Rule of Law CASES

October 5, 2025

National Case Law Archive

Law books on a desk

Wildtree Hotels Ltd v Harrow LBC [2001] 2 AC 1

A local authority argued it lacked resources to comply with a repairs notice for homeless accommodation it managed. The House of Lords held the statutory duty to repair under the Housing Act 1985 was mandatory and could not be avoided by financial constraints. Facts Wildtree Hotels Ltd and other companies owned properties which they leased to Harrow London Borough Council (Harrow LBC) for use as temporary accommodation for homeless families. The properties fell into a state of serious disrepair, rendering them unfit for human habitation. An environmental health officer, employed by Harrow LBC, determined that the council itself was the

October 2, 2025

National Case Law Archive

Law books in a law library

R v Governor of Brockhill Prison, ex parte Evans [2000] UKHL 48

A prisoner was detained for 59 days beyond her lawful release date because the prison governor miscalculated her sentence based on a legal interpretation that was later overruled. The House of Lords held this was false imprisonment, a tort of strict liability. Facts The appellant, Michelle Evans, was serving consecutive prison sentences. The prison governor’s staff calculated her release date in accordance with the prevailing interpretation of the relevant sentencing provisions, as established in R v. Governor of Blundeston Prison, Ex parte Gaffney [1982] 1 W.L.R. 696. However, a subsequent High Court decision, R v. Secretary of State for the