The Last Week
On Tuesday 27 November 2007 the important new Housing & Regeneration Bill had its Second Reading in the House of Commons. For a copy of the debate click here
The Bill now goes for detailed consideration in a Public Bills Committee. That stage is expected to be completed by the end of January next year. HLPA and other housing organisations will be proposing amendments for consideration by the committee.
On Thursday 29 November 2007, Shelter promoted its new report on legal rights relating to homelessness - Rights & Wrongs: The homelessness safety net 30 years on - at the ROOF annual conference. To download the full report click here
On the same day, the Housing Corporation published a new report on the work that housing associations are doing to tackle worklessness in the social housing sector. It examines the current literature on social housing and worklessness and housing association activities to tackle worklessness among their residents and in the wider communities in which they work. For a copy of the report click here
Friday 30 November 2007 saw publication by the Government of an international comparative survey of homelessness and social housing. For a summary of the report click here
For the full document click here
On the same day the Government announced that it had established a dedicated fund for local councils and community organisations to use to address worklessness. The new £1.5bnWorking Neighbourhoods Fund will support councils and communities in getting people in the most deprived areas of England back to work. This fund replaces the existing Neighbourhood Renewal Fund. For the press statement click here
For the full details of the new fund click here
Last Week's Cases
The Law Society and Dexter Montague (solicitors) v Legal Services Commission [2007] EWCA Civ 1264, 29 November 2007. The Court of Appeal has held that those provisions of the new Unified Civil Contract which reserve to the LSC powers for virtually unilateral variation were unlawful. For the judgments click here
Complaint against Leeds City Council(05/C/13157) 28 November 2007. Errors made by the council meant that a seriously ill and profoundly disabled woman was confined to bed in one room of her house for two years longer than necessary. The Ombudsman criticised the failure to recognise legal duties owed to the woman (under the Chronically Sick & Disabled Persons Act) and its handling of her disabled facilities grant (DFG) application. She recommended £6,605 compensation and a review of council procedures. For a summary of the findings click here
For the full investigation report click here
This Week
4 December 2007. Housing Management Conference 2007. A Lime Legal Conference in Manchester. For details click here
5 December 2007. Regulating and Developing the Private Rented Sector. A Lime Legal Conference in London. For details click here
5 December 2007. Housing Disrepair. A Legal Action Group Training Course. Click here for details
6 December 2007. Residential Landlord & Tenant Update. A Professional Conferences event in London.Click here for details
7 December 2007. Housing Management Conference 2007. A Lime Legal Conference in London. For details click here
7 December 2007. Social Housing Law Association Second Annual Conference. For details click here
Later this Month
12 December 2007. Introduction to Housing Law. A Legal Action Group Training Course. Click here for details
14 December 2007. Housing Law Practitioners Association Annual Conference. The panellists will include: Lord Neuberger (Law Lord); Alan Beith MP (Chair of the Constitutional Affairs Select Committee); John Fitzpatrick (Chair of the Law Centres Federation); Ashraf Osman (Leicester Community Legal Aid Centre); and Polly Glynn (Pierce Glynn). For details click here
Specialist Housing Advice (for Free)
Firms and agencies holding LSC Contracts or Quality Marks can obtain free written or telephone advice on Housing Law matters from the team of Specialist Housing Barristers at Garden Court Chambers from now until at least April 2008. For full details click here.
Specialist Housing Law Training
Firms and agencies holding LSC Contracts or Quality Marks can send delegates to a host of reduced-cost specialist training sessions this Autumn/Winter in a range of Housing subjects. The trainers include specialists from Shelter, One Pump Court, Doughty Street and Garden Court Chambers. For the full brochure of events click here.
