Q&As

What is the difference between a local authority and a local housing authority?

read titleRead full title
Copyright © 2025 LexisNexis
Produced in partnership with Elizabeth England
Published on: 30 August 2018
imgtext

What is a Local authority?

A local authority (LA) is the general term we use to describe an administrative body in local government.

The term ‘local authority’ was introduced to statute by the Local Government Act 1972 (LGA 1972). By LGA 1972, s 18:

‘Schedule 3 to this Act shall have effect with respect to the division of non-metropolitan counties into districts, the establishment of the new local authorities in England, the Suspension of elections of members of existing local authorities there and related matters.’

LGA

Elizabeth England
Elizabeth England

Employed as a housing case worker in 2015 at award winning legal aid practice Turpin & Miller Solicitors in Oxford, trained and later became head of the housing team. After a series of high-profile cases, she moved to north-west specialist housing firm Pearson & Johnson Solicitors advising and representing local authorities and registered social landlords. Whilst there she obtained Higher Rights and conducted advocacy on behalf of the firm in the range of housing law issues. In 2014 was invited to join London chambers 42 Bedford Row to work with a specialist housing law team. Now represents a range of clients from inner-London borough councils to private clients in the full spectrum of housing law. Elizabeth provides regular training to the London Borough Legal Association. Recent cases include

    Obtaining and enforcing possession orders for landlords
    Defending possession claims for tenants
    Dealing with Human Rights defences
    Dealing with Equality Act defences
    Dealing with unlawful occupiers and squatters
    Unlwaful eviction and harassment
    Disrepair, nuisance and statutory nuisance
    Homelessness reviews and appeals in County Court
    Injunctions to prevent anti-social behaviour and other orders available under he ASB Crime and Policing Act 2014 including committal applications
    Service charge claims
    Leasehold management issues

Read moreRead more
Powered by Lexis+®
Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom
Related legal acts:
Key definition:
Local authority definition
What does Local authority mean?

The County, Unitary or london borough Council for a defined area.

Read more readmore

Popular documents

If a rentcharge is shown as being informally exonerated on title information, does this apply to the

If a rentcharge is shown as being informally exonerated on title information, does this apply to the current registered owner? Or does the informal exoneration only apply to the parties to the document which informally exonerated the rentcharge?This Q&A considers the situation where, at some

If a beneficiary signs a deed of disclaimer of their share of an estate and the estate pays their legal

If a beneficiary signs a deed of disclaimer of their share of an estate and the estate pays their legal fees, will that count as a PET against their estate?A disclaimer is the refusal of a gift prior to acceptance. The refusal of the gift must take place before the beneficiary accepts any benefit

Contributory negligence in personal injury claims

Contributory negligence in personal injury claimsContributory negligence is a partial defence which can lead to a discount in damages.Other defences may also be relevant. See Practice Notes: Did the claimant consent to the risk of injury? and Was the claimant involved in an illegal activity?If a

Can shares in a limited company that have not been paid-up at all be cancelled?

Can shares in a limited company that have not been paid-up at all be cancelled?A limited company having a share capital may not alter that share capital, except in the ways listed in section 617 of the Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006). Shares in a company cannot simply be cancelled without following an