Housing

Excluded by definition: the narrow reading of “stepchild” and housing succession claims

The Court of Appeal recently rejected a woman’s appeal against a judge’s order for possession of a property she had been residing in with her mother’s partner before he died. Sarah Salmon and Olivia Davies explain why.

August 22, 2025

Excluded by definition: the narrow reading of “stepchild” and housing succession claims

News

SRA sounds alarm over poor practices in high-volume consumer claims

August 22, 2025

Resident sends bailiffs into head office of major social landlord over unpaid compensation

August 21, 2025

Council to pay compensation to resident who hired skip to deal with mounting rubbish

Aug 21, 2025

Council to improve handling of Disabled Facilities Grant applications after Ombudsman investigation found “significant backlog” of cases

Aug 21, 2025

Shelter urges Government to name implementation date for Renters’ Rights Bill as data shows nearly 1,000 no-fault evictions every month

Aug 15, 2025

Failures by social landlord left mother unable to close windows for three years despite risk to young children: Housing Ombudsman

Aug 14, 2025

Woman given suspended sentence after altering documents in bid to gain social tenancy

Aug 14, 2025

Planning Court judge rejects challenge over application of public sector equality duty in enforcement dispute

Aug 14, 2025

High Court rejects challenge to compulsory purchase order made by council ahead of tower block redevelopment

Aug 14, 2025

Council left blind resident in unsuitable accommodation for 18 months longer than necessary: Ombudsman

Aug 13, 2025

Homelessness minister resigns amid claims over eviction of tenants

Aug 08, 2025

Judges reject appeal over succession to tenancy and meaning of “step-child”

Aug 07, 2025

Council to seek £165k at proceeds of crime hearing after defendant pleads guilty to unlawful subletting

Aug 07, 2025

London borough facing legal challenge over closure of walk-in homelessness support

Aug 07, 2025

Ombudsman criticises council for implementing unwritten policy to exclude tenants of housing association from joining housing register

Aug 07, 2025

Judges reject legal challenge over system operated by council for allocating temporary accommodation including ‘transfer list’

Aug 07, 2025

Court of Appeal rules on eligibility for housing assistance of economically inactive EU nationals with pre-settled status

Aug 07, 2025

Two-thirds of residential developers have entered strategic partnerships, research finds

Aug 06, 2025

Welsh watchdog warns of short-term solutions contributing to long-term temporary accommodation crisis

Aug 05, 2025

Major North West social landlord to establish £6.48m legal services framework

Aug 05, 2025

More children living in poverty, temporary accommodation or at risk of homelessness than before pandemic, report warns

Aug 04, 2025

Ipswich resident given two-year suspended jail term over false applications for social housing

Aug 04, 2025

Court of Appeal orders fresh hearing over procedural unfairness in housing benefit overpayment case

Jul 31, 2025

Right to Buy applications and unlawful subletting in spotlight as London borough saves £5m on counter-fraud measures

Jul 31, 2025

Regulator hits five councils with C3 consumer standards grading

Jul 31, 2025

London council loses High Court fight over mortgagee protection clause and affordable housing obligations in s.106 agreement

Jul 29, 2025

London council delayed for 15 months in accepting main housing duty towards domestic abuse survivor: Ombudsman

Jul 21, 2025

Upper Tribunal upholds civil penalty against landlord for failure to comply with improvement notice

Jul 21, 2025

Upper Tribunal clarifies time limit for rent repayment order applications where landlord had reasonable excuse

Jul 18, 2025

Regulator urges social landlords to strive for better understanding of stock condition

Jul 17, 2025

Complaints to Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman about housing overtake adult services, but children's services and education complaints “still dominate”

Jul 16, 2025

Seven developers offer to pay combined £100m towards affordable housing but make no admissions of liability amid competition investigation

Jul 16, 2025

Government pauses debarment investigations into firms named in Grenfell Tower Inquiry

Jul 15, 2025

Crime and Policing Bill may not provide sufficient safeguards against inappropriate use of new respect orders, Parliamentary committee warns

Jul 15, 2025

“No win, no fee” solicitor ordered to pay costs after failed disrepair claim: report

Jul 14, 2025

Council does U-turn on implementing recommendation of Ombudsman on remedy in homelessness case where pregnant woman had to sofa surf

Jul 14, 2025

Ombudsman recommends changes councils can make on housing allocations to improve services for disabled people

Jul 14, 2025

North Wales landlord names local council and eight law firms to £4.2m legal services framework

Jul 11, 2025

Government should develop National Care Offer for consistent standard of financial and housing support for care leavers, MPs say

Jul 10, 2025

Deputy leader of Eastbourne accuses Brighton of “exporting” most challenging homeless people

Jul 10, 2025

Council prosecution secures £75k fine for landlord behind illegal Airbnb listings

Jul 09, 2025

Council investigation sees resident handed suspended sentence over unlawful sub-letting of council property

Jul 09, 2025

Must read

Families refusing access to support

Is home a suitable option for residence and care for a vulnerable adult if their family refuses access to support? Sophie Holmes analyses a recent ruling.

Families refusing access to support

Features

August 21, 2025

The Empty Homes Crisis

Muhammad Uddin, of Finders Development Hub, hosts a webinar presenting practical strategies and highlights how property professionals can help with the crisis of empty homes.

Aug 21, 2025

Empty Homes: Data, Policy and the Housing Crisis

Mohammed Udin, of Finders Development Hub, hosts a webinar looking into the Empty Homes Crisis, and how the figures surrounding the issue provide insight.

Aug 15, 2025

Allocation of temporary accommodation, transfer lists and discrimination

Genevieve Screeche-Powell reports on how a London borough successfully resisted an appeal about the local authority’s use of a database of homeless applicants awaiting transfer to alternative temporary accommodation.

Aug 14, 2025

Instruction of experts in housing disrepair claims

A recent decision of the Designated Civil Judge for Bristol has offered valuable guidance to social landlords and a salutary warning to those acting for tenants in housing conditions claims, writes David Harry of Hugh James' Dispute Resolution Team.

Aug 06, 2025

New requirements for Residential PEEPS (Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans)

The Government has issued regulations in relation to Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (‘Residential PEEPs’). Louise Mansfield and Elspeth Lee set out the key points.

Aug 06, 2025

Beware helpful judges (or Timeo judices et dona ferentes)

Michael Singleton looks at the lessons from a successful appeal by tenants of a housing association against a suspended committal order arising from findings of contempt of court.

Aug 06, 2025

The path ahead for social housing

Kristian Scholfield assesses the latest regulatory developments that could impact the social housing sector.

Webinars

The Empty Homes Crisis

Muhammad Uddin, of Finders Development Hub, hosts a webinar presenting practical strategies and highlights how property professionals can help with the crisis of empty homes.