News The UKBA is proposing changes in the rules for ‘marriage visas’ (also covers civil partners etc) – in particular: by requiring those seeking such entry clearance to enter into an agreement to learn English as part of the visa application process and, once they have arrived in the UK, to show that they have […]
In anticipation of the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Garden Court Chambers is hosting an all-day conference
News The UK Border Agency has announced two further changes to the points based section of the Immigration Rules, to come into effect on the 31st March. The changes will introduce a new Tier 4 route for students as well as changing the academic and financial requirements of the Tier 1 (General) category for highly […]
A mentally vulnerable man who had been convicted and sent to prison by magistrates despite the magistrates' court having been made aware of the fact that he was unfit to plead had his conviction quashed by the Divisional Court in an application for judici
The Latest Housing Law News Rent increases in social housing: tenants of social housing may be forgiven for being confused about the increased rents payable under their tenancies from April this year. Both the Government and the Tenant Services Authority have recently reminded councils and housing associations respectively that there is no expectation that they […]
will be held on the 28th of March 2009, at Garden Court Chambers
The Latest Housing Law News Changing the "eligibility" rules: as indicated in last week’s Bulletin, section 314 of the Housing & Regeneration Act 2008 was brought into force on 2 March 2009. That section introduced changes to homelessness and housing allocation law – for applications made on or after 2 March 2009 – bringing a […]
NEWS Refugee and Migrant Justice (formerly refugee legal centre) published a report "Does every child matter" finds that asylum seeking children are regularly locked up and left without adult support. The report identifies that asylum seeking children face a hostile legal process and that the government breaches its own code of conduct with respect to […]
This morning the House of Lords handed-down a landmark judgment on the way social housing is distributed
COURT OF APPEAL Constructive dismissal Woodhouse School v Webster [2009] EWCA Civ 91If the Tribunal interprets evidence differently from that contended for by either side, it is normally good practice for the Tribunal to raise that with the parties in case they wish to consider calling further evidence or making further submissions. In the present […]
The Latest Housing Law News Mending Housing Law: today (2 March 2009) is expected to be the commencement date in England for section 314 of the Housing & Regeneration Act 2008. That section introduces changes to homelessness and housing allocation law designed to replace the provisions of Housing Act 1996 section 185(4) which were declared […]
News New fees for immigration and nationality applications were announced from 6 April 2009: eg £720 for naturalisation. Cases In GS (Existence of internal armed conflict) Afghanistan CG [2009] UKAIT 00010 (24 February 2009) the Secretary of State conceded that Afghanistan is in a state of internal armed conflict. In Elgafaji v Staatssecretaris van Justice […]
News The UK Border Agency has announced 10 wide-ranging pledges for 2009. (1) In March 2009 it plans to open a new immigration removal centre to help remove immigration offenders, Brook House, located near Gatwick in south-east England. (2) In April 2009 the target is to maximise use or the points-based system "to ensure that […]
The Latest Housing Law News Possession claims: the latest figures for the number of possession claims brought in county courts in England & Wales were released on 20 February 2009 covering the last quarter of 2008. An introductory note to the statistical report suggests that the launch of the mortgage possession pre-action protocol was the […]
Garden Court is delighted to announce the appointment of Dexter Dias
Chambers is delighted to welcome Sorrel Dixon and Kelly Webb to the family team.
News The UKBA have paid out a record amount in damages for unlawfully detaining asylum seeking children. Read more The SSHD has used powers in the EEA Regs. 2006 (SI 2006 / 1003), reg. 19(1) to exclude a far right Dutch MP from entering the UK on public policy, public security grounds. Read More UKBA […]
Michael Bailey was found hanging in the segregation unit at HMP Rye Hill on 24 March 2005. His death was one of three controversial deaths at the privately-run prison in a fifteen month time period. Today the jury gave a damning verdict
A Garden Court Chambers Seminar – Possession proceedings and convention rights – more twists and turns – is being given by Jan Luba QC and Stephen Cottle on Wednesday 11 February 2009 from 18:30 to 20:00. For more details, click here. The Latest Housing Law News Preventing eviction of mortgage borrowers: on 3 February 2009 […]
News At a conference in London on Thursday the 5th February, the Refugee Council published the interim findings of its project working with vulnerable women who have claimed asylum in the UK. The report highlighted that sexual violence lay behind a very significant number of asylum claims made by women. However, equally disturbing are the […]
