The barristers at 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square have significant expertise in the social housing sector, advising and representing clients on the full range of social housing disputes. Iain Colville represented the appellants in Hajjaj v City of Westminster; Akhter v Waltham Forest LBC, challenging the authorities decision regarding the suitability of accommodation offered in the private rented sector. Andrew Dymond has extensive experience in social housing law with a particular focus on possession claims, regulatory work and homelessness, and notably he has represented the survivors and relatives of the Grenfell Tower enquiry. Philippa Seal represents the defendant in Metropolitan Housing Trust Ltd v McMahon, opposing a possession claim on public law grounds.

The team at Cornerstone Barristers possess extensive experience in the social housing sector, as they advise and represent clients on the full range of social housing matters including anti-social behaviour, statutory nuisance, homelessness, possession claims among many others. Ranjit Bhose KC successfully represented the defendant in Global Guardians v LB Hounslow, a Court of Appeal case concerning if properties occupied by guardians were classified as HMOs. Kuljit Bhogal KC represented a housing association in a possession claim for anti-social behaviour against a defendant with a long history of anti-social behaviour and criminal behaviour.

Doughty Street Chambers is renowned for its expertise in the social housing sector, acting for claimants. Martin Westgate KC  represented the tenants in Westminster CC v Kazam and Rahimi, a case concerning surrender and re-grant of tenancies, while Matthew Lee  represented a man who, upon his release from prison, found that a housing association property let to his father had been surrendered by a woman who came to the UK and claimed to be married to the tenant - the ex-prisoner was found to have succeeded to the tenancy.

Five Paper is a notable set in the social housing space, the barristers represent numerous clients including local authorities in a wide range of social housing matters. Nicholas Grundy KC regularly acts for housing authorities and associations in cases related to discrimination, human rights, European law and statutory interpretations. Elizabeth England, successfully represented the Westminster City Council in a possession claim involving a contested succession. Angela Hall specialises in ASB, disrepair, equality and tenancy fraud, and she has represented the Peabody Trust in a case was a disrepair claim concerning a centralised heating system.

 

 

 

An ‘exceptional set’ Garden Court Chambers is recognised for having a housing law team with ‘great depth’ in the social housing sector. Liz Davies KC has particular expertise in cases related to homelessness, and she acted for the applicant in Ghaoui v Waltham Forest LBC, this case concerned the right to religious beliefs in the context of whether the local authority could provide accommodation to the applicant near an Islamic school for the applicants children. Stephen Cottle , successfully represented the defendant in Platform Housing Limited v Staples, a case involved representation of a disabled tenant in a reasonable adjustments and counterclaim against a possession claim.

The team at 42BR Barristers has in depth expertise in the social housing arena, the barristers represent and advise individuals and housing bodies on antisocial behaviour, disrepair, possession claims, rent, tenancy fraud and many more. Iris Ferber KC leads the housing team and has acted for the defendant in Vyas v LB Newham, a homelessness case involving an applicant who refuses to live in a council flat due to difficulties with an ex-partner. Mathew McDermott represented the defendant in Richmond Housing Partnership v Yakub-Hughe, this case involved the defendant seeking to avoid mandatory possession proceedings from social housing due to criminal activity. Peter Jolley has extensive experience representing clients in disrepair claims, equality, succession and tenancy fraud. The team was further strengthened with the arrival of barristers Amritpal Bachu in May 2024 and Alex Bailey in November 2024.

The barristers at Field Court Chambers represent local authorities, housing associations, tenants and landlords in a wide range of social housing disputes. Genevieve Screeche-Powell has extensive experience in the social housing sector, with a particular focus on cases involving public policy, and she had successfully represented Tower Hamlets in a judicial review challenge to its use of a database for homeless applicants awaiting temporary accommodation in  R (Anisa Begum) v LB Tower Hamlets. Sarah McKeown has significant experience in representing landlords and tenants in matters involving possession, disrepair, homelessness appeals and rent issues.

The team at Gatehouse Chambers advises on a range of social housing disputes, including breach of covenants, repossessions, disrepair, anti-social injunctions and right to buy. Alison Meacher draws from her expertise in other areas of law such as human rights and mental health to assist her on her cases, and she has represented a claimant seeking to resist an application by the defendant’s litigation friend to stay a possession and sale order. Laura Tweedy represents the claimant ina case concerning if a suspended possession order for rent arrears can be converted into an outright possession order due to subsequent criminal behaviour.

Landmark Chambers‘ barristers represent central and local governments, homelessness charities, landlords and tenants in a range of social housing cases. Justin Bates KC represented the defendant in Howe v Accent Properties, a case concerning the service charge provisions in Right to Buy leases, in particular forms of clauses commonly used across the north of England. Katherine Traynor has vast experience in property litigation and social housing work, as she has represented claimants and defendants in county court, high court and tribunals.