Social Housing
31 July 2010

Social Housing

Legal advice and supporting services to providers of affordable housing for rent or shared ownership.

Affordable housing represents one of the most important elements of national and local government policy in the UK. For the various providers – housing associations, registered charities, co-operatives and local councils – successful execution of that policy depends on efficient handling of the numerous legal issues involved.

As a registered social landlord, you need the best legal advice and support available, and Weightmans’ Social Housing team is here to provide it. We will help you manage your responsibilities in the most effective way possible, so that your time involvement is minimised and costly problems are avoided.

Our lengthy experience covers every aspect of housing management, including disposals of surplus stock and stock transfers. Housing providers such as Liverpool Housing Action Trust and agencies such as Commission for the New Towns and English Partnerships are among our clients.

We advise on every aspect of social housing, both contentious and                non-contentious, particularly the law relating to secure and assured tenancies. We also provide a full service in the drafting of tenancy agreements, including introductory and assured short-term tenancies, and the formulation of        anti-social behaviour policies.

Further areas of expertise include rent increases for secure and assured tenancies, rent possession and nuisance possession cases, injunctions relating to statutory inspections, disposals of land held for housing purposes, land transfers with grant aid and formulation of grant agreements.