Karen Neald

Karen is a principal associate who has experience and knowledge in all aspects of housing management disputes on behalf of a number of housing associations and other landlords and also deals with a number of high-profile commercial landlords.

Karen has specific expertise in removal of trespassers, housing disrepair and other housing management related topics.

Karen has previously been a leading contact dealing with bulk gas injunctions and other access applications. Karen created a bespoke flow case management system to deal with bulk applications and has provided training and advice to clients on access proceedings and enforcement options as well as other forms of housing management issues. This has been of valued assistance to a number of the departments’ housing landlords.

Her experience includes possession, removal of squatters in both commercial and residential premises and disrepair claims as well as injunctive action in matters involving both anti-social behaviour and unlawful eviction. Karen has frequently issued and dealt with trespass matters in the High Court at the Royal Courts of Justice in London for major commercial clients in addition to local courts and transfers up to the High Court as required for enforcement — in particular in urgent matters that have required resolving quickly. Karen has been successful in all of these applications, whether opposed or unopposed.

This experience has included dealing with committal applications following breaches of injunctions and undertakings. She has also sought injunction orders on the grounds of anti-social behaviour and regularly advises clients on evidence gathering and preparation of statements and evidence for court hearings.

Karen deals with all aspects of housing disrepair for landlords and regularly advises clients on other housing management issues such as rent possession proceedings, succession, mutual exchange, rent increases, home loss payments, unlawful occupation as well as leaseholder issues.

Karen also deals with mortgagee in possession proceedings for private lenders and commercial lenders up to and including eviction if that becomes necessary.

Karen has also given a number of in-house seminars/training workshops to clients on housing-related topics. Karen appears as an advocate in the county court on anti-social behaviour and other injunctive action, in not only matters of anti-social behaviour but also in relation to access and possession.

Her other experience includes dealing with lease extensions of flats and houses, and also notice to purchase freehold titles, as well as being able to deal with lease renewals and court proceedings in relation to lease renewals as required.

This also extends to regularly dealing with neighbour disputes including boundary disputes and adverse possession claims of land and has successfully obtained both recovery of land and acquisition of land for both commercial and residential clients.

Karen also deals with any issues concerning the Party Wall Act and Access to Neighbouring land, and also has experience in relation to queries on service charges.

Karen has successfully obtained anti-social behaviour injunctions, undertakings and exclusion orders against individuals, including orders to exclude individuals from their own homes.

Karen has experience in representing landlords in all manner of commercial property disputes including lease renewal proceedings (both opposed and unopposed) dealing with relevant notices and proceedings where required and also in all manner of housing management issues for housing associations and other landlords.