Tom Wainwright has successfully secured the acquittal of a participant in the ‘Critical Mass’ protest which took place on the opening night of the Olympic Games following a four-day appeal at Southwark Crown Court.
Rebecca Hill and Tom Stoate have successfully defended two defendants charged with aggravated trespass arising out of a protest on the roof of the headquarters of security firm G4S. They had been protesting against the company's alleged unlawful involveme
Garden Court Chambers Housing Team has submitted a response to the Home Office consultation “Tackling illegal immigration in privately rented accommodation”. In our response, we set out why we are wholly opposed to the proposals to require private landlor
Housing Law News Legal aid for housing cases: the Low Commission is looking at the impact of legal aid reform on areas of social welfare law, including housing. It has closed its evidence-gathering phase but is now seeking views of those working in and around the advice sector on its draft report and emerging recommendations. […]
Brenda Campbell is due to speak at the 'Beyond Law: The UN mechanisms for the protection of human rights' event , which runs from 2-5 September 2013. The event aims to provide a practical introduction to how UN human rights can be applied in practice.
Housing Law News Possession claims against tenants: on 8 August 2013 the latest official statistics on landlord possession claims in the county court were released. 39,293 claims were issued in the three months March to June 2013 and during the same period bailiffs executed over 9000 possession warrants for landlords. For the full figures, click […]
Immigration Law News The Home Office has amended both the guidance for points-based system (PBS) dependants and the application forms for Tier 4 (Child) applications; Tier 2 Priority Dependant applications; Tier 1, 2 or 5 Dependant applications and Tier 4 Dependant applications. For further information, click here. Immigration Law Cases Che, R (on the application […]
Immigration Law News The statement of changes in the Immigration Rules (Cm 8690) came into force on 1 August 2013. The accompanying Explanatory Note sets out that: "The purpose of these changes is to amend the Immigration Rules to: Incorporate compulsory screening for active pulmonary tuberculosis for migrants coming to the UK for over six […]
Housing Law News Housing costs and welfare benefits: the House of Commons Library has updated several of its helpful free briefing notes on issues around rent, other housing costs and benefits. For Under-occupation of social housing: Housing Benefit entitlement, click here. For Measures to reduce Housing Benefit expenditure – an overview, click here. For Paying […]
In a case likely to determine whether a woman will be able to live a relatively healthy long life or whether she will face an extremely distressing and undignified death within weeks, Roseline Akhalu last week won the latest - and her supporters hope the
A woman who moved-out temporarily while a council repaired her home still holds her tenancy eight years later, the Court of Appeal rules.
Housing Law News Last minute housing appeals: mortgage borrowers and tenants in rent arrears often make last minute applications to stay or suspend warrants for possession, even on the very eve of eviction. If an application is refused by a district judge, an appeal can be made to a circuit judge. In London, an increasing […]
Immigration Law Cases CW (Jamaica) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2013] EWCA Civ 915 23 July 2013CW challenged the UTIAC’s dismissal of his appeal against ‘automatic deportation’ on two grounds: (1) inadequate enquiry by the UT into the consequences for his children of his deportation; (2) SSHD’s (and UT’s) inadequate regard to […]
Employment Case Law European Court of Human Rights Article 6(1) | Delay Plut and Bicanic-Plut v Slovenia – 7709/06 – Chamber Judgment [2013] ECHR 70618 July 2013The Applicant is a Slovenian national. She brought proceedings against her former employer in the domestic labour court on 27 October 1998. The entire proceedings before the domestic court, […]
Housing Law News Private rented sector: on 18 July 2013 the House of Commons Communities & Local Government Committee published the report of its inquiry into the private rented sector in England and made numerous recommendations. For the report, click here. Prosecuting rogue private landlords: on 18 July 2013 the UK Government wrote to every […]
Immigration Law News 19 July 2013. Dublin III Regulation enters into force. The European Union’s Regulation No 604/2013 heralding the arrival of the Common European Asylum System. This will impact upon asylum seekers ability to seek protection in Europe. Bar Standards Board reviews the regulation of immigration advice and services – praise for the quality […]
News The Secretary of State will suspend decision making in Appendix FM cases which turn on maintenance alone in the light of MM & Ors v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2013] EWHC 1900 (Admin) (there is a note to such effect on ILPA’s members-only website). In a new report, Amnesty International shows […]
Housing Law News Impact of welfare reform on rents: today (15 July 2013) the overall benefit cap of £500pw (families) and £350 (singles) comes into effect nationally. For tenants, the cap will be achieved by cutting housing benefit so that the overall weekly total of benefits does not exceed the cap. The Chartered Institute of […]
Employment News Employment Law reform: timetable for protected conversationsThe government has made an Order to the effect that the new rules regarding protected conversations and settlement agreements will take effect from 29 July 2013 (i.e. the same day as the commencement of Tribunal fees). Judicial reviews of Tribunal feesIn an ongoing judicial review of Employment […]
In a landmark judgment which the UK government has already aired its "profound disagreement" with, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights has ruled that whole-life prison sentences without review are inhuman and degrading. Pete Weatherby
