The plaintiff lived with her husband in a house in a housing estate of which he was a tenant. Part of the land of the estate, in the ownership of the defendant housing authority, was crossed by footpaths, over which the public had acquired the right of way. The plaintiff was walking on one of … Continue reading McGeown v Northern Ireland Housing Executive: HL 24 Jun 1994
The appellant challenged refusal of rectification of its agreement with the defendant. They asserted either mutual or unilateral mistake. The parties had agreed for the transfer of housing stock and management staff to the respondents. The claimant council sought rectification of a contract by which it transferred its housing stock and the staff employed in … Continue reading Daventry District Council v Daventry and District Housing Ltd: CA 13 Oct 2011
The tenant had created a sub tenancy, the result of which was that he no longer had any right to enter upon the property unless the sub-tenant surrendered his lease. Held: The tenant could not be said properly to be in occupation of the tenanted property. When a tenant has sublet, the question of whether … Continue reading Ujima Housing Association v Ansah and Another: CA 17 Oct 1997
Miss Dyson gave up her flat in Huntingdon and went to live in Cornwall. But the only accommodation which she had arranged for herself was a three month winter let of a cottage in Helston. She knew that the tenancy was not protected and that she would have to leave. When she was finally evicted, … Continue reading Dyson v Kerrier District Council: CA 1980
The claimant housing association had raised its rents. The tenants objected that they were unlawful not having complied with the tenancy agreements. They said the clause allowed only one increase in each June of a year, and then only if 28 days notice had been given before the first Monday of June. Held: The landlord’s … Continue reading Riverside Housing Association Ltd v White and Another: HL 25 Apr 2007
The defendant appealed against a order finding it was liable for the fees claimed by its former solicitors. They had said that the claim for costs was barred by limitation. Held: The defendant’s appeal failed; a solicitor’s claim for his costs, billed but not yet fixed by assessment or agreement, fell within the phrase ‘debt … Continue reading Phillips and Co (A Firm) v Bath Housing Co-Operative Ltd: CA 11 Dec 2012
The court was called upon to construe the Act. when the question was whether a tenant could bring himself within the Act had to be more strict than the construction of the Rent Acts because the Leasehold Reform Act enabled a tenant to acquire compulsorily a greater interest in the house against the will of … Continue reading Poland and Another v Cadogan: CA 1980
A woman who had lived with a man, although he remained married to his wife, was a member of his family for the purpose of Schedule 1 to the Act of 1977 because of the lasting relationship between them. Judges: Oliver LJ Citations: [1980] 1 WLR 1493 Statutes: Rent Act 1977 Jurisdiction: England and Wales … Continue reading Watson v Lucas: CA 1980
The material considerations to be allowed for by the local authority in exercising its planning functions are considerations of a planning nature, ‘all considerations relating to the use and development of land are considerations which may, in a proper case, be regarded as planning considerations’. Though a private individual may not have any right of … Continue reading Stringer v Ministry of Housing and Local Government: 1970
Issues arose as to a new planning permission for two existing hangars. Held: The appeal succeeded. The question of the validity of conditions attached to planning permissions will sometimes be a difficult one. To be valid, a condition must be imposed for a planning purpose and not for an ulterior one; it must fairly and … Continue reading Newbury District Council v Secretary of State for the Environment: HL 1980
Pyx Granite had the right to quarry in two areas of the Malvern Hills. The company required permission to break fresh surface on one of the sites. Held: Conditions attached to the planning permission relating to such matters as the times when machinery for crushing the stone could be used and the control of dust … Continue reading Pyx Granite Co Ltd v Minister of Housing and Local Government: CA 1958
The Tribunal was concerned with the annual value for rating of a warehouse (Bridge House) which was purpose built in 1933 with seven storeys which was unoccupied at the relevant date. The ratepayers were of the view that at the relevant date the warehouse had outlived its use and was unsuitable for warehousing purposes; that … Continue reading Lambeth London Borough v English Property Corpn Ltd and Shepherd (Valuation Officer): LT 1980
The question was whether the premises in question were in such a state as to be prejudicial to health, being injurious, or likely to cause injury, to health. The defects included dampness. Evidence was given by a self-employed public health advisor, who had previously been a senior public health inspector. He had inspected the premises … Continue reading Patel v Mehtab: QBD 1980
Same Sex Paartner to Inherit as Family Member The claimant had lived with the original tenant in a stable and long standing homosexual relationship at the deceased’s flat. After the tenant’s death he sought a statutory tenancy as a spouse of the deceased. The Act had been extended to include as a spouse someone living … Continue reading Fitzpatrick v Sterling Housing Association Ltd: HL 28 Oct 1999
Reasonableness of Alternate Accomodation The landlord sought possession of a property subject to a protected tenancy. He offered accomodation in Luton. The property was in London, but the tenant worked in Luton. The tenant said that living in London kept him close to friends, the mosque and his cultural interests. Held: When allowing for the … Continue reading Siddiqui v Rashid: CA 1980
The claimant appealed against refusal of a summary order for possession of the defendant tenant’s house for arrears of rent. The arrears arose through delay in payment of Housing Benefit, and all arrears had been cleared by the hearing of the appeal. The claimant said that as a fully mutual housing co-operative, it was not … Continue reading Mexfield Housing Co-Operative Ltd v Berrisford: ChD 5 Oct 2009
The House considered situations where a secure or assured tenancy had been made subject to a suspended possession order and where despite the tenant failing to comply with the conditions, he had been allowed to continue in occupation. Held: Mrs White remained an assured tenant despite the continued suspended possession order. Mr Porter was entitled … Continue reading Knowsley Housing Trust v White; Honeygan-Green v London Borough of Islington; Porter v Shepherds Bush Housing Association: HL 10 Dec 2008
Damages may be awarded for a delay in completion under an open contract even though time was not of the essence. The failure to complete on the day fixed was a breach. Lord Edmund-Davies said: ‘The fact that time had not been declared to be of the essence does not mean that the express date … Continue reading Raineri v Miles: HL 1980
An application was made for rectification of a rent review clause in a lease. When executing the lease, the tenants’ officer, Mr Avon, noticed that the rent review clause in the lease drafted by the landlords was defective in not including a provision in default of agreement. The trial judge held that the conduct of … Continue reading Thomas Bates and Sons Ltd v Wyndham’s Lingerie Ltd: CA 21 Nov 1980
1267 – 1278 – 1285 – 1297 – 1361 – 1449 – 1491 – 1533 – 1677 – 1688 – 1689 – 1700 – 1706 – 1710 – 1730 – 1737 – 1738 – 1751 – 1774 – 1792 – 1793 – 1804 – 1814 – 1819 – 1824 – 1828 – 1831 – 1832 … Continue reading Acts
In order to enforce the right to buy, a person must normally be a secure tenant throughout the period from service of the original notice, exercising the right to buy, until completion is effected. Each part of the process is an ‘exercise’ of the right to buy.Slade LJ said that the 1980 Act: ‘treats a … Continue reading Enfield London Borough Council v McKeon: CA 1986
The council had applied for an injunction to restrain the defendants from letting their properties on short term lets for holidaymakers. The houses had been sold by the council under the right to buy schemes, and they remained subject to covenants restraining the use of the property other than as a private dwelling house and … Continue reading Caradon District Council v Paton; Same v Bussell: CA 10 May 2000
The defendant travellers occupied land belonging to the claimants. A possession order had been obtained, and the defendants now sought a reasonable time to be allowed to leave. Held: The law had not changed, and section 89 could not be used to argue for a suspension of the order for possession. Citations: [2006] EWCA Civ … Continue reading Boyland and Son Ltd v Rand: CA 20 Dec 2006
(Ireland) A tenant subject to a re-entry clause in his tenancy agreement in the case of his being made bankrupt, and who had gone bankrupt had broken an obligation of his tenancy. He was not protected from an order for possession. ‘The tenant here has broken one of the conditions of his tenancy by allowing … Continue reading In re Drew (A Bankrupt): 1929
UTLC LEASEHOLD ENFRANCHISEMENT – ground rent – rent review – section 78 Housing Act 1980 Citations: [2012] UKUT 310 (LC) Links: Bailii Statutes: Housing Act 1980 78 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Landlord and Tenant Updated: 05 November 2022; Ref: scu.464780
The council tenant had wished to appeal following a possession order made after her tenancy had been demoted. The court handed down a supplemental judgment to give effect to its earlier decision. The Court had been asked ‘whether article 8 of the . . Convention . . requires a court, which is being asked to … Continue reading Manchester City Council v Pinnock: SC 9 Feb 2011
The Court considered whether a tenancy was a ‘protected shorthold tenancy’ within the meaning of section 52 of the Housing Act 1980 and therefore excluded from the protection of the Rent Act 1977. Held: A power to forfeit within the minimum year tenancy for the bankruptcy of the tenant, was not to be taken to … Continue reading Paterson v Aggio: CA 1987
SERVICE CHARGES – application for leave to appeal against interlocutory decision of LVT – whether right of appeal against such decision under para 2 of Schedule 22 to Housing Act 1980 – whether LVT’s decision fixing hearing date lawful – held right of appeal extends to any decision or order of LVT – LVT decision … Continue reading St Mary’s Mansions Ltd v J Iannaccone and others: LT 22 May 2001
The authority agreed to sell part of a housing estate. It proposed to enter into restrictive covenants for the retained parts of the estate to prevent the letting of any vacant flat except by way of a long lease at a premium. The decision was challenged on the basis that this would be an unlawful … Continue reading Regina v Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council, ex parte Beddowes: CA 1987
The defendant had been allowed into the property under the homelessness legislation. The authority now sought possession. They said he had a licence only, but he claimed to have a secure tenancy. Held: The authority had made a mistake, and the defedant was a secure tenant. The letter offering him the property, and his receipt … Continue reading Eastleigh Borough Council v Walsh: HL 28 Mar 1985
The defendant sought a stay of a warrant for possession. It had submitted to an order for possession by consent in return for a promise of alternative accomodation. They sought a stay under section 89, saying that the claimant had not complied with its own obligations. Held: The general words of section 89 do not … Continue reading Hackney v Side By Side (Kids) Ltd: QBD 14 Jul 2003
The defendant squatters sought leave to appeal an order for immediate possession. Held: (As citeable authority) MacPhail remained good law despite the passing of the 1980 Act, and an order for immediate possession was correct. Judges: Lord Justice Ward and Lord Justice Neuberger Citations: Times 18-Jan-2007 Statutes: Housing Act 1980 89 Jurisdiction: England and Wales … Continue reading Boyland and Son Ltd v Rand and Others: CA 20 Dec 2006
When a tenancy was terminated and was followed by a statutory tenancy, a term in the contractual tenancy that the tenancy should be forfeit on the tenant’s bankruptcy was continued in and inherited by the statutory tenancy. Though perhaps in conveyancing terms there was no positive obligation not to become bankrupt, the Acts should be … Continue reading Cadogan Estates Limited v McMahon: HL 26 Oct 2000
The claimant (defending proceedings for possession by the local authority) had lived with the deceased secure tenant in a lesbian relationship for some years and was so living at the date of her death. She sought to defend her occupation saying she qualified as a spouse of the deceased. Held: The defence failed: ‘I agree … Continue reading Harrogate Borough Council v Simpson: CA 1985
The court considered the relationship between statutory provisions and the terms of a tenancy agreement. Held: Brandon LJ said: ‘In the various Housing and rent Acts the legislature did not seek to interfere with the common law principles on which contractual tenancies, whether periodic or for a term certain, could be brought to an end. … Continue reading Harrison v Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council: CA 1981
Section 89 does not apply to an order for possession made by the High Court, and an application for an adjournment of a possession order must be refused. The word ‘Court’ must be construed to refer to the County Court only: ‘possession of a dwelling house under a rental purchase agreement is a matter which … Continue reading Bain and Co v Church Commissioners for England: ChD 1989
The landlord appealed against a stay made on its suspended possession order by the High Court, saying that only the county court had such jurisdiction. Held: ‘court’ in the section must mean any court. Lord Justice Tuckey, Lord Justice Jacob and Sir William Aldous [2008] EWCA Civ 1501, Times 12-Jan-2009, [2008] 48 EG 100, [2009] … Continue reading Admiral Taverns (Cygnet Ltd) v Daly and Another: CA 25 Nov 2008
The appellant had a personality dosorder. Her parents bought a house and granted her series of assured shorthold tenancies. After they fell into rrears on the morgtgage, the bank appointed receivers. The rent then also hell into arears, and they obtained an order for possession. She appealed against an order, saying that the duty to … Continue reading McDonald v McDonald and Another: CA 24 Jul 2014
The judge had to consider a claim that a Housing Benefit Review Board lacked the appearance of an independent and impartial tribunal, and thus contravened the right to a fair trial on common law principles and under Article 6. The problem was that the Chairman and two other members of the Board were councillors of … Continue reading Regina v Secretary of State for the Environment ex parte Norwich City Council: CA 1982
Mr Gulliksen was walking on a footpath on a housing estate to the house of a friend. He had an accident at a depressed manhole cover on the footpath over which he tripped. The footpath had been constructed by Pembrokeshire County Council, who were both the local housing authority and the highway authority at the … Continue reading Gulliksen v Pembrokeshire County Council: QBD 2002
Responsibility for personal injury after trip over a tree root on a path in a park owned and maintained by the Council. The Court was now asked whether the public footpath was a highway under the 1980 Act for which the council was responsible for maintenance. Held: Having found for the Claimant on the intention … Continue reading Barlow v Wigan Council: QBD 19 Jun 2019
A man fell to his death when crossing a bridge used with the consent and permission of the defendants by persons proceeding to and coming from the defendants’ docks. Held: The claim by his widow against the bridge owner was dismissed. Willes J said: ‘What duty does the law impose upon these Defendants to keep … Continue reading Gautret v Egerton: 1867
BP sought compensation after its land had been acquired compulsorily. The council said its claim was time barred. BP appealed from the Lands Tribunal, saying an agreement with the Authority had kept its claim alive. Held: The fact of entry did not prevent purchase by agreement, which was usual. The agreement gave rise to a … Continue reading BP Oil UK Ltd v Kent County Council: CA 13 Jun 2003
The claimant had delivered his claim form to the court, but it was not processed until after the limitation period had expired. The defendant appealed a finding that the claimant had brought the cliam within the necessary time. Held: The claim was brought within the necessary time limit. ‘the courts have given claimants the full … Continue reading St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council v Barnes: CA 25 Oct 2006
When considering whether a person was vulnerable so as to be treated more favourably in applying for rehousing: ‘The Council should consider such application afresh applying the statutory criterion: The Ortiz test should not be used; the dictum of Simon Brown LJ in that case should no longer be considered good law. (The same applies … Continue reading Regina v London Borough of Camden ex parte Pereira: CA 20 May 1998
The Asylum Support adjudicators had allowed appeals by the asylum failed seekers, and had awarded them support. The Secretary of State now appealed. The failed asylum seekers had been unable to leave the country and having been refused support were destitute. Held: The decisions had been wrong. The decision fell to be made in stages. … Continue reading Secretary of State for the Home Department, Regina (on the Application of) v Asylum Support Adjudicator and others: Admn 16 May 2006
The defendant appealed an award of pounds 11,000 damages for unlawful eviction of his tenant. The tenant had found herself unable to pay the rent and had given notice to quit. She was then told to leave immediately. The judge awarded statutory damages under section 27 representing the difference between the vacant possession value of … Continue reading King v Jackson (T/a Jackson Flower Company): CA 16 Jul 1997
The claimant sought judicial review challenging the restrictions on the sale of electoral registers to registered credit reference agencies. Following Robertson (1) the new regulations created two registers, and the claimant sought to be able to purchase the records for its register of addresses. Held: The consultation had been adequate. The regulations did not create … Continue reading I-CD Publishing Ltd v The Secretary of State, The Information Commissioner (Interested Party): Admn 21 Jul 2003
The parties had divorced and settled financial provision, but the former wife and her children came to need a house and one of the claimant’s properties became vacant, and she was allowed to occupy it as a tenant, with the majority of the rent being paid through housing benefit. The council refused to pay housing … Continue reading Graves v Graves and others: CA 3 Jul 2007
The existence of a planning permission did not excuse the causing of a nuisance by the erection of a pighouse. The permission was not a statutory authority, and particularly so where it was possible it had been procured by the supply of inaccurate and incomplete information. The court considered the function of a gate: ‘The … Continue reading Wheeler and Another v JJ Saunders Ltd and Others: CA 19 Dec 1994
There is no power for Court of Appeal itself to give leave to appeal after High Court’s refusal of leave on an enforcement notice. The court rejected the applicant’s submission that a High Court judge’s decision refusing permission to appeal under section 289 fell within section 16 of the 1981 Act. The Master of the … Continue reading Huggett v Secretary of State for the Environment Etc; Wendy Fair Markets Ltd v Same; Bello v Etc: CA 1 Mar 1995
The tenant claimed Rent Act protection for his tenancy. He had been rehoused and began his tenancy in 1970 with the ground floor used as a shop, and the first floor as living accomodation. He later abandoned the business use. He appealed a finding that he did not have protection under the 1977 Act. Held: … Continue reading Tan and Another v Sitkowski: CA 1 Feb 2007
(County Court) The defendant landlord granted the plaintiff a three year assured shorthold tenancy. He now appealed a finding that he was in breach of an implied covenant to maintain the space heating, and otherwise. The tenant had returned the keys. The court was asked whether the landlord by his breach had committed a repudiatory … Continue reading Hussain v Mehlman: CC 5 Mar 1992
The bank sought repayment of its loan and possession of the defendants’ property. The second defendant said that the charge had only her forged signature. Held: Non-compliance with section 2 of the 1989 Act does not make a bargain illegal, and therefore does not remove the possibility of an argument based upon estoppel. Judges: Peter … Continue reading Bankers Trust Company v Namdar and Namdar: CA 14 Feb 1997
The Court considered the interpretation of the sections which applied corporation tax to post-cessation receipts. Companies had received from the Inland Revenue substantial repayments of VAT together with interest. There had been reorganisations of the group, the company which had made the overpayment did not exist, and the payee of the repayment had only later … Continue reading Shop Direct Group v Revenue and Customs: SC 17 Feb 2016
Tower Hamlets, having determined the applicant to be homeless, in priority need and not intentionally homeless. After she occupied temporary accomodation she was offered an alternative being told it was the council’s policy only to make one such offer. Having rejected it as unsuitable, she was given notice to quit the temporary accomodation. She then … Continue reading Regina (on the application of) Awua v Brent London Borough Council: HL 6 Jul 1995
The landlord had wanted possession. The tenant said that the landlord had been harassing him. The landlord said that the tenancy was a mixed residential and business tenancy and that the 1977 Act did not apply. Held: The 1977 Act applied. A tenancy for mixed purposes falls under the protection of the Act of 1954, … Continue reading Pirabakaran v Patel and Another: CA 26 May 2006
The department complained that the defendants had entered into a transaction with their farm at an undervalue so as to defeat its claim for recovery of sums due. The transaction used the grant of a tenancy by the first chargee. Held: The farmers’ appeal as to the farm transaction failed: ‘beyond argument that DEFRA was … Continue reading Feakins and Another v Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Civ 1513): CA 9 Dec 2005
The parties, on divorcing had a greed, under court order that W should obtain the release of H from his covenants under the mortgage of the family home. She had been unable to do so, and sought that order to be varied to allow postponement of her performance until the youngest child attained 18. H … Continue reading Birch v Birch: SC 26 Jul 2017
The University wanted to sell land for development free of restrictive covenants. It had previously been in the ownership of both the servient and dominant land in respect of a restrictive covenant. The Borough contended that the restrictive covenants remained in effect. The University sought their discharge. Held: The Borough had owned the dominant and … Continue reading University of East London Higher Education Corporation v London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and others: ChD 9 Dec 2004
The Secretary of State had introduced regulations which excluded the statutory right to payment of ‘urgent case’ benefits for asylum seekers who had not claimed asylum immediately upon arrival, or whose claims for asylum had been rejected, and who were awaiting appeal. Held: Leaving asylum applicants without benefits defeated the purpose of the asylum laws. … Continue reading Regina v Secretary of State for Social Security Ex Parte B and the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants: CA 27 Jun 1996
The Council appealed by case stated from a finding that its prosecution of the defendant respondents was ut of time. Held: The allegation in the information laid was of a continuing act. Judges: Nicola Davies LJ, Gross J Citations: [2019] EWHC 2415 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006,
The Court was asked whether an employee’s remuneration is taxable as his or her emoluments or earnings when it is paid to a third party in circumstances in which the employee had no prior entitlement to receive it himself or herself. Held: The company’s appeal failed. The purposive approach to the interpretation of the general … Continue reading RFC 2012 Plc (Formerly The Rangers Football Club Plc) v Advocate General for Scotland: SC 5 Jul 2017
The defendant had failed himself to repair his property, and the Local Authority carried out the work itself under the 1957 Act. It sought to recover the associated costs from the defendant, but he said that their claim was time barred, being more than six years after the work had been concluded. The authority argued … Continue reading Swansea City Council v Glass: CA 1992
Twins were conjoined (Siamese). Medically, both could not survive, and one was dependent upon the vital organs of the other. Doctors applied for permission to separate the twins which would be followed by the inevitable death of one of them. The parents, devout Roman Catholics, resisted. Held: The parents’ views were subject to the overriding … Continue reading In Re A (Minors) (Conjoined Twins: Medical Treatment); aka In re A (Children) (Conjoined Twins: Surgical Separation): CA 22 Sep 2000
The court was asked as to the date of accrual of the cause of action where a losing party to an adjudication brought under Part II of the 1996 Act later begins proceedings to seek a final determination of the matters decided by the adjudicator with a view to recovering monies paid to the winning … Continue reading Jim Ennis Construction Ltd v Premier Asphalt Ltd: TCC 24 Jul 2009
The Royal Opera House sought permission and listed building consents to carry out a re-development, extending and modernising the House raising it to international standards, and to develop the surrounding area consistently with that project. Parts of the site were proposed to be used for the erection of office accommodation, which would be a departure … Continue reading Regina v Westminster City Council, ex parte Monahan: CA 1989
Her parents had bought a house and granted tenancies to their adult daughter (the appellant), who suffered a personality disorder. They became unable to repay the mortgage. Receivers were appointed but the appellant fell into arrears with the rent. The receivers began possession proceedings, and a possession order was made and confirmed. She appealed saying … Continue reading McDonald v McDonald and Others: SC 15 Jun 2016
The claimants had been detained under the 1971 Act, after completing sentences of imprisonment pending their return to their home countries under deportations recommended by the judges at trial, or chosen by the respondent. They challenged as unlawful the respondent’s, at first unpublished, policy introduced in 2006, that by default, those awaiting deportation should be … Continue reading Lumba (WL) v Secretary of State for The Home Department: SC 23 Mar 2011
The Revenue sought to disallow for industrial buildings allowance sums expended on warehouse premises which were to be used to store window products imported for use in other manufacturing processes. Held: The Revenue’s appeal succeeded. ‘The question under s.18(1) is whether the warehouse is in use for the purposes of a trade which consists in … Continue reading Revenue and Customs v Maco Door and Window Hardware (Uk) Ltd: ChD 19 Jul 2006
The occupier had been granted a temporary licence by the authority under the homelessness provisions whilst it made its assessment. The assessment concluded that she had become homeless intentionally, and therefore terminated the licence and set out to evict her. She claimed that the authority had to get a court authority before so evicting her. … Continue reading Desnousse v London Borough of Newham and others: CA 17 May 2006
The court considered the entitlement to housing support of nationals of other EEA states receiving Income Support here despite their being still subject to immigration control. Held: Such EEA nationals were eligible for housing benefit. The 2000 regulations were in conflict with guidance given by the Secretary of State. Judges: Buxton, Lloyd, Richards LJJ Citations: … Continue reading London Borough of Barnet v Ismail and Another: CA 6 Apr 2006
The claimants were dependants of Iraqi nationals killed in Iraq. Held: The Military Police were operating when Britain was an occupying power. The question in each case was whether the Human Rights Act applied to the acts of the defendant. The question amounted to whether the officers acted under State Agent Authority within the convention … Continue reading Regina (on the Application of Mazin Mumaa Galteh Al-Skeini and Others) v The Secretary of State for Defence: CA 21 Dec 2005
The provisions requiring local authorities to look to the welfare of children within their area was a general one, and was not enforceable to secure the interests of individual children. It was not the case that a ‘target’ duty crystallised into an enforceable one, once a child’s needs had been assessed. If that had been … Continue reading Regina (A) v Lambeth London Borough Council: CA 5 Nov 2001
The claimant appealed against a refusal of judicial review of a decision of the Lands Tribunal. Held: A decision of the Lands Tribunal could only be judicially reviewed in exceptional cases where there was either a jurisdictional error or a procedural irregularity. The application had been correctly refused. ‘The question of whether certain work is … Continue reading Sinclair Gardens Investments (Kensington) Ltd, Regina (on the Application of) v The Lands Tribunal: CA 8 Nov 2005
The claimant had sought to bring proceedings against the respondent, but as a mental patient subject to the 1983 Act, had been obliged by the section first to obtain consent. The parties disputed whether the failure was a procedural or substantial failing and whether it made the proceedings a nullity. Held: The claimant’s appeal failed. … Continue reading Seal v Chief Constable of South Wales Police: HL 4 Jul 2007
The applicant had sought emergency housing with her husband, but refused accomodation on a particuar estate for her safety. She had then been evicted form the temporary housing supplied on the application. After a series of temporary arrangements she applied again. Her application was accepted but the previous offer and refusal were said to remain … Continue reading Griffin, Regina (on the Application of) v London Borough of Southwark: Admn 29 Oct 2004
Parliament’s Approval if statute rights affected In a referendum, the people had voted to leave the European Union. That would require a notice to the Union under Article 50 TEU. The Secretary of State appealed against an order requiring Parliamentary approval before issuing the notice, he saying that the notice could be given under the … Continue reading Miller and Another, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Exiting The European Union: SC 24 Jan 2017
Application for leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal against a ruling of the Social Security Commissioner. The tibunal was asked if the Court of Appeal any jurisdiction to give leave to appeal from the refusal of a Social Security Commissioner to give leave to appeal to her from a decision of the supplementary … Continue reading Bland v Chief Supplementary Benefit Officer: SSCS 1 Dec 1982
In 1975 the tenant sought to exercise his right to purchase the freehold reversion of his property. The landlord argued that the rent payable precluded any such entitlement. Under the law as then understood, the landlord’s contention appeared correct. The leaseholder proceeded no further. In 1980 the law was clarified so as to indicate that … Continue reading Collin v Duke of Westminster: CA 1985
The applicant asylum seeker had had her application refused, and was awaiting a removal order. She had a child and asked the authority to house her pending her removal. Held: Provided she was not in breach of the removal order, the council had power to provide her with assistance. Though the authority had no duty … Continue reading M v London Borough of Islington and Another: CA 2 Apr 2004
The claimant sought emergency rehousing saying that he was a vulnerable person within section 189. The court at first instance had overturned the rejection of his claim by the authority. Held: The test set out in the statute was to be followed strictly. It asked whether, if he was left homeless he would be less … Continue reading Griffin v Westminster City Council: CA 28 Jan 2004
Land had been purchased compulsorily, but the respondent unlawfully returned to possession in 1966, and now claimed title by adverse possession. The Council executed a vesting deed poll in 1988. The Council asserted that he could not be in adverse possession of his own land. Held: ‘anyone who has possession of land can maintain an … Continue reading Rhondda Cynon Taff Borough Council v Watkins: CA 12 Feb 2003
A family had been found to be voluntarily homeless. The family asked the authority to provide housing to the family under the 1989 Act from its duty to care for the children. Held: The 1989 Act did not change the law in the 1980 Act. The authority had a power to assist and Another child … Continue reading Regina (W) v Lambeth London Borough Council: CA 3 May 2002
The tenant had used the premises for both residential and business use. He claimed that, the business use having ceased, he had the protection of the 1977 Act. Held: The Pulleng case required te court to reject the tenant’s argument. The meaning of the phrase ‘let as a separate dwelling’ had contracted and no longer … Continue reading Wagle v Trustees of Henry Smith’s Charity Kensington Estate: CA 1990
The respondent appealed by way of case stated a finding that a house was in the condition of being a statutory nuisance. They said that no evidence had been brought with regard to the health of the occupants or of any potential threat to health. Held: The evidence of the officers was capable of supporting … Continue reading Lisa O’Toole v Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council: Admn 18 May 1999
It was not necessary for environmental health officers to possess medical qualifications to express opinion as to whether or not premises were prejudicial to health as defined by section 79(1)(a) of the Act. The council appealed a finding that premises constituted a statutory nuisance. Held: The parties had exchanged reports from environmental health officers. Their … Continue reading London Borough of Southwark v Venette Simpson: Admn 3 Nov 1998
The plaintiff owner of a property had commenced proceedings to recover the property from the defendant tenants. The plaintiff then applied to have a particular provision of the 1968 Act interpreted as a preliminary issue of law under O 33 r 2. Held: The House considered the risks of split trials. Lord Scarman said: ‘preliminary … Continue reading Tilling v Whiteman: HL 8 Mar 1979
The claimant was an EC national who had become resident here but was not seeking work, since she cared for her children. The Secretary of State said that since she was not seeking work, she was not entitled to remain and should make arrangements to leave the UK. Held: The letter asking a claimant to … Continue reading Chief Adjudication Officer v Wolke; Remelien v Secretary of State for Social Security: HL 13 Nov 1997
The applicant sought judicial review of a decision that he was not homeless under section 1 of the Act. For 15 months he had been using a night shelter in Lowestoft. It was an unheated dormitory in a derelict building. It was empty and closed between 8:00am and 8:00pm each day. If on any evening … Continue reading Regina v Waveney District Council ex parte Bowers: 25 May 1982
Zambrano states that a non-member state national (‘TCN’) parent of an EU citizen child resident within the EU is entitled to reside in the EU. This is solely to avoid the EU citizen child being deprived of the substance of their Union citizenship rights on removal of the TCN parent from the EU. P an … Continue reading Patel v Secretary of State for The Home Department: SC 16 Dec 2019
A local authority was liable for nuisance for damage (cracks to house) caused by tree roots once it could be shown that it knew of the soil condition, by virtue of the council’s own warnings to residents of the danger in the area meant that the damage was foreseeable. The council was not liable for … Continue reading Paterson and Another v Humberside County Council: QBD 19 Apr 1995
Protection was sought under the 1954 Act for premises where the relevant occupation was partly residential and partly for the purposes of a business. Held: The Act will apply so long as the business activity is a significant purpose of occupation. It must be more than incidental. The business occupation must exist both at the … Continue reading Cheryl Investments v Saldanha: CA 1978
The claimant sought an order for possession of land outside St Paul’s cathedral occupied by the protestor defendants, consisting of ‘a large number of tents, between 150 and 200 at the time of the hearing, many of them used by protestors, either regularly or from time to time, as overnight accommodation, and several larger tents … Continue reading City of London v Samede and Others: QBD 18 Jan 2012
Three companies had applied for permission to build retail food superstores in Witney. The Inspector had recommended Tesco’s proposal, but the respondent rejected it. Tesco’s had offered to provide by way of a section 106 agreement full funding for a link road as part of its application. Held: The offer of funding for the link … Continue reading Tesco Stores Ltd v Secretary of State for the Environment and Others: HL 11 May 1995
The House was asked whether the 1971 Act permitted the relevant authorities, by resort to their development plans, to support the retention of traditional industries or was the ambit of the Act such as to permit only ‘land use’ aims to be pursued? The court considered also the relevance of personal considerations in planning matters. … Continue reading Westminster City Council v Great Portland Estates plc: HL 31 Oct 1984
The grant of a temporary planning permission did not operate to cancel an existing established use. A planning condition requiring removal of hangars was invalid because it did not fairly or reasonably relate to the permitted development. The grant of an unnecessary planning permission does not exclude a landowner from relying on an existing use … Continue reading Newbury District Council v Secretary of State for the Environment: HL 1981
The authority resisted an application by the tenant to buy the property let as a council dwelling saying that the tenant was using it for mixed residential and business purposes. The tenant said that the business use had finished, and that the tenancy had become secure. Held: The court noted the change in definitions of … Continue reading Webb and Barrett v London Borough of Barnet: CA 1988
The college leased and let out a large house as sub-lettings for students. Each student paid a proportion of the rent to the college. Each lease made it clear that it was intended to be a house in multiple occupation, and that it was not let as a separate dwelling. The college aimed to pass … Continue reading St Catherine’s College v Dorling: 1979
The respondent appealed against a finding that the provision which made a loan agreement completely invalid for lack of compliance with the 1974 Act was itself invalid under the Human Rights Act since it deprived the respondent lender of its property rights. It was also argued that it was not possible to make a declaration … Continue reading Wilson v Secretary of State for Trade and Industry; Wilson v First County Trust Ltd (No 2): HL 10 Jul 2003