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 Jerome Jones v Birmingham City Council, a case concerning whether the civil standard of proof for gang injunctions are incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights and the House of Lords decision in R (McCann) v Manchester Crown Court. One source says: "4-5 Gray's Inn Square has excellent counsel who are thorough and well positioned to deal with complex matters." Another says: "4-5 Gray's Inn Square barristers are excellent in homelessness challenges in the High Court, County Court and Court of Appeal."

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 Jerome Jones v Birmingham City Council, acting for the Council in the Supreme Court. One source notes: "Cornerstone is the place to go if you are a landlord."

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 work highlight for the year is R (Imam) v Croydon LBC, a judicial review regarding the breach of housing duties. One source comments that "Doughty Street are a dynamic and innovative chambers which cover complementary practice areas." Another says: "Doughty Street is an excellent set of chambers, with a wide range of barristers providing great breadth as well as depth. Particularly strong in areas of overlapping housing law and discrimination."

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: "There are very impressive barristers at Garden Court Chambers who I would not hesitate to use for the most complex housing cases." Another states: "Garden Court Chambers are one of the go-to sets for complex work - a top set with consistently excellent results." 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 which challenge existing policies. Instructing solicitors describe the chambers as the "go-to set of chambers for any matter. They have an excellent range of counsel at all levels and can deal with any complex matter." Others note that "the set has a cross section of experience which allows us to find the right barrister for the complexity of the case." This year, the set appeared in Zaman v LB Waltham Forest, a case concerned with out-of-borough placements of homeless applicants.

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 very strong set. The team has a wide variety of expertise." Another source says: "Landmark Chambers has a range of specialist barristers who have knowledge and experience in property litigation at all levels of complexity." A recent work highlight for the set is Rowe v Haringey LBC, a homelessness case concerning the interaction of two different laws on overcrowding.

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 barristers have analytic minds and take a logical approach when requested to deal with the cases, with attention to detail and strong research skills." Another interviewee adds that the "barristers are very skilled, experienced and interested in complex and technical cases, as well as being easy to work with and excellent at building relationships with vulnerable clients." A particular work highlight for the year is Lambeth v Kelly, a matter related to an appeal against a service charge decision of the FTT.

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 Poplar Housing & Regeneration Community Association v Michael McHale, a case concerned with the breach of an anti-social behaviour injunction. One source says: "The barristers have good commercial awareness." Another source states: "Gatehouse Chambers is a proven set with expert knowledge."

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 source says: "The barristers at One Pump Court are open to consider new and untried arguments in cases at court. They are well equipped to understand and advise upon complex and sophisticated cases." Another source states: "One Pump Court barristers are very knowledgeable in housing matters and are always in the know about any changes in the law."