Housing law

Advice and guidance in relation to social and public sector housing matters for local authorities and other social landlords.

The law relating to housing is far-reaching in its scope and effects. Both in the public and private sector, expert legal advice and guidance is of paramount importance, and the right choice of solicitor can make a significant difference to an organisation’s performance.

Weightmans’ Housing Law team have extensive experience in dealing with a vast range of housing related issues for a broad base of landlord clients, including local authorities, housing trusts and Registered Social Landlords. Our strength lies in our ability to deliver both non-contentious and litigation services with the same level of efficiency and efficacy.

Our case management system allows us to deal with large or small matters such as right-to-buy sales, the status of asylum seekers and the rights of secure tenants, in a cost-effective way. As a local authority or business organisation, you are therefore able to proceed with greater confidence, in the knowledge that you have expert support and protection behind you, without incurring excessive costs.

Housing Litigation

We can give advice in respect of:

Anti social behaviour orders (ASBOs)
Anti social behaviour injunctions (ASBI’s)
Possession
Demotion
Introductory/starter tenancies
Disrepair under Defective Premises Act 1972 and Landlord & Tenants Act 1985
Tolerated trespasses
Assured/secure tenancies
Licences
Assured shorthold tenancies
Pursuing tenant arrears – commercial recoveries team can help you improve financial performance by using award winning case management system for bulk debt recovery

Housing Management

We can provide advice in respect of:

Policies
Leaseholder issues including possession of shared ownership leases
Service charge disputes including representation at the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal
Occupancy agreements
Landlord and tenant issues
Judicial Review

Property Team

The team provides advice on:

Right to buy
Large scale repair projects
Decanting and demolishing tower blocks
Compulsory purchase
Stock transfer
Site acquisition and disposal
Joint ventures
Financing works
Construction contract/disputes
Drafting and advising on shared ownership leases
Advising on lease extensions and leasehold reform legislation
Contested and uncontested business lease renewals
Advising on remedies available to landlords as a result of commercial rent arrears including forfeiture procedure.

Sian Evans

Partner

Direct dial:
0151 242 6821
Email me
Meet the team

Social Housing - March 2008
In this edition we look at a recent case dealing with possession on disability discrimination, an overview of the Housing and Regeneration Bill and consider how a criminal conviction can lead to an outright possession order and recent case law.
Social Housing - November 2007
In this edition we look at the recent case law concerning interpretation of a public body for the purposes of the Human Rights Act, guidance on the Welfare Reform Act, the latest guidance on anti social behaviour injunctions, demotion and judicial review and the update on recent case law.
Social Housing - October 2007
In this edition we look at the recent guidance given for disability discrimination cases, the consultation paper from the Law Commission concerning a tribunal for housing disputes, Office of Fair Trading guidance on shared ownership leases, service charge update, rent arrears protocol update and recent case law.
Local Government - May 2007
This edition includes articles on a new white paper on planning, the new Code of Conduct for Members, the case of Knowsley Housing Trust v White, freedom of information, gambling, employment law and case and legislation in April.