MSB’s Social Housing Highlight – April 2024
Welcome to MSB’s monthly Social Housing Newsletter!
Bringing you all the latest updates from the world of Social Housing.
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The latest at MSB
Exciting news! Beth McKeown has been shortlisted for Woman of the Future at this year’s Women in Housing Awards. We are very proud.
We have lots more exciting news this month with the announcement that we are opening not one, but two new offices in Birmingham and Chester.
We have also had two gender reveals in the office and are very happy to add two more baby boys to our MSB family.
Our free webinar this month was hosted by Andy Moore along with Melissa Bosoboe and Nicola Garret from our Commercial Property team, who covered Right to Buy and Right to Acquire. We also hosted some bespoke online training sessions for some of our clients.
If you are interested in arranging training sessions with the team, please contact dominiqueowens@msbsolicitors.co.uk.
Our Head of Social Housing and Regeneration, Louise Murphy, offered her expertise to legal professionals at Westminster Insight’s ‘Effective Complaint Handling in Housing’ Digital Conference this month.
Abigail Eaves and Aishath Ahmed attended a careers fair for young people with a visual impairment. You can read all about it here. It was inspiring to meet such passionate and enthusiastic young people. We love supporting great causes, so if you have any projects you would like us to get involved with, please contact thomasstockton@msbsolicitors.co.uk.
A huge well done to Diane Parker-Allan who successfully completed her Civil and Commercial Mediation course and passed with flying colours!
We have been out and about a lot this month, with Louise Murphy and Tom Stockton attending the Levelling Up Business Lunch with Angela Rayner and Angela Eagle. Amy Tagoe attended the Women in Social Housing Awards lunch and was the regional winner for the North West!
It hasn’t been all lunches, dinners and days out though – we have also attended events to keep us up to date on new developments. Louise Murphy and Beth McKeown attended the NHF Virtual Board network. Beth also attended the HDN Board Diversity Conference in Leeds. Raihan Arif provided some internal training on Ramadan and Eid Awareness, and we all celebrated Eid with some delicious home-cooked food.
Our Book Club reads this month are ‘Arthur and Teddy are Coming Out’ by Ryan Love, ‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’ by Taylor Jenkins Reid, ‘The Cove’ by LJ Ross and ‘Who Moved My Cheese’ by Dr Spencer Johnson. If you are going to give any of the books we have recommended a read, please tell us your thoughts and we can add your review to our book club newsletter!
Read the latest newsletter here.
Updates and insight
Thomas Knox discusses the Regulator of Social Housing’s new Consumer Regulation regime.
Julia Michalczyk considers some recent Upper Tribunal decisions on rent increases.
Amy Tagoe shares what Registered Social Landlords can do about tenants with messy gardens.
Aishath Ahmed considers Data Protection in the Housing Sector.
Jess Masih summarises the second reading of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill.
Some insights from our other teams at MSB
Jennifer Carr from our private client family team discusses what is stalking during National Stalking Awareness week.
Helen Schofield from our Residential Conveyancing team shares her top tips for first time buyers.
Housing Law News
Spotlight on Noise Complaints
On 16th April 2024, the Housing Ombudsman published its evaluation following its Spotlight on Noise Complaints which was published in October 2022. The evaluation can be found here.
Shared Ownership
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) have published a report on shared ownership. The report calls for the Government to reform how shared ownership schemes currently operate. A copy of the report can be found here.
Right to Buy
DLUHC have published updated guidance on the Right to Buy. For a copy of the guidance click here.
Housing Ombudsman’s proposed approach to good practice
A consultation has been launched on the Ombudsman’s proposed approach to good practice. The consultation will run until 21st May. More information can be found here.
Upcoming events
1st May 10.00am
Our next free webinar, ‘Compliance’, is hosted by Andrew Fairman and Julia Michalczyk. Please email dominiqueowens@msbsolicitors.co.uk to book your place. If you want to be added to our mailing list to receive updates on free training and events, please get in touch.
15th May 2024
Our next free online legal surgery will take place between 2pm and 4pm. Please email dominiqueowens@msbsolicitors.co.uk to book your place.
16th May 2024
CIH Connections North West at Blackburn House, Liverpool. 1-4pm. For more information see here.
21st May 2024
Louise Murphy is speaking at Westminster Insight’s Conference on Damp and Mould in Social Housing. For more information about how you can join the conference click here.
Case of the month
Lowe v The Governors of Sutton’s Hospital in Charterhouse [2024] EWHC 646 (Ch)
Michelle Summers summarises the recent case which considers Prescribed Information and Tenancy Deposits.
Contact us, we are here to help
We’re here to help, so please pick up the phone or drop us an email and one of our dedicated team will help with your enquiry.