We are here to support you

With the country once again in lockdown, The Forbes Housing and Regeneration Team want to reassure our clients that we are here to help you get through this, we have done it before and we will do it again. We will work together with you during this evolving situation to ensure your needs are met.

We are committed to helping you achieve your sales KPIs and targets and achieve grant funding deadlines during the Pandemic, as ever, and have assisted all clients to meet these targets for completion and provide advice and assistance throughout this ever-changing situation we find ourselves in. 

We have robust business continuity measures in place to protect and maintain service levels whilst maintaining the safety of our team and yours, so we can continue to support our clients in providing practical solutions and Legal 500 Tier 1 service.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Stuart Penswick
Head of Housing & Regeneration (Litigation)
e: stuart.penswick@forbessolicitors.co.uk
t: 07976 252222

Jennifer Hankinson 
Head of Housing & Regeneration (Property)
e: jennifer.hankinson@forbessolicitors.co.uk
t: 01254 222417

Daniel Milnes
Head of Governance, Procurement & Information
e: daniel.milnes@forbessolicitors.co.uk
t: 01254 222313

Data Protection Update

December was a busy month for those involved in data protection compliance. Therefore, we've set out a short summary of the most relevant updates for our RP clients which covers -

• Brexit
• Data Sharing Code of Practice
• Employee Prosecuted for Data Breach

FOI style access scheme for social housing tenants

The recently published Social Housing White Paper - The Charter for Social Housing Residents - has put forward new proposals which will allow social housing tenants (or their representatives) of housing associations and other private registered providers to access information relating to the management of social housing held by their landlord.

The Wild Side of Development

The Metropolitan Police announced in December 2020 that Bellway Homes had admitted damaging or destroying a breeding site or resting place for bats at a construction site in Greenwich, London. Bellway were fined £600,000, which is a record fine and the largest fine ever issued by a court in relation to a wildlife crime, plus they are to pay further costs of over £30,000. Bellway Homes also agreed to make a voluntary donation of £20,000 to the Bat Conservation Trust.

The case was brought after Bellway Homes carried out demolition work at a site in Artillery Place, Woolwich, London in 2018. Soprano Pipistrelle bats had been documented as being present at the site in 2017 and Bellway Homes had been notified in planning documents that should they wish to carry out work they would need to first obtain the appropriate mitigation and a Natural England (NE) European Protected Species licence, as all bats within the UK are European Protected Species.

Leasehold Shake Up

Under proposed changes, both house and flat leaseholders will be able to extend their lease to a new standard 990 years with a ground rent at zero. The changes will also mean that a cap will be introduced on ground rent payable when a leaseholder chooses to extend their lease or payment due to become the freeholder.

The leasehold reform will abolish prohibitive costs like 'marriage value' and set the calculation rate to ensure a fairer and more transparent system. An online calculator will also be made available so that leaseholders can find out how much it will cost them to buy their freehold or extend their lease - making the system more open and transparent than it is currently. Leaseholders will also benefit by being able to voluntarily agree to a restriction on future development of their property to avoid paying 'development value'.

Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme is changing

The existing Help to Buy Equity Loan Scheme is set to be replaced with a new Help to Buy Equity Loan (2021 - 2023) on 1 April 2021. The new scheme will be extended to first-time buyers only along with the introduction of regional price limits. First-time buyers who apply for the loan must use it towards buying a new-build home.

The existing scheme allows both first-time buyers as well as existing homeowners to use the Government backed Help to Buy Equity Loan to buy a new-build home. Homeowners wanting to use the existing Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme have less than three months to apply for the same but must bear in mind that the legal completion of the sale must happen no later than 31 March 2021.

Acas Early Conciliation - New Rules

A claim to an employment tribunal must usually be made within 3 months less 1 day. This is known as the 'limitation date'. For example, if an employee wants to claim for unfair dismissal, they have 3 months less 1 day from the date their employment ended to make the claim. However this is with the exception of an issue around redundancy pay or equal pay, these claims must be made within 6 months.

Managing Home Working Webinar

27th January 1.30pm - 3pm

Join members of the specialist Employment and Information Law Teams for a zoom webinar covering home working - an issue affecting a significant amount of organisations at the moment with official Government advice being to work at home if you can. 

The session will cover practical guidance and suggestions based on experience before and during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Employment Team will look at issues which are relevant to homeworkers in the current lockdown including management and supervision and dealing with other employment law issues that may result from home working. The Information Law Team will cover GDPR, keeping data secure whilst working from home, video conferencing and monitoring home workers.

The session will include a presentation followed by half an hour for questions. You can submit questions when booking a place or during the event.

Please click here to book your place. 

Merseryside County Lines Conference

9th & 10th February 9:00am - 1:00pm

Join us on Tuesday 9th & Wednesday 10th February 2021 (9:00am – 1:00pm) for our online Merseyside County Lines Conference via zoom.

Forbes Solicitors, along with Merseyside Police, Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside and other partner agencies will focus on the role of Registered Housing Providers in tackling county lines and keeping vulnerable people safe.

Day 1:

9.00am: Introduction – The Partnership Role of Housing When Dealing with County Lines - Jimmy Belmar (Merseyside Police) & Darren Burton (Head of Housing Consultancy Services – Forbes Solicitors)

9.05am: Conference Opening Address – Assistant Chief Constable Critchley

9.15am: County lines, the current regional picture – Inspector Adam Cooke

9.45am: Legal Options Available to Registered Housing Providers – Shirley Faragher (Partner & Head of ASB – Forbes Solicitors)

10.15am: Operation Sanctuary, Modern Slavery Team – Sergeant Sarah Wilkinson & DC Jamie Graham

10.45am: Break

11am: Operation Lamprey - A Case Study in Partnership Working Between South Sefton Neighbourhood Team and One Vision Housing to Reduce Cuckooing

11.45am: The Children’s Society – Supporting Vulnerable Children (both Regionally and nationally) who have been affected by County Lines in their communities

12.15pm: Case Study into the Successful Use of a Closure Order by the Tuebrook Neighbourhood Team.

12.45pm: Close

Day 2:

9:00am: Opening Address by the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner for Merseyside

9.15am: Eyes Open Campaign

9.30am: Merseyside County Lines Picture/Operation Toxic – Inspector Katie Wilkinson & Detective Inspector Stratton

10.00am: South Liverpool Homes Case Study – Speke Up Campaign

10.45am: Break

11am: Closure Orders and How Merseyside Police Legal Team Can Work With Local Authorities & Housing Associations.

11.30am: The role of Merseyside Police FIB and How We can all share intelligence – Colette Williams

12:00pm: Supporting young people exposed to the risk of county lines including a personal story of lived experience – The St. Giles Trust

12.45pm: Conference Closing Address from Detective Superintendent O’Connor.

To book your place please click here.