module specification

The aims of this module are to give you a sound working knowledge of Housing Law and the way it is practised by solicitors.

The aims are to enable you to do the following:

• To identify client goals, investigate and identify relevant facts and advise the client on housing law practice and procedure.
• To understand and be able to advise clients on the status of tenants and licensees.
• To understand the workings of the Housing Act 1985 as amended and to be able to advise and act for a client in possession proceedings of properties subject to secure tenancies.
• To understand the workings of the Housing Acts 1988 and 1996 and to be able to advise and act for a client in possession proceedings of properties subject to assured and assured shorthold tenancies.
•  To be aware of the different types of mortgages and the workings of a mortgage and should be able to advise and act for a client in mortgage possession proceedings.
• To be able to advise and act for clients where a tenant is applying to suspend a warrant of possession.
• To be able to advise clients who do not have security of tenure, such as tenants with resident landlords.
• To be able to identify and advise on the various civil causes of action, procedures and range of remedies, criminal proceedings and public law remedies which may be open to a client who has suffered harassment or illegal eviction.
• To be able to interpret the various express and implied repairing obligations of landlords and tenants and identify and advise on the various causes of action and private and public law procedures and remedies available where a property is in disrepair.
• To be able to advise clients about the provisions of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended by the Homelessness Act 2002), their entitlement to be housed by the local authority and the procedure for review and appeal.
• To be able to draft litigation documentation, including letters, legal forms, notices and court documents.
• To be able to understand and take into account the various practical considerations surrounding housing disputes and appreciate the range of methods available to resolve housing disputes.
• To be aware of the need to deal with a range of personnel including Housing Officers, Benefit Officers, Environmental Health Officers, police, social workers, voluntary advisers etc.
• To understand the funding options available such as legal aid.

Your employability will be enhanced by completion of this module, as you will gain knowledge in an area whereby you could practise at a legal aid firm (as social housing remains in scope); or become a housing management solicitor at a firm for landlords exclusively; or practice in- house, for example directly for a local authority.

•    Classes of occupation including freeholds, long leaseholds, tenancies, licencees, trespassers, sub-tenants and joint tenants.  Also, usual terms of a tenancy and termination of tenancies at common law.
•    Public tenants’ security of tenure under the Housing Act 1985 as amended including conditions for Act to apply, grounds and procedure for possession, succession on death, introductory and demoted tenancies, secure tenants’ right to buy, sublet and exchange.
•    Private tenants’ security of tenure under the Housing Act 1988 as amended by the Housing Act 1996 including conditions for Act to apply, assured shortholds, assured tenancies, grounds and procedures for possession, rent control, succession on death and implied terms.
•    Grounds for possession and procedure for possession, rent control and succession on death.
•    Mortgage possession proceedings including grounds and procedure, defences, suspension under Administration of Justice Act 1970 s.36 and the effect of consumer credit and financial services legislation.
•    Suspension of warrants for possession including grounds, practice and procedure.
•    Termination of occupation without security including tenants without security, e.g. tenants with resident landlords.  
•    Harassment and illegal eviction including civil causes of action and remedies, public law and local authority remedies, criminal proceedings and emergency procedures and practice.
•    Disrepair including repairing obligations (express and implied), remedies, public law remedies, disrepair as defence to possession proceedings and procedures.
•    Homelessness including meaning of homelessness within the Housing Act 1996, as amended by the Homelessness Act 2002, eligibility, priority need, intentional homelessness, local connection, duties of Local Authority, review of and appeal against decisions, practice and procedure.
•    Public funding.

All these subjects pervade each of the Learning Outcomes 1, 2 and 3.
 

Learning & Teaching Strategy

Weekly two-hour lecture and one-hour seminar.

The lecture will be used for:
• Dissemination of knowledge through an overview of each topic with detailed guidance on appropriate aspects;
• An introduction to relevant academic literature;
• Guidance on learning strategies;
• Use of WebLearn and IT resources;
• Whole group questions and discussion.

The seminar will be used for the development of skills necessary to attain the module learning outcomes through:
• Written and oral questions/answers designed to reinforce fundamental rules, principles and cases;
• A range of step-by-step analytical exercises;
• Problem solving;
• IT tasks, such as research of cases and statutes;
• Legal writing;
• Oral presentation;
• Oral communication;
• Teamwork.

Blended Learning
All learning materials, previous examination questions and sample Q/A’s will be on blackboard for use in directed private study.

Student engagement will be encouraged in both lectures and seminars through weekly use of WebLearn for access to all of the above materials.

There will be required use of the professional legal databases, especially Westlaw and Lexis Plus, for legal research.

Opportunities for reflective learning/pdp
Each weekly seminar will contain space for students to reflect on what they have learnt in relation to the overall syllabus. There will be frequent feedback opportunities structured into the timetable and a range of sample answers posted onto WebLearn.

Employability
Employability strategy will aim to acquaint students with a range of employment avenues both in the legal profession and in those professions into which legal qualifications and skills are transferable.

Student’s Study Responsibilities
The need for attendance, punctuality, preparation and engagement will be emphasised with particular reference to written and IT research, problem-solving, team-work, discussion, debate and critical awareness of the subject.

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

1, Demonstrate a systematic understanding of key aspects of the syllabus.

2. Demonstrate the ability critically to discuss case study problems relating to the syllabus, devising and sustaining arguments, and showing appreciation of uncertainties and ambiguities in legal principles and policy.

3. Demonstrate the ability to write critical, discursive essays relating to the topics covered in the syllabus, commenting on current research and primary sources.
 

https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/DBFAE251-3189-F766-30B3-F943458007AA.html

CORE
Housing Law Handbook – 22 Dec. 2022
by Diane Astin (Author)

Housing Law Handbook: A Practical Guide – 31 Dec. 2025
by Stephen Cottle (Editor)

DATABASES
Westlaw Edge UK
Lexis+ UK