Data Protection Guide For Social Housing Landlords

HouseMark has partnered with Anthony Collins Solicitors to jointly publish a comprehensive guide to data protection and privacy, designed specifically for the sector. The guide will support landlords to:

–          Achieve legal and regulatory compliance

–          Examine the ethical issues surrounding data privacy

–          Realise the business benefits to be gained by building trust with tenants through the adoption of a fair and transparent approach to the collection and use of their data. The guide will assist tenants by providing clear information about their rights in relation to the protection of their privacy. Download a copy from HouseMark.

Landlords Threaten Legal Action over Right to Buy Extension

Sector leaders would challenge any government attempt to extend the Right to Buy policy for housing associations in court. The Conservatives are widely reported to be planning to include an extension of the controversial policy to housing association tenants in its forthcoming election manifesto. Housing association tenants can access the right to acquire – which gives less generous discounts – or preserved Right to Buy if their landlord’s stock was transferred from the local authority. David Montague, chief executive of L&Q, said he ‘would be surprised if it wasn’t challenged legally’. Read more on Inside Housing.

Housing Benefit Challenge Set For Appeal Court

The legality of housing benefit changes is to be challenged after lawyers for 10 adults and children with disabilities won the right to take their cases to the Court of Appeal. The appeal is against a High Court ruling in July that upheld the legality of the benefit changes. Read more on the BBC website.

Government Propose New FIT Cut Date

The government has moved to address the uncertainty surrounding the feed-in tariff by proposing a cut from 3 March if the government loses its legal battle. In a ministerial statement to parliament, Energy Secretary Chris Huhne said that the government stood by the proposals in its consultation that saw the FIT slashed from 43p/kWh to 21p/kWh from 12 December. However, Mr Huhne said that to provide certainty, in the event the government loses its legal appeal against a High Court ruling that the cut was unlawful, he would introduce a cut from 3 March to 21p/kWh. Admitting the government was unsure when the Court of Appeal decision would be made, Mr Huhne said: ‘I know that the uncertainty while we await the court’s decision is difficult for the industry.’ Read more on Inside Housing.

Human Rights Ruling Halts Eviction

Councils could face increased pressure not to evict tenants who go into arrears after a Supreme Court ruling. Hounslow Council tried to evict Rebecca Powell, 23, because she owed more than £3,500 in arrears. The council had housed her in temporary accommodation after she became homeless in April 2007. She was entitled to £15,000 in housing benefit but had not applied for it properly. The council began eviction procedures, but stopped when Ms Powell appealed under the Human Rights Act. The Supreme Court ruled last week that under the European Convention on Human Rights it would be wrong to evict Ms Powell as it would be a breach of ‘respect for a person’s home’. The judge said the council had not considered whether it was ‘proportionate’ to evict her. Read more on Inside Housing.