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24 January 2019
Issue: 7825 / Categories: Features , Procedure & practice , Civil way
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Civil way: 25 January 2019

Blow to residential landlords; setting aside post-admission; family forms forever; demolition device demolished.

THREAT TO RODENTS

There’s as much chance that a landlord will expressly covenant to put, let alone keep, their rented dwelling in a state that makes it fit for human habitation as me being honoured for services to the administration of justice. Yes, I know that s 8 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 implies a condition and undertaking to this effect but, because of the qualifying rental limits, its application is effectively now restricted to hovels comprising no more than a matchbox, devoid of loo and wifi. Of course, councils can take action against landlords of festering premises. However, the risk criteria they employ is out of date, and it just may happen that the council is the landlord and unable to enforce against itself. The 1985 Act obligation on landlords, if discharged, to keep in repair the structure and exterior of premises and installations for the supply of water, heating and sanitation may still leave those premises unfit for habitation. So, a wholly unsatisfactory state of affairs. But

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Private wealth and tax team welcomes cross-border specialist as consultant

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

International hospitality and leisure specialist joins corporate team as partner

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Firm appoints head of intellectual property to drive northern growth

NEWS
Talk of a reserved ‘Welsh seat’ on the Supreme Court is misplaced. In NLJ this week, Professor Graham Zellick KC explains that the Constitutional Reform Act treats ‘England and Wales’ as one jurisdiction, with no statutory Welsh slot
The government’s plan to curb jury trials has sparked ‘jury furore’. Writing in NLJ this week, David Locke, partner at Hill Dickinson, says the rationale is ‘grossly inadequate’
A year after the $1.5bn Bybit heist, crypto fraud is booming—but so is recovery. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Holloway, founder and CEO of M2 Recovery, warns that scams hit at least $14bn in 2025, fuelled by ‘pig butchering’ cons and AI deepfakes
After Woodcock confirmed no general duty to warn, debate turns to the criminal law. Writing in NLJ this week, Charles Davey of The Barrister Group urges revival of misprision or a modern equivalent
Family courts are tightening control of expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Chris Pamplin says there is ‘no automatic right’ to call experts; attendance must be ‘necessary in the interests of justice’ under FPR Pt 25
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