Welfare Reform on the Web (April 2005): Social Housing - UK

HOUSING: BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

Environmental Audit Committee

London: TSO, 2005 (House of Commons papers, session 2004/05: HC135)

Committee comments on the Barker Review of Housing and the Sustainable Communities plan. Concludes that:

• infrastructure provision must run concurrently with housing construction;
• new housing should be constructed to higher average densities than at present, while maximising the use of brownfield sites;
• planning decisions about new housing should be made by elected bodies;
• current over-development of housing in the South East of England and under-development in the North and West should be challenged;
• house builders have to be made to raise their performance.

WHAT MAKES PUBLIC HOUSING FAIR?

A. Rowley

New Law Journal, vol 155, No 7167, 2005 p 354-5

Consistent with the long held views of the Office for Fair Trading, a Court of Appeal ruling supports the view that tenants in both private and public sector accommodation can in be protected by the Unfair Terms in Contract Regulations 1999 (S.I.1999/2083). The article reports on the case of R (on the application of Khatun) v LB Newham EWCA Civ. 55, explaining its practical implications including examples and consequences of unfair terms, covering House of Lords and OFT guidance and interpretation, and making recommendations to local authorities and users of pre- formulated tenancy agreements.