MSB’s Social Housing Highlight – February 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
We will soon be launching an online legal surgery, MSB Live! It will be held on 3rd Wednesday of every month between 2pm and 4pm. It will be hosted by the team, and we will be there to answer any legal queries, from housing management, asset and property management to governance and ASB. There will be private break out rooms within the virtual legal surgery for you to discuss any legal queries confidentially with a specialist solicitor. More information about how to register your place for the legal surgery will be sent out soon. Watch this space!
Don’t forget we also offer in person legal surgeries, so please get in touch if you would like us to arrange one. We love visiting our client’s offices, especially if they have nice biscuits!
Our free webinar this month was hosted by Louise Murphy, Tom Stockton and Beth McKeown who covered Housing Conditions Claims and Awaab’s Law. There were over 100 attendees. Thank you to everyone who joined us for the session, we had some great feedback. We also hosted some bespoke online training sessions for clients on disrepair, injunctions, anti-money laundering and shared ownership.
The team have also been invited to speak at several conferences this month, with Andy Moore speaking about legal reforms for cuckooing and county lines at the Preventing and Disrupting Cuckooing Victimisation Conference at Leeds University, and Amy Tagoe spoke about tackling cuckooing in Social Housing at the HQN Housing Management Annual Conference. If you are interested in arranging training sessions with the team, please contact dominiqueowens@msbsolicitors.co.uk.
Several of our team attended a fantastic event on 16th February arranged by our paralegal Abbigail Eves, alongside Bradbury Fields, to raise money for their organisation. The sensory soiree “dining in the dark” experience was a huge success raising £1036.14 to support those living with sensory loss.
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 also been out and about this month, with Amy Tagoe attending a Women in Property walk in Marple and a late lunch in Liverpool, Julia Michalczyk and Alicia Manchester attended a LGBTQ+ and Allies networking event with pro-Manchester. Andy Moore and Andrew Fairman attended a Liverpool Law Society celebration following us winning “outstanding team in Dispute Resolution and Litigation”. And finally, Beth McKeown and Alicia Manchester attended a Pro-Manchester EDI brunch.
Our Book Club reads this month are ‘Stone Blind’ By Natalie Haynes, ‘In Memoriam’ by Alice Winn and ‘The Twyford Code’ by Janice Hallett. 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
Beth McKeown summaries the Regulator of Social Housing’s new standards.
Andy Moore summarises the key proposals from the Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities consultation on reforms to social housing allocations.
Rachael Payne considers the recent Court of Appeal decision in relation to Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Michelle Summers summarises the key points in the latest Housing Ombudsman report ‘Spotlight on: Attitudes, respect and rights – Relationship of Equals.
Aishath Ahmed explains more about the crucial changes Registered Providers need to be aware of in relation to the Housing Ombudsman’s complaints handling codes.
Phillip Coburn discusses a recent High Court decision on council tax liability.
Michelle Summers considers a recent Court of Appeal decision in relation to relief from sanctions.
Amy Tagoe explains what is meant by cuckooing and how social landlords can tackle it.
Some insights from our other teams at MSB
David Tartellin in our civil litigation team discusses Prince Harry and Part 36 offers.
Helen Schofield in our residential team explains remortgaging in 2024.
Emma Palmer head of our family team discusses honour based abuse.
Housing Law News
New Consumer Standards for Social Housing
On 29th February 2024, the Regulator of Social Housing published their new consumer standards, which will be in force from 1st April 2024. Beth McKeown explains more above.
Awwab’s Law: Consultation on timescales for repairs in the social rented sector
On 9th January 2024, the Housing Secretary launched a consultation proposing new legal requirements in relation to timescales for repairs. The consultation will run for 8 weeks. You can find the consultation documents, here.
Consultation on reforms to Social Housing Allocations
On 30th January 2024, the Department for Levelling up Housing and Communities (DLUHC) launched a consultation on reforms to Social Housing Allocations. The consultation will run until 26th March 2024. You can find the consultation documents, here and Andy Moore summarises the key points above.
Consultation on Competence and Conduct Standard for Social Housing
On 6th February 2024, the DLUHC launched a consultation on regulatory Competence and Conduct Standard for social hosing staff. The consultation closes on 2nd April 2024. For the consultation documents see, here.
Complaint Handling Code
On 8th February 2024, the Housing Ombudsman and the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman launched their complaint handling codes which will become statutory from 1st April 2024. Aishath Ahmed explains more above.
Value for Money Metrics
On 15th February 2024, the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) published its value for money metrics and reporting for 2023. For a copy of the report see, here.
Fire safety remediation in social housing in England
On 22nd February 2024, RSH published a report highlighting the responsibility of boards and councillors to understand landlords legal obligations in relation to managing building safety. A copy of the report can be found, here.
Civil Procedure Amendment Rules
The amendment rules will come into force on 6th April 2024 and are published, here.
Upcoming events
6th March 2024, 10.00am
Our next free webinar The Future of ASB Management is hosted by Andy Moore who will be joined by Janine Green. 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.
7th March 2024
We will be celebrating world book day by raising money for the world book day charity. We will be hosting a bake sale and dressing up as our favourite literary characters.
7th March 2024, 4.00pm
International Women’s Day 2024 with Women in Property and Women in Social Housing. Join us where we will be celebrating female achievement and networking at Sunset by Australasia.
26th March 2024, 10am
Join Louise Murphy, Tom Knox and Kate Dodsworth Chief of Regulatory Engagement at RSH at our free webinar via zoom, where they will discuss the expected consumer standards, the removal of the serious detriment test and the self-referral process.
Case of the month
Nightingale & Anor v Bromford Housing Association [2023] EWHC 136 (KB)
Amy Tagoe reviews the case which highlights the importance of considering proportionality throughout proceedings.