Liz Davies

Profile

Liz specialises in all aspects of housing law, with a particular specialism in homelessness and allocation of social housing. She also practises in areas of community care, particularly where community care intersects with homelessness. Liz is committed to acting for the homeless, and for tenants, and has a tenacious and practical approach to conducting her cases. She is on the panel for the Bar Pro Bono Unit. She has been recommended in social housing in Chambers and Partners for 2007, 2008 and 2009. Liz is ranked by Chambers and Partners 2009 and 2010 in Band 1 for junior housing barristers.

"Liz Davies has been promoted to the top tier of the rankings this year following a glut of positive feedback. "A good fighter in court," she is a leading thinker on homelessness and allocation law, an area she "knows inside-out." Chambers and Partners 2009

"Former solicitor Liz Davies is renowned as "one of the most able juniors around." She co-authored the main textbook on homelessness and allocation law and is seen as an "absolute authority" in that area of law. She is also able to maintain particularly good relationships with clients." Chambers and Partners 2010

She regularly speaks at conferences and training events, principally on aspects of homelessness or allocation of social housing law, but also on other areas of housing law.

Legal

Housing Allocation and Homelessness: Law and Practice (Jordans, 2nd edition, March 2010) co-author with Jan Luba QC

The Homelessness Act 2002: Special Bulletin (Jordans, 2002) co-author with Jan Luba QC
Regular contributor to housing law journals and to Socialist Lawyer (Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers)

Non-legal

Through the Looking Glass: a dissenter inside New Labour (Verso, 2001)

Monthly columnist for the Morning Star newspaper

Notable Cases

Ali v Birmingham City Council, Moran v Manchester City Council [2009] UKHL 36, [2009] 1 WLR 1506, HL Women's refuges are not reasonable to continue to occupy and therefore women occupying refuge accommodation are homeless.

Ahad v Tower Hamlets LBC [2008] EWCA Civ 606, CA,

R (Kilby) v Basildon DC; [2007] EWCA Civ 479, [2007] H.L.R. 39, CA (variation of terms of secure tenancies).

R (Conville) v Richmond upon Thames LBC [2006] EWCA Civ 718 (local housing authorities may not take into account their own resources when deciding what period would give intentionally homeless families a "reasonable opportunity" of finding their own accommodation);

Al-Ameri v Kensington & Chelsea RLBC [2004] 4UKHL 4, [2004] 2 AC 159, [2004] HLR 20 (accommodation provided by NASS does not constitute residence of own choice for purposes of local connection);

Sheffield City Council v Smart [2002] EWCA Civ 04 [2002] HLR 34 (human rights defences in possession actions for non-secure tenancies)

Ingle v Scarborough Borough Council [2002] EWCA Civ 290 [2002] HLR 36 (home loss payments for secure tenants);

Kacar v London Borough of Enfield [2001] 33 HLR 64 CA (scope of inquiries in homeless applications);

Warsame v London Borough of Hounslow [1999] 32 HLR 335 CA (jurisdiction of County Court to hear appeals against decisions discharging homelessness duties)

Background

Liz started her professional life as a solicitor at TV Edwards, working in Tower Hamlets and Hackney. She developed a specialism in housing law as a solicitor. She came to the Bar in 1994.

Liz is a well-known labour movement and peace activist. She was a councillor in Islington between 1990 and 1998 and chaired the council's women's committee. She regularly writes and speaks on issues involving civil liberties, social justice, anti-war and anti-racism campaigns.

Since 2006, she has been the Chair of the Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers.

Societies

Liz is Chair of the Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers. She is a member of Liberty, Justice, Housing Law Practitioners Association, LAG, Administrative Law Bar Association.

Last updated April 2010

Year of Call

(former solicitor, qualified 1989)

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