The Government’s response to the consultation on reforms to civil litigation and costs (the Jackson reforms) has now been released.
The full response can be downloaded here [pdf] and the associated impact assessment is here [pdf]
The press release is here.
In short, the Government intends to go ahead with its original proposals. From the perspective of HLPA members, some things are not at all clear.
While a 10% uplift in general damages is envisaged, in part to replace the success fees payable by the Defendant, this is referred to at some points as being solely [... read more]
It has been announced that the Public Sector Equality Duty provisions of the Equality Act 2010 are to come into force on 6 April 2011.
The Government Equalities Office page has the following available for download:
- *Draft regulations on the specific duties;
- *Draft order amending Schedule 19, listing the public bodies to which the duty applies;
- *A ‘Quick Start’ guide for Public Sector Organisations;
- *Equalities and Human Rights Commission Guidance.
There will be a discussion of HLPA’s response to the proposed legal aid reforms at the meeting of 19 January 2011. Members are asked to bring a copy of the questionnaire to the consultation with them to the meeting. The consultation questionnaire can be downloaded here [doc]
It is time for membership renewals – and the best time of year for new members to join for a full year of benefits.
This year, there is a 10% discount on the standard membership rates for members who renew their membership before 31 Janaury 2011.
There is an additional 10% (20% total) discount for new members who join before 31 January 2011 or a 10% discount for new members who join after 31 January 2011. There has never been a better time to join HLPA.
Membership details and the membership form are on the ‘Join HLPA’ page.
Available here.
This includes virtually all of the housing and homelessness proposals in the Green Paper consulation on social housing reform, even though the closing date for the consultation is 17 January 2011.
Karen Buck MP has been allocated an adjournment debate on Tuesday 14th December 9.30 – 11 am at Westminster Hall, the House of Commons. The subject is ‘Legal Aid’.
This is an opportunity to inform MPs about the issues in the Green Paper and how it will affect their constituents. HLPA members could contact their MPs, both home and for the area in which they practice, with an outline of the issues and encourage their MP to attend.
HLPA members Robert Latham and Ben Chataway ran a workshop on housing and legal at the Legal Aid Conference: Social Welfare Law Matters on 12 November 2010. The workshop paper is available here [doc], and although pre-dating the Green Paper reforms, sets out the current position and costs of housing legal aid, and the benefits to individuals, communities, and society that flow from it.
New forums for HLPA members to discuss the Legal Aid and Social Housing reform proposals and HLPA’s response are open. For the Legal Aid reforms forum, go here. For the Social Housing Reforms forum, go here.
The Ministry of Justice has issued the green paper on reform of Legal Aid for consultation. Responses are required by 14 February 2011. The proposals will have a major impact on housing law practitioners and on their prospective clients. The consulation paper can be downloaded here.
The DCLG has issued the Social Housing Reform green paper, which can be downloaded here. Responses [... read more]
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But that isn’t what it says…
[Edited 16/05/2012 to correct the s.47(2) point]
Beitov Properties Ltd v Elliston Martin [2012] UKUT 133 (LC) is, I suspect, going to cause some sleepless nights for managing agents of long leasehold properties (and, possibly, some other agents and landlords).
Section 47, Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 applies to all demands for rent (whether ground rent or “normal” rent), service charges and administration charges. It requires that all written demands for payment of such sums must “contain… the name and address of the [... read more]
