Latest news with #RichardAtkinson
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Labour urged to publish impact of rent reforms as eviction delays soar
Ministers are being urged to publish a report into the impact of rental reforms on the courts as landlords face eight-month delays to repossess their property. Government departments are required to complete a justice impact assessment for any new bills that are likely to impact the UK courts system. Labour's Renters' Reform Bill is set to become law this summer and will include the removal of Section 21 'no-fault evictions'. There are fears the change will force landlords to rely on the courts to regain possession of their properties, adding to existing backlogs. Private landlords faced an eight-month wait from making a claim to the courts to their properties being repossessed in the first four months of 2025, according to the latest government data. Chris Norris, chief policy officer for the National Residential Landlords Association, said: 'The justice system is simply not ready for the impact of the Bill. 'In the interests of transparency, the Government should publish the Justice Impact test. The Government also needs to come clean about how it defines the courts being ready for the reforms. Warm words are no substitute for clear objectives for the justice system.' Justice impact assessments are an internal process and not usually published by government departments, but previous ministers have committed to publishing court reviews ahead of implementing rental reforms. The former Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee in a 2023 report said: 'It is not clear whether the Government fully appreciates the extent to which an unreformed courts system could undermine its tenancy reforms.' Furthermore, in a consultation in 2022, the then-government acknowledged that Section 21 was preferred by landlords to other means of eviction – such as Section 8 – as it was perceived as 'quicker and more certain'. Richard Atkinson, president of the Law Society, said of the Renters' Rights Bill: 'The bill will not be effective without further investment in the justice system.' Mr Atkinson also urged the Government to 'provide greater funding and more clarity to the enforcement provisions so that justice is accessible to renters and landlords alike'. In addition to concerns about the justice system, a report has warned impacts of the bill will add almost £900 a year to the average tenancy. The legislation will limit landlords to just one rent increase per year capped at the 'market rate' – the price that would be achieved if the property was newly advertised to let. Landbay said property owners were planning to increase rent by an average of 6pc, which would add £74 to the average monthly rent, or £888 a year. Dr Neil Cobbold, director at property software company Reapit UKI, said: 'The Government's decision not to share the Renters' Rights Bill justice impact test raises serious questions about transparency and accountability. The estimate of changes in the number of court and tribunal cases is a vital tool for understanding how the legislation will affect the property sector – including case volumes – and whether the justice infrastructure is in place to support the change.' The Bill is currently going through the House of Lords before being sent back to the Commons and is expected to receive Royal Assent by summer 2025 and be implemented before the end of the year. An MHCLG spokesman said: 'As was the case under previous governments, Justice Impact Tests are internal government documents and it is not standard practice for them to be published. 'We are fully focussed on ensuring the justice system is ready for our reforms, which will create a fairer housing market, and are working closely with the Ministry of Justice and HM Courts and Tribunal Service to ensure all necessary preparations are in place.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Labour urged to publish rent reforms impact report as eviction delays soar
Ministers are being urged to publish a report into the impact of rental reforms on the courts as landlords face eight-month delays to repossess their property. Government departments are required to complete a justice impact assessment for any new bills that are likely to impact the UK courts system. Labour's Renters' Reform Bill is set to become law this summer and will include the removal of Section 21 'no-fault evictions'. There are fears the change will force landlords to rely on the courts to regain possession of their properties, adding to existing backlogs. Private landlords faced an eight-month wait from making a claim to the courts to their properties being repossessed in the first four months of 2025, according to the latest government data. Chris Norris, chief policy officer for the National Residential Landlords Association, said: 'The justice system is simply not ready for the impact of the Bill. 'In the interests of transparency, the Government should publish the Justice Impact test. The Government also needs to come clean about how it defines the courts being ready for the reforms. Warm words are no substitute for clear objectives for the justice system.' Justice impact assessments are an internal process and not usually published by government departments, but previous ministers have committed to publishing court reviews ahead of implementing rental reforms. The former Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee in a 2023 report said: 'It is not clear whether the Government fully appreciates the extent to which an unreformed courts system could undermine its tenancy reforms.' Furthermore, in a consultation in 2022, the then-government acknowledged that Section 21 was preferred by landlords to other means of eviction – such as Section 8 – as it was perceived as 'quicker and more certain'. Richard Atkinson, president of the Law Society, said of the Renters' Rights Bill: 'The bill will not be effective without further investment in the justice system.' Mr Atkinson also urged the Government to 'provide greater funding and more clarity to the enforcement provisions so that justice is accessible to renters and landlords alike'. In addition to concerns about the justice system, a report has warned impacts of the bill will add almost £900 a year to the average tenancy. The legislation will limit landlords to just one rent increase per year capped at the 'market rate' – the price that would be achieved if the property was newly advertised to let. Landbay said property owners were planning to increase rent by an average of 6pc, which would add £74 to the average monthly rent, or £888 a year. Dr Neil Cobbold, director at property software company Reapit UKI, said: 'The Government's decision not to share the Renters' Rights Bill justice impact test raises serious questions about transparency and accountability. The estimate of changes in the number of court and tribunal cases is a vital tool for understanding how the legislation will affect the property sector – including case volumes – and whether the justice infrastructure is in place to support the change.' The Bill is currently going through the House of Lords before being sent back to the Commons and is expected to receive Royal Assent by summer 2025 and be implemented before the end of the year. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government was approached for comment. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Independent
19-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Solicitors criticise ‘antiquated' Legal Aid Agency IT system after cyber attack
The 'antiquated' IT system used by the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) has come under fire after a major cyber attack saw potentially millions of pieces of personal data stolen, including criminal records. A 'significant amount of personal data' of people who applied to the agency since 2010 was accessed and downloaded in a cyber attack in April this year, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has said. The group that carried out the attack has claimed it accessed 2.1 million pieces of data but the MoJ has not verified that figure. Richard Atkinson, president of the Law Society of England and Wales, a professional body that represents solicitors, said: 'It is extremely concerning that members of the public have had their personal data compromised in this cyber security incident and the LAA must get a grip on the situation immediately. 'The incident once again demonstrates the need for sustained investment to bring the LAA's antiquated IT system up to date and ensure the public have continued trust in the justice system. 'The fragility of the IT system has prevented vital reforms, including updates to the means test that could help millions more access legal aid, and interim payments for firms whose cash flow is being decimated by the backlogs in the courts, through no fault of their own. 'If it is now also proving vulnerable to cyber attack, further delay is untenable. 'Legal aid firms are small businesses providing an important public service and are operating on the margins of financial viability. Given that vulnerability, these financial security concerns are the last thing they need.' The Government became aware of a cyber attack on the LAA's online digital services on April 23, but realised on Friday that it was more extensive than originally thought. The data accessed may include contact details and addresses of legal aid applicants, their dates of birth, national insurance numbers, criminal history, employment status and financial data such as contribution amounts, debts and payments. The LAA's online digital services, which are used by legal aid providers to log their work and get paid by the Government, have been taken offline. An MoJ source put the breach down to the 'neglect and mismanagement' of the previous government, saying vulnerabilities in the LAA's systems have been known for many years. 'This data breach was made possible by the long years of neglect and mismanagement of the justice system under the last government. 'They knew about the vulnerabilities of the LAA digital systems, but did not act,' the source said. It is understood the attack happened as the MoJ has been working on replacing the internal system with a new version hoped to be up and running in the coming weeks. The MoJ is urging anyone who has applied for legal aid since 2010 to be alert for unknown messages and phone calls and to update any passwords that could have been exposed. The ministry has been working with the National Crime Agency and the National Cyber Security Centre, and has informed the Information Commissioner. Legal Aid Agency chief executive Jane Harbottle apologised for the breach. 'I understand this news will be shocking and upsetting for people and I am extremely sorry this has happened. 'Since the discovery of the attack, my team has been working around the clock with the National Cyber Security Centre to bolster the security of our systems so we can safely continue the vital work of the agency. 'However, it has become clear that, to safeguard the service and its users, we needed to take radical action. That is why we've taken the decision to take the online service down,' she said. Ms Harbottle said contingency plans are in place to make sure those in need of legal support and advice can continue to access it. Reacting to the attack, global cyber security adviser Jake Moore, from software company ESET, said it highlights how critical it is for public bodies to invest in stronger cyber defences and be transparent immediately when things go wrong. 'When criminal records and other sensitive personal data are exposed, it is not just a matter of IT failure, it's a breach of trust, privacy, and even safety in this case,' he said. 'Many of the individuals affected may already be in vulnerable situations and could now face the added stress of not knowing where their data will end up or how it might be used. 'Delays in notifying victims or vague reassurances can often worsen the damage whether it's a Government agency or private company.'
