasool has featured here quite often, for getting an ASBi against him for illegal eviction, for his role in quite the bizarrest set of cases, in which he sought re-entry after alleged illegal...
View ArticleDamp, mould and the HHSRS
Cases yet to be written up are in a growing pile, but frankly it has been too darn hot to have the laptop on my lap for more than half an hour, so they are going to have to wait. Instead, here is a...
View ArticleStaying to make the parties try dispute resolution. A bit of a Tydfil
Churchill v Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council (2023) EWCA Civ 1416 For transparency purposes, I acted for the Housing Law Practitioners Association on its intervention in this appeal. There was a...
View ArticleUnfitness for human habitation quantum – 100% again
Mason v 1) Olivera and 2) Santana, Claim no: K2PP0132 (15th December 2023, County Court at Clerkenwell and Shoreditch) Our grateful thanks to Garden Court Chambers for details of this judgment on a...
View ArticleThe future beckons…
So, the King’s Speech today (17 July) and the legislative programme of the new government. What does it hold for housing? There were few surprises, I suppose, given the Labour manifesto commitments,...
View ArticleWho knew? Or ought to have known?
Mann v Martin (2024) EW Misc 23 (CC) Standalone section 4 Defective Premises Act 1972 cases are quite unusual. It is more common as an additional/secondary head in a disrepair claim, but this county...
View ArticleGrenfell Inquiry Phase 2 report
The Phase 2 (and final) report of the Grenfell Inquiry was published today, Wednesday. You will doubtless have seen the headlines. The Inquiry does not hold back in finding responsibility for what...
View ArticleRenters’ Rights Bill – the headlines Part 2
Part 2 of a quick initial look at the Renters’ Rights Bill draft, concentrating on what has changed from the late Renters (Reform) Bill that forms its basis. Part 1 of the headlines look is here, and...
View ArticleA very unfit home – Circuit Judge decision on unfitness and damages.
Godagam & Edirisinghe v Hanson. Mayors & City of London County Court. 3 May 2024 (Unreported, copy of judgement is here.) Our grateful thanks to Nick Bano of Garden Court for a copy of the...
View ArticleThe meaning of unfitness
Our grateful thanks to George Murray of Liverpool Civil Law and Laura Walsh at Satchell Moran for a copy of this judgment. Jillians v Red Kite Community Housing. County Court at Oxford. 24 September...
View Article“It must have consequences”
Our very grateful thanks to our Wales contributor, Mike Norman of Harrow Law Centre, for the following excellent post on Coastal Housing Group Ltd v Mitchell & Anor (2024) EWHC 2831 (Ch) – a very...
View ArticleEaling comedy. Getting statutory nuisance very wrong
Ferko v Ealing Magistrates Court & Ors (2024) EWHC 2592 (Admin) This was an appeal by case stated to the High Court from a decision of Ealing Magistrates Court on a statutory nuisance/section 82...
View ArticleThe staggered arrival of Awaab’s Law
In a written statement, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has announced the timescales for the implementation of Awaab’s Law – i.e when the specific regulations will...
View ArticleSection 21 and Gas Safety again, and tools for tenants.
A couple of quick notes. Robert Jones (Trading as DAP Properties & Ors v Oliver Wood. County Court at Brentford. 20 February 2025. My grateful thanks to Peter Sibley of Landmark Chambers for a note...
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