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    • Post #415 you said you were unable to sell it yourself. Earlier I believe you said there had been expressions of interest, but only if the buyer could acquire the freehold title. I wonder if the situation with the existing freeholders is such that the property is really unattractive, in ways possibly not obvious to someone who also has an interest in and acts for the freeholders.
    • i dont think the reason why the defendant lost the case means anything at all in that case. it was a classic judge lottery example.
    • Hello, I will try to outline everything clearly. I am a British citizen and I live in Luxembourg (I think this may be relevant for potential claims). I hired a car from Heathrow in March for a 3-day visit to family in the UK. I was "upgraded" to an EV (Polestar 2). I had a 250-mile journey to my family's address. Upon attempting to charge the vehicle, there was a red error message on the dashboard, saying "Charging error". I attempted to charge at roughly 10 different locations and got the same error message. Sometimes there was also an error message on the charging station screen. The Hertz 0800 assistance/breakdown number provided on the set of keys did not work with non-UK mobiles. I googled and found a bunch of other numbers, none of which were normal geographical ones, and none of which worked from my Luxembourg mobile. It was getting late and I was very short on charge. Also, there was no USB socket in the car, so my phone ran out of battery, so I was unable to look for further help online. It became clear that I would not reach my destination (rural Devon), so I had no choice but to find a roadside hotel in Exeter and then go to the nearest Hertz branch the following day on my remaining 10 miles of charge. Of course, as soon as the Hertz employee in Exeter plugged it into their own charger, the charging worked immediately. I have driven EVs before, I know how to charge them, and it definitely did not work at about 10 different chargers between London and Exeter. I took photos on each occasion. Luckily they had another vehicle available and transferred me onto it. It was an identical Polestar 2 to the original car. 2 minutes down the road, to test it, I went to a charger and it worked immediately. I also charged with zero issues at 2 other chargers before returning the vehicle. I think this shows that it was a charging fault with the first car and not my inability to do it properly. I wrote to Hertz, sending the hotel, dinner, breakfast and hotel parking receipt and asking for a refund of these expenses caused by the charging failure in the original car. They replied saying they "could not issue a refund" and they issued me with a voucher for 50 US dollars to use within the next year. Obviously I have no real proof that the charging didn't work. My guess is they will say that the photos don't prove that I was charging correctly, just that it shows an error message and a picture of a charger plugged into a car, without being able to see the detail. Could you advise whether I have a case to go further? I am not after a refund or compensation, I just want my £200 back that I had to spend on expenses. I think I have two possibilities (or maybe one - see below). It looks like the UK is still part of the European Consumer Centre scheme:  File a complaint with ECC Luxembourg | ECC-Net digital forms ECCWEBFORMS.EU   Would this be a good point to start from? Alternatively, the gov.uk money claims service. But the big caveat is you need a "postal address in the UK". In practice, do I have to have my primary residence in the UK, or can I use e.g. a family member's address, presumably just as an address for service, where they can forward me any relevant mail? Do they check that the claimant genuinely lives in the UK? "Postal address" is not the same as "Residence" - anyone can get a postal address in the UK without living there. But I don't want to cheat the system or have a claim denied because of it. TIA for any help!  
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      On 15/1/24 booked appointment with Big Motoring World (BMW) to view a mini on 17/1/24 at 8pm at their Enfield dealership.  

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    • We have finally managed to obtain the transcript of this case.

      The judge's reasoning is very useful and will certainly be helpful in any other cases relating to third-party rights where the customer has contracted with the courier company by using a broker.
      This is generally speaking the problem with using PackLink who are domiciled in Spain and very conveniently out of reach of the British justice system.

      Frankly I don't think that is any accident.

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      OT APPROVED, 365MC637, FAROOQ, EVRi, 12.07.23 (BRENT) - J v4.pdf
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How to… make an appeal against Bedroom Tax


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Valuation Office Agency – Rent Officers Handbook

 

(Note: This is used throughout the UK not just England and Wales)

 

Rent officers Handbook – ROOMS

http://www.voa.gov.uk/corporate/publications/Manuals/RentOfficerHandbook/Other/Procedures/r-roh-rooms.html

 

Rent Officers Handbook – SIZE CRITERIA

http://www.voa.gov.uk/corporate/publications/Manuals/RentOfficerHandbook/HousingBenefitReferral/Determination/s-roh-size-criteria.html

Court of Appeal Decision England and Wales – Burnip vs Birmingham City Council

http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2012/629.html

 

Public Sector Equality Duty

Government

https://www.gov.uk/equality-act-2010-guidance#public-sector-equality-duty

 

http://odi.dwp.gov.uk/disabled-people-and-legislation/disability-equality-duty-and-impact-assessments.php

 

Equality and Human Rights Commission

http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/news/2013/january/commission-publishes-guidance-on-the-public-sector-equality-duty/

Equality Act 2010

 

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/contents

 

https://www.gov.uk/equality-act-2010-guidance

 

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

 

http://odi.dwp.gov.uk/disabled-people-and-legislation/un-convention-on-the-rights-of-disabled-people.php

 

European Convention on Human Rights –Specifically Article 8 and Article 14

(Note –You need to download the booklet containing the Articles is in PDF Format)

 

http://www.echr.coe.int/ECHR/EN/Header/Basic+Texts/The+Convention+and+additional+protocols/The+European+Convention+on+Human+Rights/

 

Department for Work and Pensions

(Note –The following Link contains sources for, HB/CTB Guidance Manual, HB/CTBOverpayments Guide, Debt Management Offices by Postcode, Discretionary HousingPayments, ESA Operational Guide, Local Housing Allowance Guidance Manual).

 

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/local-authority-staff/housing-benefit/claims-processing/operational-manuals/

 

Inside Housing – Knowsley HousingTrust Reclassifies Properties Article

 

http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/tenancies/tenants-avoid-bedroom-tax-after-knowsley-reclassifies-homes/6525752.article

 

National Housing Federation Article –Bedroom Tax Some Home Truths

http://www.housing.org.uk/media/news/bedroom_tax_home_truths.aspx

 

National Housing Federation (NHF) –Bedroom Tax New Impact Assessment

 

http://www.housing.org.uk/policy/welfare_reform/welfare_reform_news/bedroom_tax_-_new_impact_asses.aspx

 

Scottish Federation of Housing Associations – What are the latest updates for March 2013 Article

 

http://www.sfha.co.uk/sfha/welfare-reform-latest-updates/what-are-the-latest-updates-for-march-2013/menu-id-326.html

 

Govan Law Centre Bedroom Tax Blog

 

http://govanlc.blogspot.co.uk/

 

 

 

Liberty – Promotes Human Rights Article on seeking a Judicial Review on Bedroom Tax

http://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/media/press/2013/liberty-bedroom-tax-breaches-right-to-family-life.php

 

Shelter

 

England Only

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/housing_benefit_and_local_housing_allowance/changes_to_local_housing_allowance/housing_benefit_changes_2013

 

Scotland Only

http://scotland.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/advice_topics/paying_for_a_home/housing_and_council_tax_benefit/changes_to_housing_benefit_for_council_and_housing_association_tenants

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I cannot give any advice by PM - If you provide a link to your Thread then I will be happy to offer advice there.

I advise to the best of my ability, but I am not a qualified professional, benefits lawyer nor Welfare Rights Adviser.

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  • 1 year later...

Bedroom Tax has been a hot topic of late, with many social renters struggling to cope with the charge. There might be a chink of light in all the gloom though, as a tribunal in Middlesbrough has decided a child of parents who are living apart is entitled to have their own bedroom in each of their parents’ homes, and that Bedroom Tax shouldn’t apply.

 

While the local authority felt that a single man, in a two-bed semi, was under-occupying his home, Judge Moss disagreed and said that his child was entitled to his own room “and consequently no deduction applies”, adding: “It’s now a normal part of society that children split their time between their parents.”

 

So how do you appeal the Bedroom Tax?

Well, if you think you have a genuine reason why you need a spare room, firstly, you need to see if you have a case. Coast & Country, say that some of the reasons you might convince a tribunal are:

 

- You need an extra bedroom due to overnight needs of a child with disabilities

- The need for separate bedrooms owing to adult disabilities

- Need for bedroom for student who is studying away from the home

- ‘Exceptional use’

- The room is too small to constitute a bedroom

- It is used as a bedroom

- Child access

- 12 month protection on death (joint tenant)

- 12 month protection on death (where a further change reduces the number of rooms needed)

 

One thing to do, is to look at some previous decisions (which you can do here). If you see that a previous case was rejected that is similar to your situation, remember that your circumstances could well be different, so it is still worth pursuing. Cases that involve children or people with disabilities certainly have a stronger chance of success.

 

You should absolutely write an appeal letter – you need to write to your Housing Benefits section and ask them to appeal your claim. Whether you’re looking after a disabled partner or child, a parent has passed away, you have a child studying away from home, your room is too small, or whatever it is, there’s some great template letters you can use to appeal.

 

To see some examples of template letters to appeal Bedroom Tax, click here. HousingSystems also have a load of good advice about housing benefit problem, and you can check them out, here.

http://www.bitterwallet.com/how-to-make-an-appeal-against-bedroom-tax/85552

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Also here is a useful toolkit to help you along to get you started please follow this link >>https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/financial-support/help-with-benefits/challenging-a-bedroom-tax-decision

If I have been of any help, please click on my star and leave a note to let me know, thank you.

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  • 7 months later...

mikeymack2002 has found this interesting item.

 

Neutral Citation Number: [2015] EWHC 890 (Admin)

 

https://tinyurl.com/z2nc5vq

It is an important ruling and shows incorrect assessment of DLA by a Local Authority (LA) and the dreaded 'Bedroom Tax'.

Case No: CO/16824/2013

 

 

This might be very useful.. Any comments will be welcome on the discussion thread linked below..

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?459020-Incorrect-assessment-of-DLA-by-a-Local-Authority-and-the-dreaded-Bedroom-Tax-quot&p=4851545#post4851545

Edited by citizenB

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