The exercise of judicial discretion in rent arrears cases - Sheffield ...
The exercise of judicial discretion in rent arrears cases - Sheffield ...
The exercise of judicial discretion in rent arrears cases - Sheffield ...
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2. Judges’ Interview Schedule<br />
Judge's background<br />
1. How long have you been a district judge?<br />
2. Which courts do you sit <strong>in</strong>?<br />
3. Did you have any experience <strong>of</strong> hous<strong>in</strong>g law prior to becom<strong>in</strong>g a district judge?<br />
4. What percentage <strong>of</strong> your time as a district judge do you spend on hous<strong>in</strong>g<br />
possession <strong>cases</strong>?<br />
5. How much hous<strong>in</strong>g law tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g have you received?<br />
6. How do you update your knowledge <strong>of</strong> hous<strong>in</strong>g law?<br />
Decision-mak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> possession <strong>cases</strong><br />
7. Do you have a mental checklist <strong>of</strong> evidence which you expect to see before grant<strong>in</strong>g<br />
possession?<br />
8. Do you prefer evidence to be given orally or <strong>in</strong> writ<strong>in</strong>g?<br />
9. Do you have a checklist <strong>of</strong> issues you consider when decid<strong>in</strong>g whether it is<br />
reasonable to grant possession?<br />
10. How important are the levels <strong>of</strong> <strong>arrears</strong> <strong>in</strong> your decision-mak<strong>in</strong>g? Is it the total<br />
amount which is most important or the number <strong>of</strong> weeks that the <strong>rent</strong> is <strong>in</strong> <strong>arrears</strong>?<br />
11. If the tenant attends the hear<strong>in</strong>g, how likely are you to give an outright order for<br />
possession?<br />
Procedure and external factors<br />
12. Do you feel the CPR has had any impact on the way hous<strong>in</strong>g possession <strong>cases</strong> are<br />
conducted?<br />
13. Do you feel the way you deal with <strong>cases</strong> has changed over the period that you have<br />
been a district judge?<br />
14. Are there any local factors which impact on your decision-mak<strong>in</strong>g?<br />
15. What impact do issues around hous<strong>in</strong>g benefit have on your decision-mak<strong>in</strong>g?<br />
16. How are <strong>cases</strong> listed for hear<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the court you sit <strong>in</strong>? What impact does this<br />
list<strong>in</strong>g procedure have on your decision-mak<strong>in</strong>g process?<br />
Impact <strong>of</strong> landlords<br />
17. Typically, how would you describe the quality <strong>of</strong> the representatives before you from<br />
local authority and hous<strong>in</strong>g association landlords?<br />
On a scale <strong>of</strong> excellent; good; okay; poor; very poor<br />
18. Does this differ between RSLs and local authorities?<br />
19. Do you f<strong>in</strong>d any difference <strong>in</strong> the approaches <strong>of</strong> landlords who represent themselves<br />
through hous<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong>ficers and those who use legal representatives?<br />
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