MSB’s Social Housing Highlight – May 2024
Welcome to MSB’s monthly Social Housing Newsletter!
Bringing you all the latest updates from the world of Social Housing.
We now have our own LinkedIn page. Please follow us for regular updates and insights in the world of Social Housing and Regeneration.
The latest at MSB
Exciting news! We have a new solicitor in the team – we welcome Kim White who joined us earlier this month and we are happy to have her on board. We also have a new Trainee Solicitor, Corale Holmes, who joins us from MSB’s commercial property team. They are both great additions to the team.
Our free webinar this month was hosted by Andrew Fairman and Julia Michalczyk, from the team who covered Compliance. We also hosted some bespoke online training sessions for clients. If you are interested in arranging training sessions with the team, please contact: dominiqueowens@msbsolicitors.co.uk
Don’t forget, we also host MSB Live on the third Wednesday of every month – a free online legal surgery that anyone can join. 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 19th June 2024.
We have also been speaking at events this month, with Louise Murphy speaking at Westminster Insight’s Solutions to Damp and Mould Conference and Andrew Fairman at Resolve ASB’s workshop on the Equality Act and recent Housing Ombudsman Service Report.
We also sponsored CIH North West Connections event at Blackburne House in Liverpool, where we heard from some very inspirational speakers, and had a great opportunity to network with our people in the sector.
We were supporting Hoarding Awareness Week from 13th-17th May, holding a coffee morning in our Cheshire Office to raise money for Hoarding UK. 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. You and find all of our advice and top tips on hoarding on our LinkedIn Page including a Vlog from Andrew Fairman which can be found here.
We are hosting a hoarding workshop in our Manchester office on 26th June 2024, see below for details of how to book on.
We have been out and about a lot this month with Amy Tagoe and Corale Holmes attending a Women in Property Wine Tasting event at Fazenda Liverpool. Andy Moore, Amy Tagoe, Julia Michalczyk, and Nicola Garrett were also part of an MSB team who competed at the Annual Dragon Boat Festival to raise money for Alder Hey. We only finished 9th this year out of 16, so we will be booking in some training sessions before next year! At least we raised money for a great cause and didn’t get too wet!
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 go, please let us know your thoughts and we can add your review to our book club newsletter. Read the latest newsletter here.
Updates and insight
Louise Murphy shares her top tips for dealing with hoarding in Social Housing
Kim White sets out the legal requirements landlords must comply with when using an Assured Shorthold Tenancy
Rachael Payne considers Lowe v The Governors of Sutton Hospital in Charter House decision in relation to Tenancy Deposits
Andrew Moore provided a guest blog for Green & Burton Associates on Good Practice in Proceedings for Contempt of Court
Louise Murphy explains the importance of preparation in relation to Awaab’s Law
Housing Law News
General Election
Rishi Sunak has called for a general election on the 4th of July. The dissolution of parliament will be on the 30th of 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.
Housing Ombudsman Residents Panel
On the 9th of May 2024, the Housing Ombudsman appointed its new Residents Panel, with 1,500 residents from across the county to share their views on Social Housing.
The Finances and Sustainability of the Social Housing Sector
On the 8th of May, the House of Commons Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee published their report on the Finances and Sustainability of the Social Housing Sector. You can read more here.
Regulator of Social Housing Fee’s Consultation
On the 8th of May, the Regulator of Social Housing published the outcome of its consultation on fees. For a copy of the consultation, see here and for a copy of the letter sent to Registered Providers see here.
Upcoming events
5th June 2024
Our next free webinar, the Equality Act in Social Housing, is hosted by Phillip Coburn and Rachael Payne who are joined by Gary Lewis of Cobden Housing Chambers. 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.
19th June 2024
Our next free online legal surgery will take place between 2pm and 4pm. Please email: dominiqueowens@msbsolicitors.co.uk to book your place.
24th June 2023
Beth McKeown has been shortlisted for an award at the Women in Housing/Housing Hero’s awards. She has been shortlisted for Woman of the Future. Good Luck Beth!
26th June 2024
Our free in person Hoarding workshop will be held at our Hardman Square Office in Manchester. For more information about how you can join the event click here.
26th June 2024
On the 26th of June 2024, we’ll be hosting ‘Sangria and Social Housing’ – an evening of networking, food, and drinks at Manchester’s Evuna from 5pm-9pm. We would love to see you there. Email: dominiqueowens@msbsolicitors.co.uk to be added to the guest list.
Case of the month
E v The London Borough of Lambeth
The County Court case deals with damages in claims where a property is unfit for habitation. Beth McKeown 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.