News The UKBA has announced new criteria which it will use to consider applications from former members of the Brigade of Gurkhas to settle in the UK. In response, campaigners for these former Gurkha soldiers seeking to retire in Britain have accused the Government of treachery, saying that the new guidelines would bar most of […]
News The UK Border Agency has published a new customer charter and customer strategy. The charter proposes to help service users, by committing the Agency to specific service and delivery standards. It also explains how service users can assist the Agency in dealing with applications. The UK Border Agency has also amended its instructions concerning […]
A reformed drug addict has been saved from eviction despite claims that his presence made the area "a magnet for noisy and ill-behaved" youths. Lord Justice Toulson, sitting at London’s Civil Appeal Court on 1st April heard how a neighbour kept a diary of incidents, and told Welwyn and Hatfield Borough Council that she and […]
Garden Court's Jan Luba QC wins Appeal Against Historic Council Eviction Attempt
The Latest Housing Law News Social housing allocation: new statutory guidance for local housing authorities on housing allocation has been issued by the Secretary of State in exercise of her powers under section 169 of the Housing Act 1996. The guidance is contained in the new CLG Circular 04/2009 Housing Allocations: Members of the Armed […]
NEWS With effect from 9th April 2009 there will be no fee required for a Certificate of Approval in order to comply with House of Lords Judgment in Baiai v SSHD. Human Rights Watch called on the Sri Lankan government to stop violating the laws of war and to resolve the humanitarian crisis in Sri […]
Garden Court Chambers hosts reception for Greenpeace "Tokyo Two"
The Latest Housing Law News New landlords for council tenants: today (6 April 2009) many thousands of council tenants will find that they have a new local authority landlord. Some 44 local councils have been replaced by just nine new unitary authorities. Seven areas are affected. Five of those areas now have one unitary council […]
HIGH COURT Right to legal representation G, R (on the application of) v X School & Anor [2009] EWHC 504 (Admin)Given the gravity of the allegations made against the Claimant teacher (sexual impropriety with a person under 18 and abuse of position of trust), taken together with the very serious impact upon his future working […]
News The Council of Europe Convention Against Trafficking in Human Beings took effect from 1 April 2009, creating minimum legal rights for victims. Of special interest to immigration lawyers is Article 10(1) addressing "Identification of the victims", which mandates that signatories shall staff provide its decision-making authorities with persons who are trained and qualified in […]
The Latest Housing Law News The Right to Housing: on 23 March 2009 the Ministry of Justice published a Green Paper containing proposals for a new Rights and Responsibilities Act. The paper re-states the Government’s belief that "…everyone should have access to a decent home at a price they can afford" (para 3.55). But the […]
News The UKBA has brought into force the Tier 4 (General) student programme for student applying on or after 31 March 2009. The new immigration rules can be found at paragraphs 245ZT – 245ZZD. New applicants must apply using the new Tier 4 (General) application forms and with reference to the new guidance. More than […]
An inquest jury sitting before HM Coroner for West Yorkshire, David Hinchliff, today concluded that a catalogue of serious failings at HMP Leeds caused or contributed to the death of 25 year old remand prisoner Mohammed Mudhir who was found hanged in the
The Latest Housing Law News Tolerated Trespassers: with only two weeks to go until the anticipated commencement of the new arrangements for tolerated trespassers (expected on 6 April 2009), the Government has announced that the changes are likely to be delayed. In an unpublished letter sent on 18 March 2009 to Chief Housing Officers in […]
EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE The Incorporated Trustees of the National Council on Ageing (Age Concern England) v UK Case C 388/07A retirement age of 65 under Regulation 30 of the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 is capable of being justified. Further, the fact that Regulation 3, does not contain a precise list of the aims […]
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
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 […]
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 […]
