MSB’s Social Housing Highlight – January 2023
Bringing you all the latest updates from the world of Social Housing.
The latest at MSB
After our Christmas break, we are all back to work and raring to go. We came back to the lovely news that Tom Stockton and his partner got engaged – congratulations to them both! We also had the great news that Julia Michalczyk passed her Legal Practice Course (LPC) with distinction. Well done, Julia!
We hit the ground running on 4th January 2023 with Louise Murphy and Andrew Fairman delivering our free monthly webinar on Gender Neutral Legal Drafting and the team has also been out delivering bespoke training to organisations. If you are interested in arranging training sessions with the team, please contact dominiqueowens@msbsolicitors.co.uk.
We are proud to announce that MSB has been shortlisted for Law Firm of the Year at the Modern Law Awards and our Managing Partner Emma Carey has been shortlisted for Managing Partner of the Year. Our trainee solicitor Jess Jones has also been shortlisted for Sustainability Champion at the Made in Manchester Awards – keep your fingers crossed for us!
Some of the team got involved in the Lunar New Year celebrations by taking part in the Dragon Dance as part of the parade. We love supporting important local causes so if you have any projects you would like us to get involved with, please contact thomasstockton@msbsolicitors.co.uk.
Our social housing team is expanding rapidly which is very exciting. We have strengthened the team by hiring new trainee Solicitor, Sarah Sharples, four new paralegals, Jessica Masih, Aishath Ahmed, Abigail Eves and Connor O’Riley, and a new admin assistant, Sheena Wood. They are all great additions to the team and we are delighted to have them on board.
We have all been out and about this month. Andy Moore delivered some in person training on Antisocial Behaviour (ASB). Louise Murphy and Amy Tagoe delivered a programme of training on various aspects of Housing Management for a client. Amy Tagoe joined the Pro-Manchester City Net-walking event with Freshwalks. Julia Michalcyzk attended a Pro-Manchester event on achieving unstoppable growth and also attended Merseyside Junior Lawyers Division Winter Networking event with Aishath Ahmed and Abigail Eves. Andrew Fairman and Jess Jones attended an event on how to launch and embed a sustainability strategy and finally, some of the team also attended firm-wide LGBTQIA training.
Our recommended Book Club read this month is ‘How to kill your family”’ by Bella Mackie. Read the latest newsletter here.
Updates and insight
Louise Murphy discusses a recent case on whether a landlord is responsible for repairing a lift. Read More.
Julia Michalcyzk discusses a recent decision on residence requirements and indirect discrimination. Read More.
Andrew Fairman summarises what you need to know about the new Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022. Read More.
Jess Jones highlights how companies can ‘Go Green’ in the New Year. Read More.
Housing Law News
Fire Safety (England) Regulation
On 23rd January 2023 the regulations imposed an additional set of fire safety requirements.
Homeless Prevention Grant
On 23rd December 2022 DLUHC announced a Homeless Prevention Grant comprising of funding of £654 million, which would be available to target support at those who need it the most.
Rent Officers (Housing Benefit and Universal Credit Functions) (Modification) Order 2023
The order comes into force on 31st January 2023 to make changes to how the local housing allowance is determined.
Upcoming events
1st February 2023
Our next free webinar, ‘Drafting Witness Statements in Possession Proceedings’ is on 1st February 2023 via Zoom. 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.
8th February 2023
Louise Murphy is speaking at Liverpool Law Society Annual Online Disrepair Conference about disrepair and access.
9th February 2023
Louise Murphy is speaking at the CIH Northern Housing Festival about healthy homes and disrepair claims.
22nd April 2023
We are delighted to announce that MSB have entered a team for the Alder Hey Dragon Boat Race to raise money for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
Case of the month
Lovett v Wigan Borough Council [2022] EWCA Civ 1631
The Court of Appeal provided some clarity on sentencing in cases where there has been proven or admitted breaches of an Anti-Social Behaviour Injunction. Amy Tagoe discusses the case in more detail, below.