Section: Social Landlords
New Regulations
-
The Social Landlords (Additional Purposes or Objects) (Amendment) (England) Order 2005 SI 2863
The amendments made by this Order apply to bodies eligible for registration by the Housing Corporation in England.
This Order amends the definition of "qualifying lending institution" in the 1996 and 1999 Orders.
This Order also amends the 1996 Order to specify as an additional permissible purpose or object of bodies eligible to be registered as social landlords disposing of houses on terms which are the same as those defined in section 2(6) of the Housing Act 1996 as "shared ownership terms."
Change in Law on Drug Use Liability
The Government repealed controversial legislation, which until now had left hostel managers in a vulnerable situation if they were aware of the use of Class A drugs, such as crack cocaine and heroin, on the premises they manage.
The problem was highlighted by the 1999 Cambridge Two case, which led to heavy prison sentences for the director and manager of a drop-in centre in Cambridge for knowingly allowing the supply of Class A drugs at the centre. The sentences were greatly reduced on appeal, but the convictions remained in force.
Hostel managers have campaigned for a change in the law, arguing that if they were to bar every suspected user of a Class A drug, they could be faced with having to evict many vulnerable homeless clients.
The legislation to make it an offence to knowingly allow the use of drugs on premises was introduced as part of the Criminal Justice & Police Act 2001. A Home Office Circular repeals section 38 of the Act, which created the offence by amending section 8(d) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
Managers of hostels, however, are still liable to prosecution under the 1971 Act if they permit the misuse of cannabis or opium on premises under their control.
© Copyright 1996 - 2008 UK Housing Ltd. Housing Monthly Diary
Issue: January 2006 Reporting on Sept.-Dec. 2005
- Allocations & Transfers
- Antisocial Behaviour & Nuisance
- Home Ownership
- Homelessness & Asylum Seekers
- Housing Benefit & Council Tax
- Housing Grants
- Housing Management
- Private Sector
- Right to Buy
- Security of Tenure
- Social Landlords
Quick Links
Welcome to the Legal Update
