Nearly Legal: Housing Law News and Comment

With thanks to Will Ford (Osbornes Law) for this guest post about an important recent decision of the UT(AAC) Housing Benefit rules on absences abroad found to be unlawfully discriminatory Michaela Kuželová v (1) The London Borough of Barnet (2) The Secre…

Sarah Cummins and Robin Stewart Harvey v Heaver [2026] EWHC 1671 (KB) This is the first binding higher court judgment on the meaning of unfitness for human habitation in sections 9A and 10 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 as amended by the Homes (Fitne…

Stonewater Limited v Rosie Marie Harris [2026] EWCC 42 The Claimant Landlord had obtained an injunction ordering the Defendant Tenant to provide access for an electrical inspection.

R (Griffiths-Fowell) v Birmingham City Council [2026] EWCA Civ 920 This Court of Appeal decision deals with the circumstances in which the main housing duty can be ended, and whether accommodation offered must be suitable for the main housing duty to be d…

R (on the application of Bano) v London Borough of Waltham Forest [2026] UKSC22 Bano has its origins in the acceptance of a housing duty on 23 February 2017, concluding just over 9 years later in the supreme court.

Thank you to everyone who kindly offered to join the NL writing staff.

I am sorry that the site has been down for a few days.

Several of you have asked (whether in comments or in emails) about whether there will be a live stream of the funeral.

The funeral will be at noon on 22 May 2026 and will take place at Harwood Park Crematorium https://www.crematorium.co.uk/ The wider housing law world is very welcome to join us in celebrating and mourning Giles.

I am very sorry to announce that Giles passed away over the weekend.

I am afraid that the site is on pause for an indeterminate period, due to circumstances beyond my control.

Taylor Clark Ltd v Mohamed (unreported, Central London County Court, 5 March 2026) (note of case here via Falcon Chambers) This was a count court hearing, before DJ Le Bas, in which the issue of injunctions to permit the landlord to force access to the te…