The Court considered the scope of the licensing requirement and the consequences of failing to comply with it. Must a landlord be licensed to serve a notice under section 8 of the Housing Act 1988 (‘the 1988 Act’)? If he must, is a notice served by an unlicensed landlord nugatory? Judges: Lord Justice Newey Citations: … Continue reading Jarvis v Evans and Another: CA 7 Jul 2020
Counsel appearing at the tribunal had previously sat as a judge with a tribunal member. The opposing party asserted bias in the tribunal. Held: The test in Gough should be restated in part so that the court must first ascertain all the circumstances which have a bearing on the suggestion that the judge was biased. … Continue reading Lawal v Northern Spirit Limited: HL 19 Jun 2003
Citations: [2020] EWCA Civ 760 Links: Bailii Statutes: Housing Act 1988 21 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Housing Updated: 20 December 2022; Ref: scu.651852
Application had been made to register as a town or village green an area of land which was largely a boggy marsh. The local authority resisted the application wanting to use the land instead for housing. It then rejected advice it received from a non-statutory enquiry, and sought a declaration from the court as to … Continue reading Oxfordshire County Council v Oxford City Council and others: HL 24 May 2006
The appellant had contracted to provide office accomodation to the defendant. The air conditioning did not work and there were other defects. The appellant now challenged a finding of liability and that its contract terms which were said to totally exclude liability were unfair under the 1977 Act. Held: The appeal succeeded. Alternative remedies would … Continue reading Regus (UK) Ltd v Epcot Solutions Ltd: CA 15 Apr 2008
The court was asked as to the compatibility of the 2004 Regulations with the 1988 and 1985 Acts. Judges: Stanley Burnton J Citations: [2007] EWHC 2335 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Demoted Tenancies (Review of Decisions) (England) Regulations 2004, Housing Act 1985, Housing Act 1988 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Housing Updated: 04 December 2022; Ref: scu.259853
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
Appeal against award of damages for breach by landlord of covenant for quiet enjoyment and under the 1988 Act. Held: The landlord’s appeal failed. ‘There is no fixed point at which it can be said that breaches of the covenant of quiet enjoyment become so serious as to constitute qualifying conduct for the purposes of … Continue reading Abbott v Bayley: CA 20 Jan 1999
The court was asked as to the nature and effect of tenancies for life granted by fully mutual housing co-operatives and in particular how they can lawfully be brought to an end and a possession order obtained. The tenants sought a declaration of incompatibility in respect of section 80. The Co-operative was fully mutual and … Continue reading Southward Housing Co-Operative Ltd v Walker and Another: ChD 8 Jun 2015
The plaintiff sought leave to appeal against the level of damages awarded to her in her claim for wrongful eviction, and against the costs award made after the award had failed to meet the amount paid into court. She said that by omitting a painting from the damages, the amount payable was reduced below the … Continue reading Hougie v Kranat: CA 26 Nov 1998
The tenant had a partner whom she could not control, and who had terrorised her to the nuisance also of her neighbours. The landlord sought possession, and until that was granted an anti-social behaviour order (ASBO) against the partner. Before the hearing an interim ASBO had been granted which effectively excluded the partner from the … Continue reading London and Quadrant Housing Trust v Root: CA 12 Jan 2005
The appellants challenged the refusal to grant them injunctions to prevent Roma parking caravans on land they had purchased. Held: Parliament had given to local authorities exclusive jurisdiction on matters of planning policy, but when an authority sought assistance in enforcement by requesting an injunction, the role of the court was not merely supervisory, but … Continue reading Wrexham County Borough Council v Berry; South Buckinghamshire District Council v Porter and another; Chichester District Council v Searle and others: HL 22 May 2003
Citations: [1998] EWCA Civ 1435 Statutes: Housing Act 1988 S2 g11, Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 48 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Cited – Rogan v Woodfield Building Services Ltd CA 10-Aug-1994 The duty placed on a Landlord by the section is to give to the tenant a notice of an address for service for … Continue reading Morgan v Hamid-Zadeh: CA 15 Sep 1998
Where one joint tenant had given notice and the landlord mistakenly excluded the other tenant, the husband, from possession, the landlord could not rely on the defence of ‘reasonable cause’. The tenant has the choice of possession or statutory damages. Statutory damages had been agreed between the parties’ representatives at 30,000 pounds. The Council now … Continue reading Wandsworth London Borough Council v Osei-Bonsu: CA 22 Oct 1998
(Romford County Court) ‘A judge who adjourns the hearing of a ground 8 possession claim solely in order to allow a defendant an opportunity to defeat that claim, whether by extracting payment from the housing benefit authority or from any other source, is choosing not to apply the law in force at the date of … Continue reading London and Quadrant Housing Trust v Sandra Ison: 8 Sep 2003
The local authority landlord commenced proceedings for possession, but then transferred the properties to a registered social landlord. The tenants objected that the new landlords could not continue the proceedings. Held: The transfer moved tenants from the secure tenancy regime to the assured tenancy regime, with different notices and procedures. The notices were not significantly … Continue reading Knowsley Housing Trust v Revell; Helena Housing Ltd v Curtis: CA 9 Apr 2003
The tenant appealed an order for possession. He had been convicted of making indecent images of children. The defendant had moved his tenancy from the property in which the offences had been convicted to a neighbouring property. The landlord said that offence had still been committed in the locality of the house. Held: The tenant’s … Continue reading Raglan Housing Association Ltd v Fairclough: CA 1 Nov 2007
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
A right of occupation given by an almshouse under a charitable trust was an occupation under a licence without right of possession, not an assured tenancy. The plaintiff’s conditions of occupancy stated: ‘Residents are licensees and pay a contribution towards the cost of providing accommodation at the Court: residents are not tenants and do not … Continue reading Gray and others v Taylor: CA 2 Apr 1998
Citations: (1988) 20 HLR 374 Statutes: Housing Act 1988 34(1)(b) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Cited – Truro Diocesan Board of Finance Ltd v Foley CA 22-Oct-2008 The tenant appealed against a decision that a deed he had entered into with the claimant did not operate to give him the status of a protected … Continue reading Dibbs v Campbell: 1988
The landlord appealed a finding that in raising the rent of the tenant’s property, he should have followed the section 13 procedure. He said that the agreement contained its own provisions agreed with the tenant. Held: The appeal succeeded. The section excludes a tenancy where provision is made for an increase in rent, and this … Continue reading Contour Homes Ltd v Rowen: CA 26 Jun 2007
A homeless gypsy caravan dweller applied for housing. The authority offered temporary bed and breakfast accomodation. She complained that she had an aversion to living in bricks and mortar. Held: The authority had discharged its function. The duty of the authority was to secure the availability of suitable accommodation within a reasonable period of time, … Continue reading Codona v Mid-Bedfordshire District Council: CA 15 Jul 2004
If ‘suitable alternative accommodation’ was offered in exchange for a protected tenancy, the court need look only for some security for the tenant, not that he should receive equal protection. Where the landlord persuades the Rent Act protected tenants to surrender their old tenancy before taking a new tenancy, the lessees would not have been … Continue reading Laimond Properties Limited v Al-Shakarchi: CA 10 Feb 1998
The plaintiffs let property to the respondents. The notice of shorthold tenancy issued prior to the tenancy commencing had obvious errors in the dates. The issue was as to its validity. Held: The error was evident, the termination date preceded the commencement date and was plainly a repetition of the date of the notice. But … Continue reading York and Another v Casey and Another: CA 16 Feb 1998
The court was asked whether a copyright owner has a proprietary claim to money derived from infringement of the copyright. Held: He did not. No such argument could be shown to have suceeded before. Judges: Newey J Citations: [2013] WLR(D) 42, [2013] EWHC 159 (Ch) Links: Bailii, WLRD Statutes: Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 … Continue reading Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp and Others v Harris and Others: ChD 5 Feb 2013
Objecting neighbours appealed against a decision allowing a variation of a restrictive covenant to allow the owner to convert a dwellinghouse into two self-contained apartments. Held: The appeal failed. The power in the 1985 Act to vary a covenant must be used judicially, and ‘the statute does not create any presumption in favour of the … Continue reading Lawntown Ltd v Camenzuli and Another: CA 10 Oct 2007
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
A person with no sufficient title to land cannot create a tenancy of the land which would be binding by an estoppel if that tenancy would exclude his own possible claim for possession. Citations: Times 14-Aug-1997, [1997] EWCA Civ 2255 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: See Also – Bruton v London and Quadrant Housing Trust … Continue reading Bruton v London and Quadrant Housing Trust: CA 31 Jul 1997
The tenant had been joint tenant with his wife of a house. On the breakdown of the marriage, she left and gave notice to quit to the council. The council sought and obtained an order for possession, against which the husband now sought leave to appeal against a refusal of an adjournment so that he … Continue reading Newlon Housing Trust v Alsulaimen: CA 16 Jan 1997
LT RATING – alteration of rating list – Local Government Act 1988 section 66(1) – whether district heating systems (DHSs) serving local authority housing constituted domestic property – whether such DHS constituted an appurtenance belonging to or enjoyed with such housing. Citations: [2008] EWLands RA – 60 – 69 – 2005 Links: Bailii Statutes: Local … Continue reading Allen v Mansfield District Council and Another: LT 11 Jul 2008
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
Notices were given which were incorrect. Held: The notices were upheld despite the errors. Judges: Arden LJ Simon Brown LJ Citations: [2003] EWCA Civ 281, [2003] HLR 45 Links: Bailii Statutes: Housing Act 1988 20, Assured Tenancies and Agricultural Occupancies (Forms) Regulations 1988 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Cited – Mannai Investment Co Ltd v … Continue reading B Osborn and Co Ltd v Dior and others: CA 22 Jan 2003
Judges: Miss Joanna Smith QC Sitting as a Deputy Judge of the High Court Citations: [2018] EWHC 1873 (Ch) Links: Bailii Statutes: Rent Act 1977 13, Housing Act 1988 38 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Housing Updated: 31 October 2022; Ref: scu.682212
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
L’s appeal after rejection of section 8 notice requiring possession, but making mistake in year required. Judges: Underhill, Floyd, Arnold LJJ Citations: [2020] EWCA Civ 175, [2020] WLR(D) 93 Links: Bailii, WLRD Statutes: Housing Act 1988 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Landlord and Tenant Updated: 19 October 2022; Ref: scu.648246
The landlord appealed against an assessment of the proper rent for a property let under an assured periodic tenancy. Judges: Wyn Williams J Citations: [2012] EWHC 19 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Housing Act 1988 Housing Updated: 04 October 2022; Ref: scu.450311
The deceased tenant and the appellant had lived together in a violent alcoholic homosexual relationship. The appellant had claimed to have succeeded to the tenancy on his partner’s death. The authority said the relationship had been at an end, and no succession took place. Held: The appellant had failed to demonstrate that his relationship with … Continue reading Nutting v Southern Housing Group Ltd: ChD 21 Dec 2004
The tenant appealed against an order granting possession. The tenancy, being held of a mutual housing co-operative did not have security but was in a form restricting the landlord’s right to recover possession, and the tenant resisted saying that it was worded to create a lease for life (applying the LRB case). Held: The tenant’s … Continue reading Berrisford v Mexfield Housing Co-Operative Ltd: SC 9 Nov 2011
The claimant had obtained orders against two companies who banked with the respondent. Asset freezing orders were served on the bank, but within a short time the customer used the bank’s Faxpay national service to transfer substantial sums outside the bank’s branch controls, and defeat the freezing order. The claimant sought recovery from the bank. … Continue reading Commissioners of Customs and Excise v Barclays Bank Plc: ComC 3 Feb 2004
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
The claimants occupied houseboats constructed from second world war landing craft supported on non-floating platforms on land let to the respondents. They held under oral tenancies which had been terminated by the respondents before possession was sought. The appellants appealed against orders finding that they were not assured tenants within the 1988 Act on the … Continue reading Mew and Another v Tristmire Ltd: CA 28 Jul 2011
In each case the tenants requested adjournment of the possession proceedings brought against them by the landlord for arrears of rent to allow them time to bring the arrears below the level at which a possession order could be made. In each case it was said that the situation arose from maladministration by the local … Continue reading North British Housing Association Ltd v Matthews, Same v Others: CA 21 Dec 2004
In the course of possession proceedings for non payment of rent under an assured tenancy, the tenant gave the landlord a cheque which cleared the arrears. Held: The past course of dealings between the parties showed that the landlord had previously accepted cheques, and now required the landlord to accept payment by cheque. Payment by … Continue reading Andy Coltrane v Janice Day: CA 14 Mar 2003
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
Citations: [2004] EWCA Civ 310 Links: Bailii Statutes: Crime and Disorder Act 1988 1C Jurisdiction: England and Wales Housing, Local Government Updated: 11 September 2022; Ref: scu.194686
This appeal concerns the question whether company law relating to execution of documents applies to certain statutory notices served by a corporate landlord upon its tenants in possession proceedings. Citations: [2020] EWHC 3538 (QB) Links: Bailii Statutes: Housing Act 1988 8, Companies Act 2006 44 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Housing, Company Updated: 09 September 2022; … Continue reading Northwood Solihull Ltd v Fearn and Others: QBD 21 Dec 2020
The landowner sought to recover possession of land occupied under an agreement by a mobile home owner. Held: It was necessary for the land owner to show that he had complied with the requirements under the Act. It was insufficient for the matters to be admitted in the pleadings. Pleadings are not superfluous and are … Continue reading Loveridge and Loveridge v Healey: CA 20 Feb 2004
Citations: [2001] EWCA Civ 1125 Links: Bailii Statutes: Housing Act 1988 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Landlord and Tenant Updated: 06 September 2022; Ref: scu.218339
The landlord served a notice to terminate a shorthold tenancy saying that he required possession on a certain day. The tenancy had been a periodic tenancy, and the date was not the last day of a period of the tenancy. Held: The Act was specific. What was being served was not a notice to quit … Continue reading McDonald and Another v Fernandez and Another: CA 19 Jul 2003
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
LT LANDLORD AND TENANT- Service Charges – Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 as amended ss18 and 19 – Housing Act 1988 ss 13 and 14 – Assured non-shorthold periodic tenancy – whether the landlord’s ability (subject to any reference to a Rent Assessment Committee) to serve a yearly notice of increase of rent (which included … Continue reading Home Group Ltd v Lewis and others: LT 3 Jan 2008
An application had been made to set aside a possession order obtained by a social landlord and determined by a district judge who applied CPR3.1 (7), when setting the possession order aside. By the time the landlord’s appeal against that decision was heard, the decision in Forcelux was available and the circuit judge held that … Continue reading London Borough of Hackney v Findlay: CA 20 Jan 2011
This was a second appeal, this time by a former tenant and was as to whether a tenancy was a shorthold tenancy or otherwise. The judge had found that the tenancy commenced in 1995, and no notice of shorthold tenancy having been given, it was an assured tenancy. The case was appealed to the High … Continue reading Naidu v Yenula Properties Ltd: CA 23 May 2002
Claim for damages for unlawful eviction of tenant. Judges: Jacob, Lloyd, Stanley Burton LJJ Citations: [2010] EWCA Civ 108, [2010] HLR 25 Links: Bailii Statutes: Housing Act 1988 27 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Housing Updated: 25 August 2022; Ref: scu.425547
The respondent had been employed with the provision of tied accomodation. He had been dismissed. The employer sought possession of the premises. The employees was claiming unfair dismissal and wanted to be re-instated. Held: Possession was to be granted. If the emploer had made a settled decision that the employee would not be taken back … Continue reading Whitbread West Pennines Ltd v Reedy: CA 1988
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 defendants appealed against confiscation orders made after a finding that they had been involved (separately) in the smuggling of tobacco, suggesting a conflict between the 1992 Regulations and the Directive. Held: The appeals variously failed and succeeded according to their facts. A person obtains a pecuniary advantage by evading duty or VAT even though … Continue reading White and Others v Regina: CACD 5 May 2010
The appellant had been the landlord’s assured tenant for many years. He sometimes worked away from home, and in 2001 he was absent for six months. On his return the landlord offered an assured shorthold agreement. L now sought to issue a notice under section 21. T said that the earlier tenancy had continued, and … Continue reading Chohan v McManus: CA 24 Nov 2008
The claimant sought additional provision from her father’s estate. She said that the will failed to make reasonable provsion for her, bearing in mind her extreme financial needs. She was a single mother of three. Held: The claim failed. Michael Furness QC J said: ‘the most important factors are first the financial position of the … Continue reading Garland v Morris and Another: ChD 11 Jan 2007
The tenant appealed against an order for possession, saying that he had an assured tenancy. Judges: Nicola Davies J Citations: [2010] EWHC 297 (QB) Links: Bailii Statutes: Housing Act 1988 45 Landlord and Tenant, Housing Updated: 15 August 2022; Ref: scu.403363
Uber drivers are workers The claimant Uber drivers sought the status of workers, allowing them to claim the associated statutory employment benefits. The company now appealed from a finding that they were workers. Held: The appeal failed (Underhill LJ dissenting) The drivers accepted the control of tee Uber app: ‘Even if drivers are not obliged … Continue reading Uber Bv and Others v Aslam and Others: CA 19 Dec 2018
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 considered the procedures when a prisoner is kept in solitary confinement, otherwise described as ‘segregation’ or ‘removal from association’, and principally whether decisions to keep the appellants in segregation for substantial periods were taken lawfully. Held: The segregation was not authorised by the applicable legislation: ‘rule 45 . . (1) enables the governor … Continue reading Bourgass and Another, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Justice: SC 29 Jul 2015
The landlord had failed in his duty to repair. One tenant’s health suffered because of the damp, and they had to rent other premises. Held: The landlord has only a reasonable time to effect repairs once he has been given notice of the need for them. Damages for breach of a covenant to repair are … Continue reading Calabar Properties Ltd v Stitcher: CA 1983
The court was asked: ‘Does section 13(1)(a) of the Housing Act 1988 have the effect of enabling a landlord to seek to increase the rent payable under a statutory periodic tenancy beyond the levels contemplated in a rent review clause in the assured tenancy that preceded it, even though that clause purports to govern the … Continue reading London District Properties Management Ltd and Others v Goolamy and Another: Admn 16 Jun 2009
Judges: McCombe J Citations: [2001] EWHC QB 447 Links: Bailii Statutes: Housing Act 1988 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Housing Updated: 19 July 2022; Ref: scu.135286
Challenge to rules requiring certain minimum levels of income (Minimum Income Requirement – MIR) for allowing entry for non-EEA spouse. Held: The challenges udder the Human Rights Act to the Rules themselves failed. Nor did any separate issue of discrimination arise under article 14. However, the appendix with instructions for entry clearance officers considering the … Continue reading MM (Lebanon) and Others, Regina (on The Applications of) v Secretary of State and Another: SC 22 Feb 2017
Approved Warehouse; failure to comply with conditions imposed by HMRC; Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 sections 92 and 93; The Excise Warehousing (Etc.) Regulations 1988, regulation 7; Notice 197; Notice 50. Citations: [2007] UKVAT-Excise E01049 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Customs and Excise Updated: 18 July 2022; Ref: scu.272128
The registered social landlord appealed refusal to grant possession of property held under an assured tenancy. Possession was sought for rent arears and for nuisance. Citations: [2008] EWCA Civ 840 Links: Bailii Statutes: Housing Act 1988 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Housing Updated: 17 July 2022; Ref: scu.270928
Citations: [2019] EWCA Civ 1174 Links: Bailii Statutes: Housing Act 1988 21 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Housing Updated: 15 July 2022; Ref: scu.639501
The court considered the relationship between the two Acts. The assured tenant had fallen into arrears, and was subject to an order for possession. He claimed that his disability required the court not to make an order for possession against her, and that arrears of payable housing benefits would clear the debt. Held: The appeal … Continue reading S v Floyd, Equality and Human Rights Commission: CA 18 Mar 2008
The applicant challenged an order requiring him to discontinue use of land on which were listed buildings in need of repair. The authority had concluded that compulsory purchase would not be sufficient to achieve the result required. The land owner contended that such an order was draconian, and should not be made without additional evidence … Continue reading Chant v Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions and another: Admn 1 Jul 2002
Judges: Falk J Citations: [2019] EWHC 1418 (Ch) Links: Bailii Statutes: Housing Act 1988 21 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Housing, Estoppel Updated: 14 July 2022; Ref: scu.639278
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 were husband and wife. They had six children. The wife was severely disabled and confined to a wheelchair. The defendant Council provided the family with a small house but in breach, as they ultimately accepted, of section 21(1) (a) of the National Assistance Act, failed to provide the family with accommodation suited to … Continue reading Regina (Bernard and Another) v Enfield Borough Council: Admn 25 Oct 2002
The tenants appealed an order for possession of their assured property. The order had been made on the basis that their behaviour constituted a nuisance under Ground 14. They suffered post traumatic stress disorder, and were acutely sensitive to noise leading to them make many complaints about their neighbours. They said that the court should … Continue reading Accent Peerless Ltd v Kingsdon and Another: CA 12 Dec 2007
The elderly appellant claimed a non-shorthold assured tenancy. He had moved in in 1999, but had been given a rent book which described the tenancy as an assured tenancy. The now deceased landlord had himself occupied another flat in the building. Held: Whilst the landlord occupied the house, the tenancy could only be a common … Continue reading Andrews and Another v Cunningham: CA 23 Jul 2007
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 tenant was an assured tenant. She fell into arrears of rent and a possession order was made, but suspended on terms. The court considered whether she continued to be an assured tenant, and could assert a right to buy the property as an assured tenant of a social landlord. Held: The tenant’s appeal was … Continue reading White v Knowsley Housing Trust and Another: CA 2 May 2007
The tenant appealed against a finding that her tenancy was a statutory shorthold tenancy following termination of an assured shorthold tenancy, or an assured tenancy. She moved in as a carer for the tenant of the trustee defendants. That arrangement developed. The trustees said that she was not then treated as a tenant. The tenant … Continue reading Vesely v Levy and others: CA 27 Apr 2007
The claimant sought judicial review of a refusal to make an ex gratia payment for his imprisonment whilst successfully resisting extradition proceedings. Terrorist connections had been suggested, but the judge made an explicit finding that at no stage had any evidence been produced. Held: The 1988 Act provided only limited circumstances for a payment, but … Continue reading Raissi, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department: Admn 22 Feb 2007
Appeal against decision of setting of rent by Rent Assessment Panel. Citations: [2006] EWHC 2367 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Housing Act 1988 13 Landlord and Tenant Updated: 08 July 2022; Ref: scu.246746
(Cardiff County court) The court was asked whether a landlord who is not a licenced landlord under Welsh housing law can serve and rely upon a notice (the section 21 notice) under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 (the 1988 Act) and so to claim possession of a dwelling located wholly in Wales let … Continue reading Evans v Fleri: Misc 18 Apr 2019
Citations: [2007] 1 WLR 554, [2006] EWCA Civ 1017 Links: Bailii Statutes: Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 58, Access to Justice Act 1999 27(1) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Cited – Mountain v Hastings CA 16-Apr-1993 The tenant disputed the effect of a notice to quit. Paragraph 3 of the form read: ‘The landlord … Continue reading Garrett v Halton Borough Council: CA 18 Jul 2006
The commissioners let a flat to the tenant on an assured shorthold tenancy for a year less one day with the rent payable quarterly. The tenancy continued as a statutory periodic tenancy. The court was asked whether the statutory tenancy was an annual or quarterly tenancy. The landlord had given three months’ notice. The tenant … Continue reading Church Commissioners for England v Meya: CA 21 Jun 2006
Civil servants had been transferred to a private company. At first they worked under secondment from the civil service. They asserted that they had protection under TUPE and the Acquired Rights Directive. The respondent said that there had only been a transfer over time, so as to diminish their periods of continuous employment. The matter … Continue reading North Wales Training and Enterprise Council Ltd v Astley and others: HL 21 Jun 2006
The landlord granted an assured shorthold tenancy for six months fixed at andpound;390 ‘per calendar month payable every two months in advance’. Clause 5 allowed the tenant to terminate the agreement with ‘at least one month’s written notice’. The tenant left, putting the keys through the landlord’s letterbox. The landlord claimed the arrears of rent, … Continue reading Laine v Cadwallader: CA 26 May 2000
The landlord had served a notice to quit on his tenant. The notice specified that possession would be required ‘at the end of your period of your tenancy’ It was objected that the notice was ineffective. Held: The notice must be interpreted to refer to the time immediately after the tenancy came to an end, … Continue reading Notting Hill Housing Trust v Roomus: CA 29 Mar 2006
The court was asked about transitional arrangements for Rent Act tenants after the 1988 Act: ‘If A, a Rent Act tenant, takes a new tenancy agreement after the commencement of the 1988 Act jointly with B, does B thereafter partake in the ongoing protection to which A would have been entitled if he, B, takes … Continue reading Secretarial and Nominee Co Ltd v Thomas and others: CA 29 Jul 2005
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 appellant had been fostered by the deceased, and on her death continued to live in her house held under a secure tenancy of the respondent. The council sought possession, saying that he was not a member of the deceased’s family within section 113, and that in any event he had not occupied the property … Continue reading Steven We Ping Wall v Sheffield City Council: CA 23 Mar 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 chambers appealed a finding of discrimination, saying that a pupil was not a member of the set so as to qualify under the Act. Held: The barristers set or chambers was a trade organisation, but the position of a pupil barrister was not that of a member of that chambers so as to attract … Continue reading 1 Pump Court Chambers v Horton: EAT 2 Dec 2003
LT TAX – corporation tax – market value in June 1988 – backland formerly part of petrol filling station – likely grant of planning permission for housing – access – comparables – value determined at andpound;900,000 – Capital Gains Tax Act 1979, s150 Citations: [2003] EWLands TMA/89/2002 Links: Bailii Statutes: Capital Gains Tax Act 1979 … Continue reading Faraday v Carmarthanshire County Council: LT 20 Oct 2003
LT TAX – corporation tax – market value in June 1988 – backland formerly part of petrol filling station – likely grant of planning permission for housing – access – comparables – value determined at andpound;900,000 – Capitals Gains Tax Act 1979, s150 Citations: [2003] EWLands TMA – 89 – 2002 Links: Bailii Statutes: Capitals … Continue reading Ellis v Norbury Hill Ltd: LT 20 Oct 2003
The Court was asked whether a tenancy of a bungalow was a shorthold tenancy. It provided for an initial one year, and therefater from month to month. The tenant argued that it was not a tenancy for a fixed term. Held: The tenant’s appeal failed. ‘ it is clear that this tenancy is not a … Continue reading Goodman v Evely and Another: CA 23 Jan 2001
The claimant was a cyclist. He passed along inside a line of traffic, and collided with a lorry turning left into a petrol station ahead of him, suffering serious injuries. He appealed against a finding that the lorry driver had signalled and that he had not been watching where he was going. Held: The claimant … Continue reading Clenshaw v Tanner and others: CA 27 Nov 2002
The landlord appealed a finding of the county court that a notice of assured shorthold tenancy needed to be served on the tenant personally. Here the notice had been served on the proposed tenant’s solicitors. Held: Though Galinski applied to a different procedure the analogy was appropriate. Service on the tenant’s solicitors was adequate. Proceedings … Continue reading Yenula Properties Ltd v Naidu: ChD 18 Jul 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 court was asked: ‘whether a notice that the respondents, who own the relevant premises, served on the appellants, who are assured shorthold tenants, satisfied the requirements of section 21(1)(b) of the 1988 Act. The respondents maintain that it did. The appellants dispute that on the basis that the respondents were not at the date … Continue reading Barrow and Amey v Kazim and Others: CA 31 Oct 2018
