Liz is a "star individual" social housing counsel in Chambers and Partners and Tier 1 for social housing in Legal 500. She acts as a consultant to Crisis and has represented Shelter pro bono in interventions. She is joint Head of Chambers with Stephanie Harrison QC and Rajiv Menon QC.
She specialises in all aspects of housing law, with a particular expertise in homelessness and allocation of social housing. She also practises in areas of community care and Children Act cases, particularly where accommodation might be an issue.
Comments on Liz in professional directories, besides those quoted above, include "She is one of the most outstanding, highly regarded and dedicated barristers in the country...She has an infectious passion for social justice and always goes the extra mile for clients." Chambers UK Bar Guide.
She is committed to acting for the homeless, and for tenants and other occupiers, and has a tenacious and practical approach to conducting her cases. She accepts instructions to appear in the Court of Protection and is also a qualified mediator.
Liz was a finalist for the Legal Aid Barrister of the Year Award 2014.
Housing Law
Overview
Liz is ranked as a "Star Individual" in social housing by Chambers UK 2021 and as a leading junior in social housing (Tier 1) by the Legal 500 2021.
She has undertaken social housing practice as a solicitor and as a barrister since 1989. She is a specialist in all aspects of social housing law and recognised as a leading authority in homelessness law and the allocation of social housing. She is the co-author of Housing Allocation and Homelessness (Luba, Davies, Johnston & Buchanan, LexisNexis, 5th ed, 2018).
Her practice is in public law issues: she appears in the Administrative Court and homelessness appeals in the County Court. She was instructed as the housing specialist as part of a team of counsel representing survivors and bereaved families in the Grenfell Tower Fire Inquiry Phase 1.
She acts as a consultant to the homelessness charity Crisis, and has assisted in drafting the Homelessness Reduction Act 2018, amendments to the Domestic Abuse Bill relating to homelessness and Crisis’ draft legislation Homelessness and the Prevention of Homelessness (Covid-19 Response) Bill. Liz has also given evidence to the House of Commons Housing Communities and Local Government Select Committee on homelessness and the effect of Covid 19.
Notable Cases
Bullale v City of Westminster Council [2020] EWCA Civ 1587
When considering whether accommodation broke the chain of causation from an earlier finding that an applicant had become homeless intentionally, the question for a local housing authority is one of fact and degree, taking into account all relevant circumstances. The fact that accommodation may have been overcrowded is a relevant, but not determinative, factor. The previous Court of Appeal decision of Doka v Southwark LBC, which had referred to an assessment of relative precariousness of accommodation, was no more than a description of the factual context in that case. Liz led Nick Bano for the appellant.
R (Ncube) v Westminster City Council [2021] EWHC 578 (Admin)
Liz represented Shelter pro bono, as interveners, leading Adrian Berry and Connor Johnston. The Court held that councils can lawfully provide emergency accommodation to rough sleepers who are not eligible for assistance under Part 7 Housing Act 1996, using their powers at s.138 Local Government Act 1972 and/or s.2B National Health Service Act 2006. Shelter’s evidence and legal submissions showed how the government’s guidance on ‘Everyone In’ was being haphazardly interpreted and the devastating impact on those left without help.
Al Ahmed v Tower Hamlets LBC [2020] EWCA Civ 51. Court of Appeal guidance on “good reason” for an extension of time for issuing s.204 Housing Act 1996 homelessness appeals, including a recognition of the difficulties faced by homelessness applicants in bringing an appeal under s.204 of the 1996 Act without legal advice and representation, and of the difficulties they may face in finding someone to provide those services under legal aid, especially as a result of the post-LASPO shrinkage of the housing advice sector. Liz acted pro bono, with Connor Johnston of Garden Court, for Shelter as intervener in the Court of Appeal.
Adesotu v Lewisham LBC [2019] EWCA Civ 1405. The Court of Appeal considered the extent to which claims of direct, indirect, or disability discrimination could be raised in homelessness appeals.
R (Hoyte) v Southwark LBC [2016] EWHC 1665 (Admin): when a local housing authority is required to accept fresh application for homelessness assistance on the basis of "new facts".
R (Alansi) v Newham LBC [2013] EWCA Civ 3722 (Admin): the issue of legitimate expectation within a local housing authority's allocation scheme.
Holt v Reading Borough Council [2013] EWCA Civ 641, CA: a judge was entitled to make an order for possession setting out the conditions under which the local housing authority should secure alternative accommodation.
Johnson & others v Old [2013] EWCA Civ 415, CA: On the correct construction of a tenancy agreement, a payment made by the tenant at the start of the tenancy pursuant to a requirement in the agreement to pay the first six months' rent in advance was not a tenancy deposit required to paid into a deposit protection scheme, but was the advance payment of rent.
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.
First Instance Cases
A list of Liz Davies' first instance cases is available here.
Contact Liz
Administrative and Public Law
Overview
Liz practices in administrative and public law cases which involve housing or community care issues.
Notable Cases
R (Ncube) v Westminster City Council [2021] EWHC 578 (Admin)
Liz represented Shelter pro bono, as interveners, leading Adrian Berry and Connor Johnston. The Court held that councils can lawfully provide emergency accommodation to rough sleepers who are not eligible for assistance under Part 7 Housing Act 1996, using their powers at s.138 Local Government Act 1972 and/or s.2B National Health Service Act 2006. Shelter’s evidence and legal submissions showed how the government’s guidance on ‘Everyone In’ was being haphazardly interpreted and the devastating impact on those left without help.
R (Hoyte) v Southwark LBC [2016] EWHC 1665 (Admin): when a local housing authority is required to accept fresh application for homelessness assistance on the basis of "new facts".
R (Alansi) v Newham LBC [2013] EWCA Civ 3722 (Admin): the issue of legitimate expectation within a local housing authority's allocation scheme.
Contact Liz
Mediation
Liz is a qualified mediator. Further details can be found on the Garden Court Chambers Mediation website.
Contact Liz
Pro Bono Work
Liz is on the panel for the Bar Pro Bono Unit. Liz has represented Shelter pro bono on two cases where Shelter was the intervener: Al Ahmed v Tower Hamlets LBC and R (Ncube) v Brighton & Hove Council.
