Justin Bates KC

Practice Areas

Justin's practice covers all aspects of housing, property and local government law. He is the Deputy General Editor of the Encyclopaedia of Housing Law and is the author or co-author of a number of other books and annotated statutes.

In recent years, Justin has given evidence on housing law reform to the All Parliamentary Committees on both Legal Aid and the Private Rented Sector; the Welsh Assembly on the Renting Homes (Wales) Act; and the House of Lords on housing and the Equality Act 2010. He co-drafted the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 for Karen Buck MP and the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023 for Bob Blackman MP. He has appeared on various BBC news and current affairs programmes discussing housing law. In 2019/20, he worked on the Right to Manage reform proposals produced by the Law Commission. In 2024, he will be leading in the Supreme Court (in his 8th House of Lords/Supreme Court case) in the A1 Properties case, concerning the consequences of defects in property notices.

Justin is an active supporter of Advocate (the Bar Pro Bono Unit).

Justin was named 'Barrister of the Year' at the Enfranchisement & Right to Manage Awards (ERMAs) 2023 and was shortlisted for the 2023 Chambers and Partners UK Bar Awards - Real Estate 'Junior of the Year' and Legal 500 UK Bar Awards - Property and Housing 'Junior of the Year'.