From 30 September 2021 certain Civil and Family Court fees in England and Wales have increased. The reason for the increase? Largely, to keep fees in line with inflation.

Residential landlords will be able to seek possession on pre-pandemic notice periods from 1 October 2021, but need to keep alert to changes as economic or public health challenges may see timelines extended once again to protect tenants. 

As we move into the school holidays, we are seeing an increase in instructions for removing unauthorised encampments from land. Given the lack of affordable housing, traveller sites and, now, holiday accommodation in hot spot areas, we expect to see a big rise in unauthorised encampments across popular visitor sites.

Following the continued support for tenants from the Government as Covid restrictions ease, the new notice periods have now come into force.

From 18 May 2021 there will be an increase in the Court fee payable for the issue of an online possession claim through the possession claims online portal.

Housing Minister Rt Hon Christopher Pincher has announced that a new National Model Design Code (NMDC) is being tested to make sure new developments are well-designed, fit in with local character and are locally-led.

On 12 May 2021, the government announced that “tenants will continue to be supported as national COVID-10 restrictions ease”.

A new Form 3 (the section 8 notice) came into force on 4 May 2021. There is no new information to be inserted on the form but you should be alert to the following:

The 2020 Regulations will apply to most debts accrued before or after 4 May 2021 which include arrears of rent, whether that be due to benefits being used for something other than housing, there is an issue with a tenant’s benefits claim or a temporary reduction in income caused by Covid-19.

The proposed design of a new tax on the largest residential property developers set to raise at least £2 billion to help contribute to the cost of cladding remediation work was announced by the government. Ministers announced the new tax in February as part of a £5 billion package of remediation of unsafe cladding on high-rise residential buildings, alongside wider support.

For many homebuyers, the idea of building your own home may seem an unrealistic prospect. Difficulties obtaining mortgage finance and a lack of funds for upfront costs mean that perhaps in the past this has been an option limited to wealthier buyers.

Mediation is a form of Alternative Dispute Resolution (‘ADR’) where an independent person, the mediator, helps both sides of a dispute come to an agreement.