Social Housing | UK Bar

4-5 Gray's Inn Square is home to a highly regarded bench of experienced practitioners acting on an exceptionally wide range of housing matters. Members represent clients in possession proceedings, homelessness appeals and housing benefit disputes, among other complex cases. Work highlights for the set this year include Jaberi v Westminster City Council and Moge v Ealing, a homelessness accommodation dispute. One source says: "4-5 Gray's Inn Square's barristers are subject matter experts in the field, which allows them to view any situation from a variety of angles." Another says: "A specialist set that is very strong on all aspects of housing."

Cornerstone Barristers is a pre-eminent set for housing cases and highly sought after by social housing landlords. The set has an impressive team of practitioners who are experienced in the full range of social housing matters. Members of Cornerstone's team are particularly capable in cases dealing with complex issues such as community care, human rights and immigration, and have appeared in such cases as Imam v LB Croydon, acting for the council in the Supreme Court. One source notes: "My experience has always been that the set is very strong in this area."

Doughty Street Chambers is an excellent housing set known for its capabilities in acting for tenants and applicants. The members are experts in possession proceedings and homelessness appeals, with a particular focus on matters involving community care considerations. A particular work highlight for the year is R (Imam) v Croydon LBC. One source comments that "the breadth of knowledge of the barristers with whom I have worked is wonderful." Another says: "A very strong set when it comes to social housing."

Garden Court Chambers is very well known for its representation of tenants in highly complex social housing cases. Members of the set frequently represent vulnerable clients in disrepair claims, homelessness appeals and possession proceedings. Barristers at the set are regularly called on to assist with challenges to local authority housing, welfare and benefit decisions. One source comments: "Garden Court Chambers has a large number of top-rated barristers." Another states: "I have worked with Garden Court Chambers on numerous complex matters and I am consistently impressed by the assistance it is able to provide in handling these." A work highlight for the set this year is Rakusen v Jepsen & Others, a test case concerned with rent repayment orders.

Five Paper continues to be well respected for its social housing expertise. The set is home to highly experienced barristers covering a range of matters, including disrepair claims, tenancy disputes, homelessness cases and possession proceedings. Members of Five Paper regularly act for local authorities and housing providers, as well as individuals. The barristers are regularly called on to act in complex cases that challenge existing policies. Instructing solicitors describe the chambers as having "excellent junior and senior barristers with a wealth of knowledge, especially with complex social housing cases." Others note that there are "some truly fantastic barristers at this set who are always a pleasure to work with." This year, the set appeared in Rahimi v Westminster CC, a case concerned with succession to a secure tenancy and surrender by operation of law.

A well-respected set with a strong reputation in the social housing sector, Landmark Chambers has an impressive roster of housing practitioners. The barristers regularly represent social landlords and local authorities in a wide range of housing matters. The set routinely handles housing management and development cases involving public law considerations. A market source comments: "Landmark Chambers is a highly capable set combining expertise in property and public law." Another source says: "The set has an excellent group of property barristers who handle extremely complex matters with exceptional skill." A recent work highlight for the set is R (Imam) v Croydon, a Supreme Court case concerned with the provision of suitable temporary housing to homeless people.

42 Bedford Row is a well-respected set with strong expertise in social housing. The social housing team advises local authorities, housing associations, social landlords and private individuals. The barristers work on a wide range of housing mandates, including disrepair, anti-social behaviour, homelessness and allocation issues, and possession and eviction proceedings. A market source says the set has "good expertise". Another interviewee adds: "I am very confident with the experience, skills, ability and practical know-how of this set." A particular work highlight for the year is Akanbi v LB Lewisham, a homelessness appeal.

Gatehouse Chambers continues to be a popular choice for local authorities, landlords and housing associations. The barristers act on a broad range of social housing matters and represent clients in complex possession cases, disrepair claims and anti-social behaviour disputes. Members of the set regularly appear in the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. A recent work highlight for the set this year was Mears Housing Management v The London Borough of Luton. One source says: "Gatehouse has a strong line-up of silks and senior juniors who have been able to assist in many complex disputes." Another source states: "I have complete faith that any counsel from Gatehouse has the ability to pick up and deal with matters of any complexity."

One Pump Court houses a number of experienced social housing barristers who have expertise in possession claims, anti-social behaviour proceedings and cases relating to homelessness. They are frequently retained for both landlord and tenant work, and offer experience appearing before all levels of the court, up to the Supreme Court. A recent work highlight for the set this year was Uduze v Bexley LBC, a case concerning the suitability of offered accommodation. A source says: "The set offers an excellent range of expertise covering all aspects of social housing law." Another source states: "The depth of knowledge on the topics we have instructed the set on has been first rate."