Category: Housing and Social Welfare Blog

Can Landlords Refuse Pets? Tenants’ Rights Under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 changes the rules on keeping pets in rented properties, giving private tenants greater protection against unreasonable refusals. Find out how to request permission, when landlords can refuse, whether additional charges are allowed and what legal options are available if a request is rejected. Edwards Duthie Shamash explains your rights and responsibilities.

Keyarna Rocher Murray

Supreme Court Clarifies How Local Authorities Must End Their Housing Duty to Homeless Applicants

The Supreme Court has delivered its judgment in Bano v Waltham Forest [2026] UKSC 22, confirming how local authorities must lawfully bring the main housing duty owed to homeless applicants to an end. Edwards Duthie Shamash represented Ms Bano throughout the proceedings, with the judgment providing important clarification on applicants’ rights to be informed of decisions and to seek a statutory review under the Housing Act 1996.

James Harrison

UK Supreme Court Appeal

James Harrison, Partner and Head of the Housing Team at Edwards Duthie Shamash, represents Ms Sabhya Bano in her UK Supreme Court appeal concerning homelessness and local authority housing duties. The case examines whether a council’s duty to accommodate a homeless applicant ends automatically when a Private Rented Sector Offer is not accepted, or if a formal discharge of duty decision is required under homelessness law.

James Harrison

Property Purchase Problems you may encounter

Having dealt with a range of residential purchase transactions, I have seen many pitfalls, and problems that can arise. Most issues can be resolved, however some can derail a property transaction.

Daveena Seepaul

HPCDS proposals: Early legal advice before the possession hearing

Latest HPCDS proposals The consultation on the Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme has recently closed. Here, Simon Mullings analyses a key proposal to offer early legal advice…

Autumn Property Activity

The tax holiday on stamp duty rates which was introduced in July 2020, this came to an end in England and Northern Ireland at the end in September. The big change this autumn is that Stamp Duty thresholds will return to the original rate as of 1st October 2021. There is some confusion as to what these rates are.

Daveena Seepaul