Provisions against discrimination on religious grounds in Northern Ireland, could apply to appointment of a firm to a panel of experts, where one person was designated to carry out that work. ‘it is essential, for there to be ’employment,’ that the person making the contract shall himself undertake to do, at any rate, some of … Continue reading Kelly v Northern Ireland Housing Executive; Loughran v Northern Ireland Housing Executive: HL 29 Jul 1998
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
There is a strong presumption that Parliament will not legislate to prevent individuals affected by legal measures promulgated by executive public bodies having a fair opportunity to challenge these measures and to vindicate their rights in court proceedings doing so. Viscount Simonds said: ‘It is a principle not by any means to be whittled down … Continue reading Pyx Granite Ltd v Ministry of Housing and Local Government: HL 1959
The House considered the concept of a spent planning consent. Held: This was a mineral operation and every shovelful dug amounted to another act of development. Therefore, although it had been begun, the planning permission was not spent and remained capable of implementation. A planning permission enures for the benefit of the relevant land and … Continue reading Pioneer Aggregates (UK) Limited v Secretary of State for the Environment: HL 1985
UTLC LANDLORD AND TENANT – Service Charge – jurisdiction of FTT to hear application challenging the reasonableness of a service charge under sections 18, 19 and 27A(1) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 when that had already been determined by the county court – applicability of section 27A(4)(c) of the Landlord and Tenant Act … Continue reading Cowling v Worcester Community Housing Ltd: UTLC 14 Sep 2015
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
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
LT LANDLORD AND TENANT – service charges – whether gardening and internal cleaning costs reasonably incurred – additional 25% deduction by LVT – use of LVT’s own expertise as an expert tribunal – whether . .
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A local authority may not rely for homelessness application on information on transfer. Citations: Times 02-May-1994 Statutes: Housing Act 1985 58 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Housing Updated: 21 October 2022; Ref: scu.87997
Priority housing need applicant must show some partial dependency of children. Citations: Times 03-Oct-1996 Statutes: Housing Act 1985 58(1)(b) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Housing Updated: 11 June 2022; Ref: scu.88295
The term ‘Accommodation’ in the Act was to be read to include short term lettings, and was not to be restricted to secure accommodation, and the loss of such accommodation can be counted as intentional homelessness. If a person who had been provided with accommodation in accordance with section 65(2) of the 1985 Act was … Continue reading Regina v Brent London Borough Council Ex Parte Awua: HL 6 Jul 1995
Once an applicant is deemed homeless by section 58, no later act can cause homelessness. Citations: Times 16-Feb-1995 Statutes: Housing Act 1985 58 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Housing Updated: 28 April 2022; Ref: scu.86977
The Council appealed from an order quashing its decision that the applicant was intentionally homeless. . .
An unlawful eviction did not of itself constitute an emergency giving the applicant ‘priority need’ for housing. The event that results in the homelessness of the person claiming a priority need must have the characteristics of being ‘an emergency’ and ‘a disaster’. The omission of the word ‘any’ before the words ‘other disaster’ in the … Continue reading Regina v Bristol County Court Ex Parte Bradic: CA 1 Sep 1995
Section 189 of the Housing Act, which compels a local authority to serve a repair notice wherever they are satisfied that a house is unfit within the meaning of section 604, unless the house is beyond repair, may result in the lawful service of notices in relation to defects which fall short of breaches of … Continue reading Newham London Borough v Patel: 1978
Even an unlawful sub-tenancy can have protection under Part II of the 1954 Act. The court described as fallacious the submission that section 74(1) does not extend to or answer the question whether the document has ever been delivered, saying: ‘The section says that the document is to be deemed to have been duly executed … Continue reading D’Silva v Lister House Development Ltd: 1970
A ten year shorthold tenancy agreement which was not executed under deed constituted an equitable interest, and since more than five years remained, the tenant had sufficient interest to found a claim for a council grant for renovation and repairs. The concept of an equitable term of years is well known to the law. Citations: … Continue reading Regina v London Borough of Tower Hamlets ex parte Von Goetz: CA 8 Oct 1998
The council appealed a finding that the claimant, a secure tenant, had not surrendered his tenancy. He had sought to exercise his right to buy the property, but was said to have left the premises before the lease was completed. The property was vandalised, and he had left a note to say they he lived … Continue reading Zionmor v Mayor and Burgesses of London Borough of Islington: CA 10 Oct 1997
A tenat’s right to buy property should not effect the assessed fair rent on review. Citations: Times 09-Aug-1996 Statutes: Housing Act 1985 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Landlord and Tenant, Housing Updated: 31 October 2022; Ref: scu.79958
(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 parties disputed the liability on lessees to contribute to a service charge for maintenance of common parts of the building. The six tenants covenanted to pay a proper proportion of the landlord’s costs of meeting his repair obligations. The landlord executed repair after a water leak. Two tenants argued that the cost was too … Continue reading 69 Marina, St Leonards-On-Sea, Freeholders of v Oram and Another: CA 8 Nov 2011
COMPENSATION – prohibition order – Housing Health and Safety Rating System Regulations – category 1 hazard – flat – crowding and space – section s584A Housing Act 1985 – S.5 Land Compensation Act 1961 – Rule 4 – whether use of flat (a) contrary to law (b) detrimental to health of the occupants – nil … Continue reading Haq v Eastbourne Borough Council: UTLC 10 Oct 2011
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
Renewed application for permission to appeal from an order dismissing the claimant’s appeal from the notice served by the defendant, Nottingham City Council, as the local housing authority under section 352 of the Housing Act 1985. Citations: [2002] EWCA Civ 1356 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Housing Updated: 02 September 2022; Ref: scu.217580
W owned land which had been used for many years to store showground equipment over the winters. He applied for an existing use certificate. After refusing it, the authority issued enforcement proceedings. The inspector refused W’s appeal saying that there had been an abandonment in fact. The land-owner now argued that a use could not … Continue reading White v Secretary of State for the Environment: CA 1989
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
COMPENSATION – Closing Order – premises unfit for human habitation – diminution in value – compensation awarded nil. – Land Compensation Act 1961 and Housing Act 1985, s.584A. Citations: [2000] EWLands LCA – 146 – 2000 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Land Updated: 16 August 2022; Ref: scu.225616
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 appellant challenged a finding that though she was named as joint tenant of the property with her mother, she had no beneficial interest in it. The property had formerly been a council house tenanted by the respondent and her late husband.Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury said: ‘When it comes to assessing the contributions to the … Continue reading Laskar v Laskar: CA 7 Feb 2008
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 authority had obtained a possession order from its secure tenant but then agreed to accept payments toward the arrears. The tenant applied for and was granted a declaration that she had on that agreement acquired a new tenancy. The authority appealed. Held: The agreement had created a new tenancy even after a final possession … Continue reading Burrows v Brent London Borough Council: HL 31 Oct 1996
LT COMPENSATION – compulsory purchase – abandoned house in dilapidated condition – untraceable owner – comparable transactions – Housing Act 1985 s.17 and Land Compensation Act 1961 Part 1 – compensation determined at andpound;60,000 Citations: [2005] EWLands ACQ – 96 – 2002 Links: Bailii Statutes: Housing Act 1985 17, Land Compensation Act 1961 Land Updated: … Continue reading Garrod v London Borough of Newham: LT 20 Apr 2005
The council imposed a parking scheme on one of the estates for which it was landlord. A tenant challenged the scheme saying it could only have been imposed by a byelaw, not a resolution. Held: ‘section 7(1) extends the powers of a housing authority beyond those in section 23(1), or at least avoids any unclarity … Continue reading Akumah v London Borough of Hackney: CA 17 Apr 2002
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
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
Two foreign nationals with leave to remain in this country committed serious crimes. The Secretary of State ordered their deportation. Held: Where the deportation of a foreigner following a conviction here, would conflict with his human rights, the court had to assess whether the, first, the objective could be achieved by some alternative, less interfering, … Continue reading Samaroo and Sezek v Secretary of State for the Home Department: CA 17 Jul 2001
A County Court may stay a right to buy application by the tenant, even though terms had been agreed, in order to await the result of court proceedings for possession against the secure misbehaving tenant. A court’s case management powers can be invoked to determine substantive rights. Judges: Lord Goff of Chieveley, Lord Lloyd of … Continue reading City Council of Bristol v Lovell: HL 26 Feb 1998
The plaintiff acquired land on which 27 chalets were erected. They served notice to quit so that the site could be developed. The defendants argued that they had residential tenancies with protection under the Rent Act 1977. Held: The tenants’ appeals succeeded. A built structure becomes part of the land and itself real property, according … Continue reading Elitestone Ltd v Morris and Another: HL 1 May 1997
The Court was asked as to the proper interpretation of paragraph 49 of the National Planning Policy Framework: ‘Housing applications should be considered in the context of the presumption in favour of sustainable development. Relevant policies for the supply of housing should not be considered up-to-date if the local planning authority cannot demonstrate a five-year … Continue reading Suffolk Coastal District Council v Hopkins Homes Ltd and Another: SC 10 May 2017
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
Administrative Discretion to be Used Reasonably The applicant challenged the manner of decision making as to the conditions which had been attached to its licence to open the cinema on Sundays. It had not been allowed to admit children under 15 years of age. The statute provided no appeal procedure, and the applicant sought a … Continue reading Associated Provincial Picture Houses Ltd v Wednesbury Corporation: CA 10 Nov 1947
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
The claimant was detained in a secure Mental Hospital. He complained at the seclusions policy applied by the hospital, saying that it departed from the Guidance issued for such policies by the Secretary of State under the Act. Held: The House allowed the Hospital’s appeal. The policy was lawful. Seclusion was to be seen as … Continue reading Regina v Ashworth Hospital Authority (Now Mersey Care National Health Service Trust) ex parte Munjaz: HL 13 Oct 2005
The prisoner challenged the decision to place him in segregation under Prison Rule 43. Under rule 43(1) the initial power to segregate was given to ‘the governor’. The case arose from the fact that the governor of one prison had purported to authorise the segregation of a prisoner on his arrival at another prison to … Continue reading Regina v Deputy Governor of Parkhurst Prison, Ex parte Hague, Weldon v Home Office: HL 24 Jul 1991
Challenge on public law grounds to making of possession order on basis of closure order having been made. Judges: Gross, Lewison, Flaux LJJ Citations: [2017] EWCA Civ 1476 Links: Bailii Statutes: Housing Act 1985 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Housing Updated: 30 March 2022; Ref: scu.595816
The claimant had been released from prison and sought to be housed as a homeless person. He said that his imprisonment brought him within the category of having special need. He also claimed damages for the breach. Held: The Act was intended to confer a general social benefit of reducing homelessness, not a right in … Continue reading O’Rourke v Mayor etc of the London Borough of Camden: HL 12 Jun 1997
Power to call in is administrative in nature The powers of the Secretary of State to call in a planning application for his decision, and certain other planning powers, were essentially an administrative power, and not a judicial one, and therefore it was not a breach of the applicants’ rights to a fair hearing before … Continue reading Regina (Holding and Barnes plc) v Secretary of State for Environment Transport and the Regions; Regina (Alconbury Developments Ltd and Others) v Same and Others: HL 9 May 2001
Rylands does not apply to Statutory Works The claimant laid a large gas main through an embankment. A large water supply pipe nearby broke, and very substantial volumes of water escaped, causing the embankment to slip, and the gas main to fracture. Held: The rule in Rylands v Fletcher continues to exist as a remedy … Continue reading Transco plc v Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council: HL 19 Nov 2003
The applicant, and her children, had lived in England, but returned to Pakistan for six months. On their return they first lived with their parents, but then sought housing as homeless. She appealed the finding that she was intentionally homeless. The notice giving the reasons under a statutory provision had to be proper, adequate and … Continue reading Regina v The London Borough of Newham Ex Parte Qureshi: Admn 18 Sep 1997
The bank challenged measures taken by HM Treasury to restrict access to the United Kingdom’s financial markets by a major Iranian commercial bank, Bank Mellat, on the account of its alleged connection with Iran’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes. The bank sought to have the direction given under section 7 of the 2008 Act. … Continue reading Bank Mellat v Her Majesty’s Treasury (No 2): SC 19 Jun 2013
Minor Irregularity in Break Notice Not Fatal Leases contained clauses allowing the tenant to break the lease by serving not less than six months notice to expire on the third anniversary of the commencement date of the term of the lease. The tenant gave notice to determine the leases on 12th January 1995, although the … Continue reading Mannai Investment Co Ltd v Eagle Star Assurance: HL 21 May 1997
Former HL decision in Siebe Gorman overruled The company had become insolvent. The bank had a debenture and claimed that its charge over the book debts had become a fixed charge. The preferential creditors said that the charge was a floating charge and that they took priority. Held: The appeal was allowed. The debenture, although … Continue reading National Westminster Bank plc v Spectrum Plus Limited and others: HL 30 Jun 2005
The defendant tenant had disputed payment of water service charges and stopped paying them. The Council obtained a possession order which was suspended on payment or arrears by the defendant at andpound;5.00. The tenant said that when varying the terms of the tenancy to add collection of water rates, the council had failed to comply … Continue reading Rochdale Borough Council v Dixon: CA 20 Oct 2011
The council had obtained possession orders for two properties from secure tenants, but the orders were suspended for so long as rent arrears were being discharged. The judges had understood that a date must appear on the possession order. Held: McPhail suggested that ‘whereas as against squatters owners of land who obtained an order for … Continue reading Bristol City Council v Hassan and Glastonbury: CA 23 May 2006
The claimant had applied for judicial review of a decision by the defendant to seek to recover a debt from them. The issue had however been settled in the County Court. Costs were ordered against them, and they now appealed. In a small company the chief manager and owner suffered a severe head injury, and … Continue reading Valentines Homes and Construction Ltd, Regina (on The Application of) v HM Revenue and Customs: CA 31 Mar 2010
Appellate Roles – Human Rights – Families Split The House considered the decision making role of immigration appellate authorities when deciding appeals on Human Rights grounds, against refusal of leave to enter or remain, under section 65. In each case the asylum applicant had had his own request refused but that of his family had … Continue reading Huang v Secretary of State for the Home Department: HL 21 Mar 2007
The court was asked, whether asked to grant possession against a disabled tenant where the grounds for possession were mandatory. The defendant was a secure tenant with a history of psychiatric disability. He had set out to buy his flat, but the council sought possession when it discovered that he had sublet. Held: Section 23(3)(c) … Continue reading London Borough of Lewisham v Malcolm and Disability Rights Commission: CA 25 Jul 2007
Ward has no extra privilege from Police Interview The court considered the need to apply to court in respect of the care of a ward of the court when the Security services needed to investigate possible terrorist involvement of her and of her contacts. Application was made for a declaration as to the need for … Continue reading Re A Ward of Court: FD 4 May 2017
The parties had a joint venture agreement which provided that any dispute was to be referred to an arbitrator from the Ismaili community. The claimant said that this method of appointment became void as a discriminatory provision under the 2003 Regulations. The High Court found the appointment to be outwith the provisions, but this was … Continue reading Jivraj v Hashwani: SC 27 Jul 2011
Car Cleaning nil-hours Contractors were Workers The company contracted with the claimants to work cleaning cars. The company appealed against a finding that contrary to the explicit provisions of the contracts, they were workers within the Regulations and entitled to holiday pay and associated benefits. The contracts were ‘nil hours’ contracts neither requiring nor entitling … Continue reading Autoclenz Ltd v Belcher and Others: SC 27 Jul 2011
Can a recreational purpose underlie an easement The court considered the validity of easements of recreational facilities. A property had been developed with timeshare leases within a substantial and attractive grounds area. Later a second development was created but with freehold interests, but the same rights by way of easements over the communal grounds and … Continue reading Regency Villas Title Ltd and Others v Diamond Resorts (Europe) Ltd and Another: CA 4 Apr 2017
The section in the 1985 Act created a power to prevent rent increases for tenancies of dwelling-houses for purposes including the alleviation of perceived hardship. Accordingly the Secretary of State could issue regulations whose effect was to limit the maximum amount of rent in the proper exercise of that discretionary power. The Act as a … Continue reading Regina v Secretary of State for the Environment Transport and the Regions and another, ex parte Spath Holme Limited: HL 7 Dec 2000
Exercise of Ministerial Discretion The Minister had power to direct an investigation in respect of any complaint as to the operation of any marketing scheme for agricultural produce. Milk producers complained about the price paid by the milk marketing board for their milk when compared with prices paid to producers in other regions. The Minister … Continue reading Padfield v Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food: HL 14 Feb 1968
The defendant had been convicted, under regulations made under the Act, of smoking in a railway carriage. He sought to challenge the validity of the regulations themselves. He wanted to argue that the power to ban smoking on carriages did not . .
The tenant was the son of the former tenant. The tenancy had originally been in the ownership of his father and his mother. The father died in 1969, when the tenancy not yet a secure tenancy. On the mother’s death, the council argued that the first . .
References: [1997] EWCA Civ 862 Links: Bailii Ratio: Statutes: Housing Act 1985 Last Update: 28-Jun-16 Ref: 141258
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