Housing

Anti-Social Behaviour and Nuisance

It is now an accepted fact of life  that providers of social housing deal effectively with the behaviour of the minority of tenants and occupiers who can make the lives of others unbearable. We work quickly and effectively with RSLs across England (predominantly in the North and the Midlands) to ensure this, and training and assistance with policy development is also available 

Disrepair litigation

We have a proven track record in handling claims for disrepair in the County Court and statutory nuisance in the Magistrates Court.  We can advise in detail on landlords' obligations to repair, and on whether it is right to settle or defend an individual claim, and the costs implications of doing so.  In certain circumstances, early advice can negate the need for action altogether.

Possession

From rent arrears possession actions to squatters and adverse possession claims, we can deal with recovery of land quickly and effectively, from drafting the initial Notice to obtaining the Bailiff's Warrant.   

We have delivered training and support packages to enable Social Landlords to manage their own possession proceedings, and we can provide backup support and advice via telephone and email if needed.

Succession, Assignment and Mutual Exchange

These are areas which RSLs encounter daily, but which are not always clear-cut and from time to time require expert legal advice.  We will give considered and expert advice on each individual case.

Gas Servicing

All RSLs will be well aware of their obligations to access properties at least once every year in order to carry out gas safety inspections.  Where such access is prevented, we can offer speedy and effective solutions in the form of Injunctions or where appropriate possession proceedings obliging the tenant to allow access, or ultimately by possession proceedings.  Our success rate with gas safety injunctions is second to none.

General Housing Advice

Housing Law is not always contentious, but is often complex, easy to get wrong, and requires expert guidance.  Our Housing Team comprises only fully qualified lawyers with many years' combined experience of dealing in all aspects of housing and landlord and tenant law.  We can offer advice and assistance on all non-contentious matters, from reviewing existing standard tenancy agreements, to providing regular and comprehensible updates by bulletin on the ever-changing area of housing law.

Training

Our training sessions have proved very successful and can be tailored to suit each RSL's own requirements at any given time.  Previous areas covered on training days have been:-

• Assured Shorthold Tenancies
• The Housing and Regeneration Act 2008
• Attachments of Earnings and Third Party Debt Orders
• The effects on housing management of the cases of Malcolm and McCann
• Mutual Exchanges
• Deeds of Assignment
• Succession
• Starter Tenancies
• Notices Seeking Possession
• Postponed/Suspended Possession Orders

Planning and Development

Our Planning and Development team deals with freehold land acquisitions and disposals and they use their expertise and experience to resolve infrastructure issues including highways, drainage and planning agreements. Issues such as brownfield development, title problems and contamination are all further examples of where we can advise on cost effective solutions.