Industry Sector Expertise
Housing and Social Welfare
Sarah practises in the full range of housing matters from possession proceedings and disrepair, to anti-social behaviour injunctions, homelessness and allocations, and unlawful evictions.
Sarah is particularly experienced at dealing with discrimination in housing and has had considerable success in claims concerning discrimination arising from disability, reasonable adjustments, Article 14, and the public law equality duty.
Sarah frequently delivers seminars and training on housing. She is the co-author of the Housing title of Atkins Court Forms and of the Ninth edition of Defending Possession Proceedings. She takes a keen interest in the developing law and welcomes the opportunity to explore novel approaches.
Equality and Discrimination
Sarah’s practice encompasses discrimination law in housing, education and goods and services. It is the common thread running through her practice and as such she is able to employ innovative arguments by reading across practice areas.
Land and Property
Sarah acts in cases including orders for sale, proprietary estoppel matters, boundary disputes, trespass and adverse possession, and nuisance. She has acted for both leaseholders and residents’ management companies in service charge disputes in the First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) and in the County Court.
Administrative and Public Law
Sarah is frequently instructed in judicial review matters in relation to housing, in particular homelessness and allocations, and under sections 17 and 20 of the Children Act 1989. She also acts in judicial reviews on education and community care matters.
She has a particular interest in the public sector equality duty and in the interrelationship between public sector duties, and private law discrimination claims.
Housing and Social Welfare
Sarah practises in the full range of housing matters from possession proceedings and disrepair, to anti-social behaviour injunctions, homelessness and allocations, and unlawful evictions.
Sarah is particularly experienced at dealing with discrimination in housing and has had considerable success in claims concerning discrimination arising from disability, reasonable adjustments, Article 14, and the public law equality duty. She is passionate about representing vulnerable people, and committed to building a good rapport with clients and enabling positive and engaged decision making.
Sarah frequently delivers seminars and training on housing. She is the co-author of the Housing title of Atkins Court Forms and of the Ninth edition of Defending Possession Proceedings. She takes a keen interest in the developing law and welcomes the opportunity to explore novel approaches.
Some recent examples include:
Armin Rahimi v Westminster City Council [2024] EWCA Civ 73, [2024] H.L.R. 17: Important second appeal clarifying the law on the issue of surrender and re-grant. Led by Martin Westgate KC.
R (Imam) v London Borough of Croydon [2023] UKSC 45, [2023] 3 W.L.R. 1178: Successful respondent to Supreme Court appeal on the issue of the relevance of local authority resources in the making of mandatory orders. Led by Martin Westgate KC.
Westminster City Council v Kazam and Rahimi [2023] EWHC 825 (KB) Appeal against dismissal of possession claim and declaration that Mr Rahimi had succeeded to the tenancy.
R (Elkundi and Ors) v Birmingham / R (Imam) v Croydon [2022] EWCA Civ 601. Successful appeal against the refusal to enforce the main housing duty where the local authority in breach of duty for over 5 years. Led in the appeal by Martin Westgate KC
Rosebery Housing Association v Cara Williams [2021] EW Misc 22 (CC). Claim for an ASBI dismissed, and counterclaim for discrimination succeeded with £27,500 awarded in damages for injury to feelings.
R. (Imam) v Croydon LBC [2021] EWHC 739 (Admin) [2021] H.L.R. 44: First instance decision finding that the local authority acted unlawfully in failing to consider Ms Imam for a Band 1 priority under its allocations scheme.
Constandas v Lysdandrou [2018] EWCA Civ 613 [2018] 2 F.L.R. 983: Unlawful eviction claim and claim for share of the beneficial interest in Hamstead home. Concerned purchase of property and alleged resulting trust from 1953. (see press coverage here, here and here).
Mahindan v Newham: Successful long running judicial review, appeal, and related Housing Act appeal concerning the suitability of temporary accommodation for significantly disabled woman. (see press coverage here).
MP v Southwark [2016] EWCA Civ 991: Successful appeal under section 204 Housing Act 1996, and appeals 204A, and to the Court of Appeal in relation to intentional homelessness for applicant with severe learning disabilities and Autism ([2016] November Legal Action 42).
R (N) v Greenwich [2016] EWHC 2559: Successful judicial review of refusal to provide accommodation under section 17 Children Act 1989 where the mother did not have the right to rent (Legal Action 2016/17, Dec/Jan, 17-21; J.H.L. 2016, 19(5), D71-D72.
Elmer v Wandsworth [2016] EWCA Civ 1278: Housing Act appeal in relation to intentional homelessness from grossly and statutorily overcrowded premises.
Equality and Discrimination
Sarah’s practice encompasses discrimination law in housing, education and goods and services. It is the common thread running through her practice and as such she is able to employ innovative arguments by reading across practice areas.
Sarah edits the Legal Action Discrimination Quantum Reports column.
Examples of recent cases include:
Meagher v University of Cambridge and Ors [2025] EWHC 30 (KB): Appeal against strike out of certain elements of discrimination claim against university. See press coverage here, here and here.
University of Bristol v Dr Robert Abrahart [2024] EWHC 299 (KB) [2024] I.R.L.R. 396: University’s appeal against successful discrimination concerning failure to make reasonable adjustments for Natasha Abrahart, a university student with Social Anxiety Disorder, who took her own life in April 2017. The EHRC intervened. Led by Jamie Burton KC. See press coverage here, here, here and here.
Rosebery Housing Association v Cara Williams [2021] EW Misc 22 (CC): Counterclaim for discrimination where a housing association had brought unjustified application for an anti-social behaviour injunction. £27,500 awarded in damages for injury to feelings.
Abrahart v University of Bristol law [2022] P.I.Q.R. P17: Successful discrimination claim representing the father of Natasha Abrahart, a university student with Social Anxiety Disorder, who took her own life in April 2017. The first case in which suicide was found to have been caused by discrimination. With Jamie Burton KC (see examples of press coverage here, here, here, here and here).
Carmichael v SoSWP: Discriminatory application of the ‘bedroom tax’ for seriously disabled woman (see press coverage here, here, here, and here).
Land and Property
Sarah acts in cases including orders for sale, proprietary estoppel matters, boundary disputes, trespass and adverse possession, and nuisance. She has acted for both leaseholders and residents’ management companies in service charge disputes in the First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) and in the County Court.
Administrative and Public Law
Sarah is frequently instructed in judicial review matters in relation to housing, in particular homelessness and allocations, and under sections 17 and 20 of the Children Act 1989. She also acts in judicial reviews on education and community care matters.
She has a particular interest in the public sector equality duty and in the interrelationship between public sector duties, and private law discrimination claims. For example she acted for a police officer in a case concerning whether breach of public law obligations could raise an inference of discrimination in a private law claim, for a service user in a case concerning reasonable adjustments in the exercise of a public function.
Education Law
Sarah represents parents, students, schools and local authorities in public law education appeals to the First-Tier Tribunal, disability discrimination cases in the FTT and the County Court, and in related judicial review proceedings. She has appeared in cases involving maintained and independent schools, academies and colleges, and in matters involving school transport, EHC Plans, exclusions and admissions, and discrimination.
Community Care and Health
Sarah frequently acts in cases involving sections 17 and 20 Children Act 1989 support and accommodation, provision to care leavers and looked after children, and in Care Act 2015 matters.
She has particular experience and expertise in discrimination law and public/private cross over cases including public law claims with associated damages claims.
