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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Table 2: Rent levels from ODPM statistics and cur<strong>rent</strong> study, with average <strong>arrears</strong> at<br />
first hear<strong>in</strong>gs (n=540)<br />
Type <strong>of</strong> English Study Average Average Average Range <strong>of</strong><br />
landlord average sample <strong>arrears</strong> no. <strong>of</strong> no. <strong>of</strong> <strong>arrears</strong> at<br />
weekly average<br />
weeks <strong>in</strong> weeks <strong>in</strong> hear<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>rent</strong>* weekly<br />
<strong>arrears</strong> at <strong>arrears</strong> at<br />
<strong>rent</strong><br />
summons hear<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Local £50.96 £57.05 £872.14 14.88 15.89 £0.00 -<br />
authority (2003)<br />
£10,020.43<br />
Hous<strong>in</strong>g £54.76 £74.08 £993.77 14.48 12.57 £0.00 -<br />
Association (2004)<br />
£7,484.08<br />
All landlords £66.14 £947 14.67 14.14 £0.00 -<br />
£10,020.43<br />
*Source: ODPM Hous<strong>in</strong>g Statistics Live Tables available at:<br />
http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_control/documents/contentservertemplate/odpm_<strong>in</strong>dex.<br />
hcst?n=1537&l=1<br />
<strong>The</strong> 1996 study found that the level <strong>of</strong> <strong>arrears</strong> varied considerably between courts at the<br />
time <strong>of</strong> the first hear<strong>in</strong>g (Nixon, et al, 1996), rang<strong>in</strong>g from an average <strong>of</strong> 5 – 18 weeks <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>arrears</strong>. <strong>The</strong>re is less variation between the courts <strong>in</strong> the cur<strong>rent</strong> study (see Table 3). As<br />
<strong>in</strong>dicated below, the level <strong>of</strong> <strong>arrears</strong> is an <strong>in</strong>fluential factor <strong>in</strong> district judges’ decisions, but a<br />
number <strong>of</strong> factors may be <strong>in</strong>fluenc<strong>in</strong>g the level <strong>of</strong> <strong>arrears</strong> at the hear<strong>in</strong>g, not just the level <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>arrears</strong> at which the landlord decides to take action. <strong>The</strong>se <strong>in</strong>clude the speed at which the<br />
court is able to list <strong>cases</strong> and whether the landlord is able to recover any payments from the<br />
tenants between summons and hear<strong>in</strong>g date. As <strong>in</strong>dicated <strong>in</strong> Table 2, it appears that<br />
hous<strong>in</strong>g associations were successful <strong>in</strong> reduc<strong>in</strong>g <strong>arrears</strong> between summons and hear<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Table 3: Variations <strong>in</strong> the average levels <strong>of</strong> <strong>arrears</strong> at first hear<strong>in</strong>gs, by court<br />
Court £ average <strong>arrears</strong> Average weeks outstand<strong>in</strong>g at<br />
1 st hear<strong>in</strong>g<br />
London £1098 14<br />
West Country £857 12<br />
Northern 1 £747 14<br />
Northern 2 £680 13<br />
Attendance<br />
In this section we describe the levels <strong>of</strong> attendance generally, before turn<strong>in</strong>g to an analysis<br />
<strong>of</strong> the impact <strong>of</strong> attendance. <strong>The</strong> reasons for the impact <strong>of</strong> attendance by the tenant are<br />
further explored <strong>in</strong> Chapter 6. One <strong>of</strong> the strik<strong>in</strong>g features <strong>of</strong> the 1996 study (Nixon et al,<br />
1996) and <strong>in</strong>deed an earlier study <strong>in</strong> 1986 (SAUS, 1986) was the failure <strong>of</strong> most tenants to<br />
attend court. A small number <strong>of</strong> the district judges <strong>in</strong>terviewed for the cur<strong>rent</strong> study felt that<br />
tenants were attend<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> greater numbers than had previously been the case, and felt that<br />
the courts <strong>in</strong> conjunction with the work <strong>of</strong> those staff<strong>in</strong>g duty desks were encourag<strong>in</strong>g more<br />
to attend.<br />
16