With the general stay on possession proceedings now at an end, Diane Doliveux and Richard Alford discuss new guidance from the Master of the Rolls setting out how the county courts will deal with the backlog of cases, and what parties will need to do to speed that process on. As well as new procedural steps intended to get casework in order before a hearing, this episode considers which cases will be listed as a priority, and which may fall by the wayside.  For more information on today’s topic, we recommend our Edward Blakeney’s article of 5 October, ‘Possession Proceedings: Where are they now?’ available at the Tanfield Chambers website via the following link: https://www.tanfieldchambers.co.uk/2020/10/05/possession-proceedings-where-are-they-now/ ‘Overall Arrangements for Possession Proceedings in England and Wales’, the guidelines dated 17 September 2020 and discussed in this episode, can be found on the website of the courts and tribunals judiciary via the following link: https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Possession-Proceedings-Overall-Arrangements-Version-1.0-17.09.20.pdf

Richard Granby and Will Beetson discuss the pending resumption of possession claims as well as the decision of the Court of Appeal in TFS Stores Ltd v (1) The Designer Retail Outlet Centres (Mansfield) General Partners Ltd and Others [2020] EWCA Civ 833 as well as decisions of the Upper Tribunal in Sheppard v (1) MGH Ltd (2) Turner [2020] UKUT 171 (LC) and (1) AA Homes & Housing Ltd (2) Anabow Services Ltd v Croydon LBC [2020] UKUT 181 (LC)

Katie Gray and Richard Granby discuss the state of the High Street after a dire quarter day for landlords, as well as a recent important decision of the Upper Tribunal relating to rent repayment orders. Case discussed this week are: Vadamalayan v Stewart [2020] UKUT 0183 (LC) and Point West GR Limited v Bassi [2020] EWCA Civ 795

Katie Gray and Diane Doliveux discuss law and procedure in a covid era, and give their predictions of what the future holds for ‘in person’ hearings and trials. They also discuss some good news for residential landlords in the form of the recent Court of Appeal decision in Trecarrell House Limited v Rouncefield

Katie Gray and Diane Doliveux discuss the recent extension of Practice Direction 51Z and give their take on the changes that the rented residential sector may face in the at the end of August