Supreme Court refuses to hear cannabis and suspended possession orders case

The Supreme Court has refused a housing association permission to appeal a Court of Appeal ruling on the grant of suspended possession orders and convictions for growing cannabis, it has emerged.

In City West Housing Trust v Massey (AP) UKSC 2016/0160 Neutral Citation No: [2016] EWCA Civ 704 Lord Neuberger, Lord Carnwath and Lord Hughes concluded that the application did not raise an arguable point of law.

The case of City West Housing Trust v Lindsey Massey and Manchester and District Housing Association v Vincent Roberts had seen the housing associations appeal county court decisions to grant SPOs in respect of tenants who had used their properties for the cultivation of cannabis.

The Court of Appeal upheld the SPOs in July and gave guidance on how such cases should be treated.

For an analysis of the Court of Appeal ruling and guidance, see Eviction for growing cannabis by Thomas Djan-Krofa.