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David Cowan

David Cowan

The site provides information, updates and discussion on Welsh housing and homelessness law. It is all free, but it is just our opinions, and NOT legal advice. Please do not ask for advice on individual matters.

Latest posts

The temporary accommodation crisis

Posted on 27 March 2025 by David Cowan

I have been co-organising a workshop about crises as dysfunctions of government (taking place at Cardiff Law School building), at which there are four papers addressing the housing crisis in […]

The PSOW

Posted on 21 March 2025 by David Cowan

For various reasons over the last 30 years (more or less), I have been taking an interest in the administrative justice space that affects housing.  That includes stuff around local […]

Notes on devolution

Posted on 14 March 2025 by David Cowan

This past week or so has been one in which devolution of housing has cropped up, raising some odd little things.  Three odd little things, actually: leasehold reform; Awaab's law; […]

Gypsy and Traveller Consultation (and the PSOW)

Posted on 7 March 2025 by David Cowan

It's about time that we looked at the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales (PSOW) - not so much a "deep dive" as a register of interest at this stage (to […]

Three tidbits

Posted on 7 March 2025 by David Cowan

Three tidbits of interesting news/gossip: First, a bit of gossip.  I now have it from two different sources that the Court of Appeal has granted permission to appeal in Coastal […]

Rent smart?

Posted on 28 February 2025 by David Cowan

At some point in February, Rent Smart Wales put out their most recent newsletter.  For those of you not in the know, Rent Smart Wales is the organisation, run out […]

Early Municipal Housing in Swansea

Posted on 25 February 2025 by David Cowan

If you are not a reader of the Municipal Dreams substack (why not?), which covers histories of the development of council housing, then you are missing out.  It is absolutely […]

Housing First

Posted on 25 February 2025 by David Cowan

Housing First is an intervention which seeks to resolve homelessness (particularly street homelessness and rough sleeping) through the provision of housing (without any precondition), and then inputting relevant services for […]

Second homes

Posted on 24 February 2025 by David Cowan

The lovely county of Gwynedd has been in the news for reasons other than its beauty.  It made the BBC, Guardian (Rowan Moore column), Mail (for policy reasons, I don't […]

Holding post …

Posted on 20 February 2025 by David Cowan

Apologies but I've had the dreaded lurgy this week and have just about managed to do my teaching but not write a post.  I plan a post about a Housing […]