NEWS Tunisia has been in a state of emergency since ousted President Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia on 14th January 2011 amid widespread anti government protests. To read further, click here. CASES Suppiah and Others [2011] EWHC 2 (Admin) Mr Justice Wyn Williams found that two failed asylum seekers ( mothers and their respective […]
The Garden Court Housing Team today lodged its response to the Coalition Government’s consultation paper on the reform of social housing laws in England. The response covers housing allocation, homelessness, tenure reform, empty housing and the housing provisions of the Localism Bill. Based on their considerable expertise in the Housing field, the Team members offer […]
The trial of six climate change campaigners has collapsed after the prosecution offered no evidence at trial
The Latest Housing Law News Reforming Social Housing: the majority of the proposed reforms to social housing in England will be implemented through enactment of the Localism Bill (Part 6). The House of Commons Second Reading of the Bill is scheduled to take place next week (17 January 2011). The Explanatory Notes, written by civil […]
Cases HM and others (PBS- legitimate expectation – paragraph 245ZX(I)) Malawi [2010] UKUT 446 (IAC)The Upper Tribunal found that firstly, for the purpose of relevant Points Based System (PBS) applications, funds are "available" to a claimant at the material time if they are under his control in an overseas bank account. Secondly, the Secretary of […]
The Latest Housing Law News Allocating Social Housing: on 21 December 2010 the latest figures were released on lettings of homes by social landlords in England. They provide the most up to date estimates on who got what social housing tenancies and where. For the full data tables, click here. Legal Help on Housing Issues: […]
As 2010 draws to a close, Garden Court barristers have once again been at the forefront of the law as these recent cases demonstrate.
The Legal Services Commission has unsuccessfully appealed the decision of Hickinbottom J in R (Humberstone) v Legal Services Commission.
Court of Appeal Procedure Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service v Tilke [2010] EWCA Civ 1402The Respondent was successful in its appeal to the EAT on a finding of unfair constructive dismissal save that the EAT remitted the matter to the same Employment Tribunal for re-hearing. The Court of Appeal held that in the […]
The Latest Housing Law News New housing legislation for England: last week the Coalition Government introduced the Localism Bill in the UK Parliament. Part 6 deals with almost every dimension of housing law. It contains proposed new rules on: allocation of social housing; homelessness; security of tenure in social housing; succession rights; disrepair; an expanded […]
Cases O’Donoghue and Others v The United Kingdom (Application no. 34848/07)The Strasbourg Court found that a Nigerian national with discretionary leave and a dual Irish/UK national were permitted to marry only after the UK’s Certificate of Approval scheme was amended following unfavourable lower court decisions. Even so, they could not afford the fee and were […]
The Court of Appeal held, by a majority of 2:1, that the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is prohibited from making deductions from ongoing benefits to recover a social security debt listed on a Debt Relief Order.
News The Government sets out proposals for major reform of the student visa system. For full details, click here. The UKBA announce that from 10 January 2011, English language students wishing to attend exclusively English language courses will be able to apply for a student visitor visa allowing them to stay for up to 11 […]
The Latest Housing Law News Private renting and the Energy Bill 2010: last week the Coalition Government introduced the Energy Bill in the UK Parliament. Among other matters it addresses energy efficiency (or the lack of it) in private rented housing. The residential private rented sector has the largest proportion of lowest-rated (EPC band G) […]
Employment Appeal Tribunal Amendment Parveen v International Dance Shoes Ltd and Aulakh UKEAT/0447/10/LAThe Employment Tribunal had erred in refusing to allow the Claimant to join an individual as a Respondent as she was out of time. She had stated in her ET1 that she wanted to do so but did not know his surname and […]
The Latest Housing Law News Central Government Housing Policy: in November 2010 the Coalition Government published the DCLG Business Plan 2011-2015. It states that an objective for the department is to meet people’s housing aspirations, including by providing local authorities with strong and transparent incentives to facilitate housing growth, as well as making the provision […]
News UKBA has issued a response to Channel 4’s Dispatches programme on child asylum cases as broadcast on 29 November. For the response, click here. UKBA has published an updated version of its summary guidance to help employers understand the law on illegal working and what they need to do to comply. For more information, […]
The Latest Housing Law News New arrangements on allocation, homelessness and tenancies of social housing: on 22 November 2010 the coalition government published its proposals for radical reform of social housing in the form of a consultation paper to which responses are sought by 17 January 2011. The paper covers: (1) the new Affordable Rent […]
News The UKBA announced last week its proposed limits on non-EU economic migration. They are to set an annual limit of 20,700 for applications under Tier 2 and a further 1000 under the exceptional talent route. They are also proposing raising to £40,000 the minimum salary for those coming under the Tier 2 (Intra company […]
Garden Court Chambers successfully launched Garden Court International - a specialist International Advice and Litigation Team on 5 November 2010.
