MSB’s Social Housing Highlight – November

Bringing you all the latest updates from the world of Social Housing.

The latest at MSB

November was another busy month for the Social Housing team. Tom Stockton and Amy Tagoe delivered some free training via Zoom with an Update on Housing Disrepair Claims and the Homes Act. It was a great turnout – thank you to everyone who attended.

Amy Tagoe, Andrew Fairman and Andy Moore have also been delivering some bespoke training to some of our clients on various issues in Housing Law. If you are interested in booking bespoke training for yourself or your business, please contact dominiqueowens@msbsolicitors.co.uk.

During Black History Month, we were raising money as a firm for the Mary Seacole Statue Campaign. We managed to raise over £3,400. If you want to show your support, it’s not too late to donate, here.

Throughout November we have also been collecting advent calendars for local charity, Aid. We collected so many that we were able to donate some to local food banks, too!

The fundraising doesn’t stop there – Louise Murphy and her family have been raising money to buy music equipment for a local school. They have walked one million steps as a family and Louise and her husband have done sober November, raising almost £1,000 so far! If you would like to donate, click here.

We have also recently started a book club for the avid readers in the team. Our read of the month, as recommended by Rachael Payne, is The Midnight Library by Matt Haig – we’re looking forward to sharing our thoughts on it!

As always, the team have been keeping up to date with developments in housing law and have written some useful blogs, with Louise Murphy providing some top tips for dealing with Hoarding in Social Housing and Phillip Coburn providing an update on the current position with tenancy deposits.

Housing law news

Possession Proceedings Guidance

As of 1st November the “Overall Arrangements for Possession Proceedings” brought in on 17th September 2020 have come to an end. Read the Master of the rolls statement, here.
This means an end to review hearings prior to substantive listings but PD55C will still remain in force.

Domestic Abuse

On 1st November the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 S79 was brought into force. This requires Local Authorities to grant current or former victims of domestic violence lifetime secure tenancies, when housing them or rehousing them for reasons connected with the abuse.

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms 

On 23rd November 2021 the Government announced that smoke alarms must be fitted in all rented accommodation. Carbon monoxide alarms must also be fitted in properties with fixed appliances such as gas boilers or fires. Landlords and housing provers must also repair or replace smoke and carbon monoxide alarms once they are told they are faulty.

For more information or advice on any of these issues, please contact us.

Upcoming events

5th January 2022 

Our next free webinar, ‘Witness Statements for ASB Injunctions’ is coming up with Andy Moore and Andrew Fairman! Please email dominiqueowens@msbsolicitors.co.uk to book your place.

Christmas Availability 

Please note: Our office will be closed from 5pm on 23rd December 2021 until 9am on 4th January 2022. We will be available to deal with arrests during this time.  Please use our out of hours contact number 07516508387.