PracticeMarina Sergides joined Garden Court Chambers as a housing and immigration pupil in 2002 and became a tenant in the same year. She is a practitioner specialising in housing, social security, prison law and inquests. Marina specialises in all aspects of social housing law. She has extensive experience in nuisance possession proceedings, s204 homelessness appeals, disrepair claims, judicial reviews, human rights, public law defences, disability discrimination and cross over ASBO proceedings in the magistrates and county courts. In particular, Marina has worked extensively in cases involving tenants with mental health problems, where capacity has been in issue, and where the Official Solicitor has been instructed. Marina has represented tenants before the Social Security Tribunal and before the Social Security Commissioner. Marina has represented prisoners before independent adjudicators and parole boards and has advised in judicial review challenges. Marina has also represented bereaved families in inquests arising from deaths at work, whilst in the care of the state and where health and safety regulations have been breached. Marina has also provided training to the Housing Law Practitioners Association and regularly provides training at the Garden Court Seminars on wide ranging areas of housing and civil law. She also writes for a number of publications, including the Socialist Lawyer and the Legal Action Group. Marina contributed to the Legal Action Disrepair Roundup in December 2004, 2005 and 2006. In December 2006 Marina was co-editor of the Prison Booklet produced for the post Mubarak Inquiry Conference. It was provided for the 500 prison officials, Prison Governors and MPs that were amongst the attendees. Marina is also a member of the Housing Law Practitioners Association, Inquest Lawyers Group, Haldane, Lobby for Cyprus, Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, and the Haldane Society. Marina was also a member of Pupillage and Training Committee from 2002 until 2008 and was convenor in 2007 - 2008. Marina has also contributed to the Law Society Handbook on Housing Law 2009. Notable CasesGargett, R (on the application of) v London Borough of Lambeth [2008] EWHC 663 (Admin)
The Court considered whether a claimant can be entitled to a discretionary housing payment if they are in receipt of maximum housing benefit and council tax benefit.
Gargett, R (on the application of) v London Borough of Lambeth [2008] EWCA Civ 1450 (18 December 2008)
Gargett, R (on the application of) v London Borough of Lambeth [2008] EWHC 663 (Admin) (08 April 2008) Inquest into the death of Kevin Jessup 14 August 2008
Kevin Jessup, 44, died from a blood clot to the brain at the Royal Free Hospital a day after he was found lying in the middle of Harmood Street, Chalk Farm, five days before Christmas. The Coroner recorded an open verdict. Inquest into the death of Stewart Klincke, June 2008
Stewart Klincke, 55, died after being overcome by carbon dioxide fumes in a room at the Scottish Courage brewery, on January 22, 2006. The Jury gave a narrative verdict, finding that Mr Klincke would not have died if the valve was in its original state. Ferguson v Jones, Birmingham County Court, Legal Action December 2008
Damages for disrepair were awarded at £2700 p.a. pursuant to s.11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. UKSSCSC CH_318_2005
Successful in arguing that a narrow boat with no permanent mooring was held to be within the meaning of "dwelling".
[2005] UKSSCSC CH_318_2005 (10 June 2005) R v London Borough of Southwark
Ogunlowo, Camberwell Magistrate Court, Legal Action December 2004 [2004] UKSSCSC CH_4574_2003
The case considered whether there was a breach of Article 14 when read in conjunction with either article 8 or Article 1 of Protocol 1 in the provision of housing benefit for those residing in bail hostels. The Commissioner held that there was.
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