Housing
A dedicated, professional team of experts
Garden Court Chambers has one of the largest specialist Housing law teams in the country (over 20 barristers) and has a reputation for excellence in this area. We cover all aspects of Housing law including security of tenure, unlawful eviction, homelessness, allocation of social housing, disrepair and housing benefit. We're particularly committed to representing tenants, other occupiers and homeless people.
We also advise on other issues related to housing: Gypsies and Travellers; disability issues; welfare benefits; ASBOs and ASBIs; community care; unfair terms in tenancy agreements; general town and country planning matters; grants; licensing of houses in multiple occupation; housing standards; and the housing health and safety rating system. We represent squatters. The team advises on the full range of accommodation and support issues concerning migrant welfare and asylum support. We are able to offer a complete service in NASS, social services, homelessness and connected Children Act matters.
A housing case can include aspects of immigration, family law, welfare benefits, disability, and criminal law. Thanks to our multidisciplinary approach, we can draw on the wisdom and experience of our colleagues in chambers who specialise in these areas. The Housing law team provides a full service, covering cases from the lowest to the highest courts, as well as undertaking advisory work.
"Arguably the best set for legal aid matters across all areas, and certainly great when it comes to housing law," said Chambers and Partners 2009. It noted that at Garden Court Chambers we have built up a team of very experienced and expert Housing practitioners. Our work isn't confined to the courtroom. We also spend time training, advising and writing on Housing issues. We were the first chambers to serve as an LSC Specialist Support Service provider in Housing Law, and from 2004-2008 we offered specialist support and training under contract direct from the Legal Services Commission.
We produce a free weekly Housing Law Bulletin and regularly contribute articles and case reports to professional publications such as Legal Action, All England Legal Opinion, Solicitors Journal, Landlord and Tenant Review and New Law Journal.
We have also written or co-written the authoritative books: Defending Possession Proceedings (LAG); Repairs: Tenants' Rights (LAG); Remedies for Disrepair and Other Building Defects (Sweet & Maxwell), Support for Asylum Seekers (LAG) , and Using the Housing Act 2004(Jordans). We have also written Housing Allocation and Homelessness (Jordans), The Homelessness Act 2002: A Special Bulletin (Jordans) and Housing and the Human Rights Act: A Special Bulletin (Jordans).
Over many years, we have supported theHLPA (Housing Law Practitioners' Association) as both ordinary and executive members, and by giving talks and attending meetings. We have also taken part in numerous training courses provided by or in association with the Legal Action Group, the Law Society, Liberty and others. We are proud of the professional, approachable and up-to-date Housing law service that we provide.
Notable cases
We have taken part in many of the leading Housing cases of recent years. A selection of just the recent House of Lords cases in which members of the team have appeared includes:
R (Ahmad) v Newham LBC [2009] UKHL 14
Holmes-Moorhouse v Richmond LBC [2009] UKHL 7
Knowsley Housing Trust v White [2008] UKHL 70
Doherty v Birmingham CC [2008] UKHL 57
R(M) v Slough BC [2008] UKHL 52
London Borough of Lewisham v Malcolm [2008] UKHL 43
R (M) v London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham [2008] UKHL 14
Birmingham City Council v Walker [2007] UKHL 22.
Riverside Housing Association Ltd v. White & Anor [2007] UKHL 20
Kay v Lambeth LBC and London & Quadrant Housing Trust [2006] UKHL 10
South Buckinghamshire District Council v Porter [2004] UKHL 33
Qazi v Harrow LBC [2003] UKHL 43
Housing Clerks
If you would like more information about our housing team email the clerks civilclerks@gclaw.co.uk
or call us on 020 7993 7600
The team
Members of the Housing team are listed below - click on their names to go to their profiles.
