MSB’s Social Housing Highlight – June 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
We had a fantastic time hosting our free in-person Hoarding Workshop. It was a great success, and we loved welcoming our clients to the lively drinks reception at Evuna on Wednesday evening. During our time at Housing 2024, we weren’t just sharing our own expertise, but actively building our knowledge base through the insightful conference sessions. We particularly enjoyed the opportunity to reconnect with colleagues and forge new connections in the housing sector.
Lots of exciting news this month! We have been appointed to the Communities and Housing Investment Consortium (CHIC) and the North West Consortium as an approved supplier to support their members with legal issues related to Housing and Property. Our Birmingham Office also officially opened this month, and MSB won an award for outstanding commitment to ED&I at the Employers Excellence Awards.
Hosted by Philip Coburn and Rachel Payne with special guest Gary Lewis of Cobden House, our free webinar this month explored the Equality Act in Social Housing. Thank you to all attendees! We also hosted some bespoke online and in-person training sessions for our valued clients. If you are interested in arranging training sessions with the MSB team, please contact dominiqueowens@msbsolicitors.co.uk.
Don’t forget – we also host MSB Live on the third Wednesday of every month which is a FREE online legal surgery, open to everyone. You will have access to a specialist housing solicitor to answer any queries you may have in a separate break out room. Our next surgery is on 17th July 2024.
This month, we also entered the Women in Property ‘Step into Summer’ challenge, raising money for Smart Works and Women in Sport by walking across 4 continents and through 16 countries as one big team challenge. We also celebrated the success of MSB Woolton Football Club at their annual presentation for the Junior Teams. 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.
We have been out and about a lot this month, with some of the team attending The Manchester Law Society Awards. Louise Murphy and Andrew Fairman also attended the Women in Housing/Housing Heroes awards at Housing 24. Andrew Fairman and Alicia Manchester attended the Resolve UK Regional Roundtable: North West as well.
Our Book Club reads this month are ‘Lover Birds’ by Leanne Egan, ‘Imposter’ by LJ Ross, ‘The Burnout’ by Sophie Kinsella and ‘Yellowface’ by Rebecca F Kuang. If you plan on reading any of our recommendations, we’d love to hear your thoughts! Your review could be included in our next Book Club newsletter.
Read the latest newsletter here.
Updates and insight
Louise Murphy shares some top tips for handling Housing Conditions claims
Julia Michalczyk summarises the recent case of R(FG) v Kensington and Chelsea which considered the duty to make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act
Andy Moore considers Shared Ownership Possession Proceedings
Phillip Coburn highlights the rules in relation to a witness statement
Michelle Summers considers the case of Triplark Limited v Whale & Ors which highlighted the importance of landlords giving consideration as to whether planned works might increase their tenant’s repairing obligations
Housing Law News
General Election
Rishi Sunak has called a general election 4th July. The dissolution of parliament took place on 30th May. Key pieces of Housing Legislation, the Renters Reform Bill and the Leasehold and Freehold Reform bill are therefore likely to fall until after the election.
Allocation of accommodation
The Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities have published updated guidance on social housing allocations for local housing authorities. Find the guidance here.
Upcoming events
3rd July 2024
Our next free webinar, ‘Customer Engagement’ is hosted by Louise Murphy and Tom Knox. Contact dominiqueowens@msbsolicitors.co.uk to secure your place. If you want to be added to our mailing list to receive updates on free training and events, please get in touch!
17th July 2024
Our next free online legal surgery will take place between 2pm and 4pm. Please get in touch with dominiqueowens@msbsolicitors.co.uk to sign up.
17th July 2024
Louise Murphy will be speaking at the Women in Social Housing North West’s online event on the Regulator’s Consumer Standards, along with Siobhan McCoy from Rochdale Boroughwide Housing and Kate Dodsworth from the Regulator. You can book a place at the event here.
Case of the month
Solicitors Regulation authority v Khan & Ors [2024] EWCA Civ 53
The case considers some important points surrounding the issue of capacity to litigate and contempt proceedings. Corale Holmes summarises the case here.
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.