July 2013

The Department for Social Development (DSD) has indicated in the Housing Strategy Action Plan a need to establish a working group to identify ways of lessening the impact of repossession in Northern Ireland.  Following a recent consultation event the Committee for Social Development has made recommendations to the DSD to assist in the formulation of this working group.

Many applications for possession orders are made by lenders who have a second charge on the defendant’s home.  Carmel Ferguson, Solicitor and member of the Legal Team at Housing Rights Service, discusses the Chancery Court’s approach to these proceedings when the property is in negative equity.

On 1st July 2013 Croatia became the latest country to join the European Union. This means that Croatian citizens have the right of free movement within the countries included in the European Economic Area. However, the UK government has put in place provisions which will restrict the ability of Croatian nationals to access the UK labour market. These restrictions will last until at least 30th June 2018, but may be extended to 30th June 2020.