THLC welcomes fines for rouge landlords

Posted on by Martin South

 

Tower Hamlets Law Centre welcomes the news that the rogue landlords responsible for the overcrowding at Maddocks House have been convicted and fined. 

Maddocks House was meant to accommodate three people, but the landlords forced up to 23 people into the property, with eight sleeping in one room. This situation came to light when a fire destroyed the property, killing one resident and making the others homeless. 

We were able to intercede on behalf of some of the traumatised survivors, and were able to assist them in securing long-term accommodation. The work we did to achieve these positive outcomes goes to the heart of the role we play in the community, ensuring that those most at risk are able to secure their rights in law. We are proud of the role we played in helping those thrown into such a dire situation.

Tower Hamlets council has more details about the successful prosecution.

Calling all litigants in person!

Posted on by Martin South

Our Employment Solicitor is holding a one-off training and information session on employment law aimed at people who have a case before an employment tribunal and intend to self-represent.

The session will cover the whole process leading up to a preliminary hearing, including how the tribunal works, how to prepare, and what other help is available.

It’s happening at 𝟏 𝐩𝐦 𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 on Zoom. Register by emailing us at employmentduty@thlc.co.uk.

Remember also that Tower Hamlets Law Centre can also provide additional support on your case via our Employment Advice Service, which you can get booked onto by ringing 020 7538 4904.

Major win for those at risk of destitution

Posted on by Martin South

At the end of last year, we reported on a potentially landmark case that Tower Hamlets Law Centre was involved with, concerning whether the relatives of EU nationals should be able to claim benefits if the alternative destitution. Last week saw a major development in the case, one that will help many people in the UK at risk of destitution. 

Our clients came to the UK to live with their son-in-law, an EU national, but had to leave when his behaviour became abusive. They were initially denied benefits by the DWP but this was reversed by appeal at a First Tier Tribunal. The DWP sought to appeal this decision at the Upper Tribunal. Our senior benefits caseworker takes up the story: 

“Because of the success at the First Tier Tribunal of our client’s appeal, and other similar appeals by other advice agencies for other claimants, the DWP have now announced they are changing their policy. Previously their policy was that the landmark court decision in the ‘AT’ case only applied to EU citizens but not to their family members who are with them in the UK and have pre-settled status. Now they accept this is the wrong interpretation of the law and they have started paying our client (and presumably other appellants) Universal Credit. The Upper Tribunal will now not need to rule on the case of our client. Substantial arrears of UC will now be paid to our client.” 

This important decision means people in the UK who are family members of EU citizens will now be able to avoid destitution. We are proud to have been able to make such a difference to these people’ s lives. 

Landmark case for EU nationals

Posted on by Martin South

A recent case came to our Welfare Benefits team which could set an important precedent for migrants who are relatives of EU citizens, but not EU citizens themselves. Our Welfare Benefits Supervisor explains: 

“Our clients are a 69-year-old Bangladeshi gentleman and his wife. They were given leave to come to the UK under the terms of the post-Brexit agreement because their son in law is an EU national living and working here. However, after a few months the son in law’s treatment of my clients was so abusive and controlling that they were forced to move out. They moved in with another relative in the UK, but this relative is not working and could not financially support them so our clients applied for benefits in May last year. They were refused because they were no longer being supported by an EU national. 

They came to us for advice, and we advised them that the only potential argument we could make on appeal was based on a new piece of case law known as the AT judgment. The high court made that decision in 2023, saying that an EU citizen should not be refused benefits here if it would leave them destitute and “unable to live in dignity”. My clients made an appeal with our help on that basis, but the DWP solicitors have argued that because our clients are family members of an EU national, rather than EU nationals themselves, the precedent set by the case law does not apply. After a long fight we were able to persuade a first-tier tribunal that the DWP’s interpretation of the law was incorrect. The tribunal judge ruled that the couple were entitled to benefits backdated to their claim in May 2023. 

This is an outcome which the DWP are anxious to avoid happening again, so the DWP are seeking permission from a judge to appeal to the Upper Tribunal against the first-tier tribunal’s decision. Their decision will set down an important marker for other claimants in the same situation.” 

Tower Hamlets Law Centre will provide further updates when the Tribunal decision is handed down.