Mark Prichard Social Housing Consultant

23/09/2020

A summary of recent changes affecting the process for obtaining a possession order: https://markprichard.co.uk/news/2020/end-of-possessions-stay

Now the stay on evictions has ended how will the courts be administering possession claims?

21/08/2020

Stay on evictions and possession claims to be prolonged to 20 September 2020. https://markprichard.co.uk/news/2020/evictions-stay-prolonged

The Government has extended the stay on possession claims and evictions until 20 September 2020.

08/07/2020

Unlicensed landlords and ability to give section 8 notices of seeking possession in Wales. https://markprichard.co.uk/news/2020/jarvis-v-evans-2020-ewca-civ-854

A landlord of an assured shorthold tenant in Wales who is not licensed may not serve a notice of seeking possession under section 8 of the Housing Act 1988.

30/06/2020

Amended homelessness & housing allocations guidance in England:
https://markprichard.co.uk/news/2020/homelessness-and-allocations-guidance-amendments

The Ministry of Housing has amended the statutory homelessness guidance and housing allocations guidance.

26/06/2020

Two webinars I recently did with Justin Bates of Landmark Chambers are now available to view online.
https://markprichard.co.uk/news/2020/housing-act-part-7-and-the-pandemic-webinars

Two webinars on Covid-19 and Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996 are now available to view online. I joined Justin Bates of Landmark Chambers, a housing law expert.

26/06/2020

My attempt to make the Trecarrell House judgment on s.21 notice validity intelligible. Question and answer format, focussing on the various different possible scenarios: https://markprichard.co.uk/news/2020/trecarrell-house-v-rouncefield-court-of-appeal

A summary of the Court of Appeal decision in Trecarrell House v Rouncefield on gas safety certificates and s.21 notices.

15/06/2020

A summary of how the interim accommodation duty owed by councils to homeless applicants ends in England, and a recent judicial review.
https://markprichard.co.uk/news/2020/mitchell-v-islington-lbc

When a homeless person is found non-priority during relief the council must confirm the s190 & s193 duties will not be owed, to end the s188 duty

10/06/2020

I'll be joining Justin Bates of Landmark Chambers for two free webinars on Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd June.https://markprichard.co.uk/news/2020/webinars-on-covid-19-and-homelessness

I'll be joining Justin Bates of Landmark Chambers for two free webinars on Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd June.

10/06/2020

Extension of the stay on possession proceedings until 23 August. https://markprichard.co.uk/news/2020/stay-on-possession-proceedings-extended

On 5th June 2020 the Housing Minister announced the stay on possession proceedings will be extended to 23 August.

04/05/2020

The Government has announced that those who are homeless because of domestic abuse are to be given priority need for accommodation in England. https://markprichard.co.uk/news/2020/domestic-abuse-bill-and-priority-need

The Government has announced that those suffering domestic abuse are to be given priority need for accommodation.

29/04/2020

More guidance has been issued this week, in both England and Wales, regarding coronavirus and social housing:
https://markprichard.co.uk/news/2020/covid-19-guidance-vulnerability-essential-moves

Guidance has been issued this week in both England and Wales regarding coronavirus, social housing and the administration of housing applications.

29/04/2020

Why giving better infomration about appealing homelessness decisions may be in councils' interests:
https://markprichard.co.uk/news/2020/explaining-s204-homelessness-appeal-rights

Councils should improve how they explain appeal rights to homeless applicants. I've improved the information about appeals in my free s202 review letters.

16/04/2020

My take on the recent case of McMahon & Kiefer and what it means for councils when a homeless person has (or potentially has) a disability:
https://markprichard.co.uk/news/2020/mcmahon-v-watford-bc-and-kiefer-v-hertsmere-bc

The Court of Appeal has revisited what the public sector equality duty requires of councils when deciding whether a homeless applicant is vulnerable.

30/03/2020

The MHCLG has issued three guidance documents in light of the coronavirus crisis.
https://markprichard.co.uk/news/2020/coronavirus-guidance-for-landlords-tenants-and-councils

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has issued three guidance documents in light of the coronavirus crisis.

30/03/2020

The Government wrote to English local authorities on 26 March 2020, requesting they urgently accommodate rough sleepers, and those in hostels and nightshelters.
https://markprichard.co.uk/news/2020/covid-19-letter-from-minister-to-councils

The Government wrote to authorities yesterday, 26 March 2020, requesting they urgently accommodate rough sleepers, and those in hostels and nightshelters.

30/03/2020

The Government has confirmed that possession claims are to be stayed for three months.
https://markprichard.co.uk/news/2020/possession-claims-suspended

26/03/2020

Extended notice periods for most residential tenancies: https://markprichard.co.uk/news/2020/coronavirus-act-2020-and-residential-lettings

The Coronavirus Act 2020 comes into effect on 26 March 2020. It temporarily extends the notice landlords must give when ending certain residential tenancies.

20/03/2020

I've uploaded a letter to the Resources section of my website that councils can use when offering temporary accommodation to people because of the Coronavirus crisis.

https://markprichard.co.uk/news/2020/discretionary-power-to-accommodate-letter-covid-19

A letter councils can use when offering temporary accommodation to people because of the current Coronavirus crisis.

12/12/2019

The Welsh Government has issued supplementary guidance about section 75(3) of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014, under which some homeless applicants will be owed the full housing duty despite being intentionally homeless.
https://markprichard.co.uk/news/2019/welsh-homelessness-new-s75-guidance-and-decision-letters

A summary of new Welsh guidance on HWA 2014, s75(3), under which certain intentionally homeless applicants qualify for the full housing duty.

12/12/2019

From 2 December 2019 in Wales homeless households with children and young people qualify for the full housing duty even if the applicant became homeless intentionally.
https://markprichard.co.uk/news/2019/end-of-intentionality-for-families-in-wales

From 2 December 2019 homeless households with children and young people will qualify for the full housing duty even if they're intentionally homeless.

21/07/2017

https://markprichard.co.uk/news/2017/fresource-friday-surrender-of-tenancy-agreement

A form to agree an immediate end to a residential tenancy by mutual agreement between landlord and tenant.

21/07/2017

https://markprichard.co.uk/news/2017/notifications

When will homeless applicants need to be notified by English councils once Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996 is amended by the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017?

03/02/2017

Free guide to getting housing benefit paid direct to your private landlord. Standard letters for requesting direct payments and appealing negative decisions.