Etain Ní Fhearghail

Surveys show discrimination and prejudice towards the Traveller community

11 January 2021

A number of recent reports shine a stark light on the sub-standard conditions members of the Traveller community often live in.

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Coronavirus, Minority Groups, Outside NI

Case Law: Priority need and medical evidence

17 January 2020

In Guiste v Lambeth LBC (2019) WECA Civ 1758 the Court of Appeal in England and Wales once again considered the issue of vulnerability and priority need. The case concerned an application for homelessness assistance by a young man who was alleged to have both physical and mental health issues and who was found not to be in priority need by the council.

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Case law, Legal

Case Law: Priority need and medical evidence

17 January 2020

In Guiste v Lambeth LBC (2019) WECA Civ 1758 the Court of Appeal in England and Wales once again considered the issue of vulnerability and priority need. The case concerned an application for homelessness assistance by a young man who was alleged to have both physical and mental health issues and who was found not to be in priority need by the council.

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Case law, Legal

Concerns about sub-standard insulation in social and private homes

15 May 2019

A report has found that much of the cavity wall insulation in Housing Executive housing stock is below standard.

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Fitness, Social Tenancies

High Court declares plans to migrate SDP claimants to Universal Credit unlawful

5 May 2019

The High Court in England and Wales has ruled that the government’s Universal Credit migration arrangements for people who had been in receipt of a Severe Disability Premium and who naturally migrated to Universal Credit before 16 January 2019 are unlawful.

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Benefits, Case law

ADVISER: Challenging decision that applicant is intentionally homeless due to rent arrears

4 April 2019

Leanne, a recently separated mother of three, contacted Housing Rights for help in January of this year. Leanne had been renting a private tenancy, but was asked to leave this property when the fixed term ended. At that point, she had approached the Housing Executive for help as a homeless person in priority need, and NIHE placed her in a single let while they investigated her circumstances to see if she passed all four tests for homelessness.

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Homelessness, Adviser

Increase in queries about right to buy

3 April 2019

Advisers on our helpline are reporting an increase in calls about social housing tenants' right to buy their homes. This includes calls from lending institutions, who are also fielding multiple calls about the house sales scheme. It's likely that this buzz of activity has been spurred by speculation over the future of this scheme.

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Social Tenancies

New rules for shared housing

3 April 2019

A new system for licensing and managing Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) came into effect on 1 April 2019. The main changes are

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Regulation, Private Tenancies

CPAG and Leigh Day challenge UC assessment periods

2 December 2018

The High Court in England and Wales has recently heard a challenge relating to Universal Credit assessment periods. Joined claims from CPAG and Leigh Day solicitors were heard by the court on the 27 and 28 November.