Housing Law

"An outstanding set known for its superb representation of tenants, Garden Court maintains its position at the forefront of social housing issues."

Chambers UK Bar Guide - Band 1

"Members of the set routinely act for vulnerable clients in possession proceedings, disrepair claims and homelessness appeals, and appear at all levels challenging local authorities' decisions on welfare and benefits."

Chambers UK Bar Guide - Band 1

"Garden Court’s formidable reputation in housing is complemented by its extensive expertise in community care, human rights and public law cases. Its barristers are particularly adept at utilising Equality Act defences."

Chambers UK Bar Guide - Band 1

"The clerks at the chambers are efficient, helpful and friendly." "The set’s clerking service is excellent."

Chambers UK Bar Guide - Band 1

"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."

Chambers UK Bar Guide - Band 1

To contact the Housing Clerks, please email housingandpropertycl@gclaw.co.uk or phone

+44 (0)20 7993 7600

We also accept instructions for both paperwork and hearings taking place by telephone and video link. We are well set up to arrange video links. We are also readily available to provide urgent advice and guidance.

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Positioned at the forefront of social housing legal advice, Garden Court Chambers is ranked in Band 1 of the Chambers UK Bar Guide & Tier 1 in Legal 500, in recognition of our outstanding expertise in this area of law. 

Areas of Expertise

  • Possession claims
  • Homelessness
  • Disrepair and housing conditions
  • Equality Act and Disability issues
  • Anti-social behaviour
  • Allocation of social housing
  • Unlawful eviction
  • Romani Gypsy and Traveller Rights
  • Welfare benefits
  • Community care

The Housing Team at Garden Court is one of the largest teams in the country and offers expertise across the full range of housing work. The experience available within the Team is unrivalled. We advise and represent housing clients at all court levels. Members of the Team have appeared in many of the leading cases.

We write or contribute to many practitioner texts and articles including Housing Allocation and Homelessness Law and Practice, Discrimination in Housing Law and the monthly Housing Law update in Legal Action.

Housing law cases can and often do raise aspects of immigration, family law, welfare benefits, discrimination, and criminal law. Court of Protection issues can also arise. We pride ourselves on our cross-over expertise and as part of a multi-disciplinary set of around 200 barristers, we are extremely well placed to advise on these other issues related to housing.

Our housing law barristers advise on the full range of accommodation and support issues concerning migrant welfare and asylum support. We are able to offer a complete service in social services, homelessness and connected Children Act and Care Act matters.

Thanks to our fluid and cross-disciplinary approach, we can draw on the wisdom and experience of our colleagues in Chambers who specialise in these areas.

Recent notable cases and news

Liz Davies KC & Adrian Berry contribute to Legal Action Magazine (Jul/Aug 2024)

Our Liz Davies KC of the Garden Court Housing Law Team and Adrian Berry of the Garden Court Immigration Law Team have written for Legal Action Magazine.

21 June 2024

Bethan Harris, Desmond Rutledge and Kevin Gannon contribute to Legal Action HB and UC housing costs update (Jul/Aug 24)

Our Bethan Harris, Desmond Rutledge and Kevin Gannon of the Garden Court Housing Law Team have written for Legal Action Magazine.

11 June 2024

Nick Bano jointly shortlisted for Davidson Prize

Nick Bano of the Garden Court Housing Law Team was involved in the team project 'Harlow Re-New Town' by OEV Architects (Tessa Baird and David Eland) and Yaa Projects (Nana Biamah-Ofosu), assisted by Dominic Humphrey and Stuti Bansal.

22 May 2024

County Court finds pre-settled status holders eligible for homelessness assistance under Housing Act 1996 on basis of right to equal treatment

The successful Appellant was represented by Adrian Berry and Desmond Rutledge of Garden Court Chambers, instructed by Shelter.

22 May 2024

Nick Bano, Ollie Persey and Mia Hakl-Law shortlisted for LALY Awards 2024

Our warmest congratulations to Nick, Ollie and Mia for this outstanding achievement.

20 May 2024

Can Gas Safety Records (GSR), Energy Performance Certificates (EPC), and How to Rent Guides (HTR) be deemed served on a tenant by post under Section 7 of the Interpretation Act 1978?

Our Tim Jones of the Garden Court Housing Team is acting for the Appellant, led by Matthew Lee of Doughty Street Chambers and instructed by Manjinder Atwal & Vincent Davis of Duncan Lewis Solicitors.

25 April 2024

High Court grants interim relief to vulnerable refugee faced with imminent homelessness by local authority

Georgie Rea, of the Garden Court Housing Team, instructed by Lauren Sidgwick of Turpin Miller, successfully obtained interim relief from the High Court just before the bank holiday weekend.

12 April 2024

High Court finds Local Authority's housing policy to be discriminatory against women and girls escaping violence in successful judicial review challenge

Stephanie Harrison KC and Nadia O’Mara of the Garden Court Public Law Team successfully acted for the Claimant, instructed by Public Interest Law Centre.

10 April 2024

Justine Compton appointed full-time Judge in Social Entitlement Chamber

We are delighted to announce that Justine Compton has been appointed a Judge in the First Tier Tribunal, Social Entitlement Chamber.

5 April 2024

Islington Council must pay costs after dismissing tenant's long-term homosexual partner as friend in succession case

Adrian Marshall Williams prepared the defence and written submissions and Oscar Davies represented Mr Bariotakis at trial. Both are part of the Garden Court Housing Law Team. They were instructed by Serdar Celebi at Islington Law Centre via legal aid.

3 April 2024

Tim Jones joins Garden Court Chambers as new tenant

We are delighted to announce that Tim Jones has joined Garden Court Chambers as a new tenant.

2 April 2024

Tim Baldwin appointed joint co-chair of Housing Law Practitioners Association (HLPA)

We are delighted to announce that Tim Baldwin of the Garden Court Housing Law Team has been appointed co-chair of Housing Law Practitioners Association (HLPA)'s Executive Committee.

2 April 2024

Garden Court Housing Team responds to Government consultation on Reform of Social Housing Allocation

The Garden Court Housing Law Team responds to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities consultation on reforms to social housing allocations.

26 March 2024

Nick Bano's new book 'Against Landlords: How to Solve the Housing Crisis' out today

Nick Bano of the Garden Court Housing Law Team has authored 'Against Landlords: How to Solve the Housing Crisis', published by Verso Books.

26 March 2024

Court awards 100% of rent in damages to tenant whose property was unfit for habitation

Matthew Ahluwalia of the Garden Court Housing Team acted for the Second Defendant/tenant, instructed by Jacobo Borrero at Hansen Palomares.

19 March 2024

Ukrainian family successfully challenges Hounslow’s handling of housing allocation application

Matthew Ahluwalia acted for the successful Claimant, instructed by Rory Matheson and Alex McMahon at Osbornes Solicitors.

12 March 2024

David Renton's new book 'Discrimination in Housing Law' (LAG) out today

David Renton of the Garden Court Housing and Employment & Discrimination Law Teams has authored 'Discrimination in Housing Law', published by Legal Action Group (LAG).

11 March 2024

Ricky Blennerhassett joins Garden Court Chambers as new tenant

We are delighted to announce that Ricky Blennerhassett has joined Garden Court Chambers as a new tenant.

12 February 2024

High Court finds that Lambeth does have a discretion to backdate registration date of housing allocation applications

Matt Ahluwalia of the Garden Court Housing Law Team acted for the defendant, instructed by Luke Sheldon of GT Stewart.

9 February 2024

Excluding people with behavioural disabilities from social housing: new High Court decision

Nick Bano of the Garden Court Housing Law Team represented the Claimant, instructed by Tracy Ball of BHT Sussex.

26 January 2024

Amendments introduced by Renters (Reform) Bill extend liability for Rent Repayment Orders "RRO" to Superior Landlords

Edward Fitzpatrick and Tim Baldwin are members of the Housing Team at Garden Court Chambers.

8 December 2023

High Court quashes council’s refusal to accommodate vulnerable man

Kevin Gannon, Nick Bano and Angharad Monk of the Garden Court Chambers Housing Team were instructed by North West London Law Centres.

27 November 2023

Oscar Davies joins Garden Court Chambers as new tenant

We are delighted to announce that Oscar Davies has joined Garden Court Chambers as a new tenant.

27 November 2023

Liz Davies KC presents evidence to the Renters (Reform) Bill Scrutiny Committee

Liz Davies KC, Joint Head of Garden Court Chambers, presented evidence to the Renters (Reform) Bill Scrutiny Committee.

16 November 2023

Garden Court Chambers welcomes four new pupils

Garden Court Chambers is delighted to welcome four new pupils: Matthew Banks, Abby Buttle, Daniella Davenport, and Christopher Lambert.

9 October 2023

Liz Davies KC contributes to Wales Expert Review Panel Report on Homelessness

Liz Davies KC, Joint Head of Garden Court Chambers, was the legal adviser to this important report, part of the Welsh Government's work on ending homelessness in Wales.

5 October 2023

Garden Court secures top tier rankings in the Legal 500 UK 2024

Garden Court Chambers is proud to be recognised as a Top Tier set again in the Legal 500 UK 2024 rankings.

4 October 2023

John Beckley appointed as Circuit Judge

We are delighted to announce that John Beckley, a former member of chambers, has been appointed as a Circuit Judge.

26 September 2023

Connor Johnston conducting new Law Commission project on reforming social care for disabled children

Connor Johnston is a member of the Garden Court Chambers Community Care team.

13 September 2023

High Court issues declaration of incompatibility with the Human Rights Act 1998

Stephen Cottle of the Garden Court Housing Team represented the first defendant, instructed by Chris Johnson of Community Law Partnership.

6 July 2023

Tom Wainwright and Justine Compton appointed as Recorders

We are delighted to announce Tom Wainwright (Call: 2003) and Justine Compton (Call: 2005) of Garden Court Chambers have been newly appointed as Recorders by the Queen on the advice of the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales.

18 May 2023

Court of Appeal quashes an unlawful notice served by Local Authority seeking eviction of Irish Travellers from a temporary site in Ramsgate Harbour

Tim Baldwin of Garden Court Chambers acted on behalf of the Claimant, SO, leading Lara Simak of 12 Old Square Chambers.

14 April 2023

URGENT WORK

Chambers’ housing team operates an urgent work and out of hours rota.

The housing clerks can be contacted on 07889044442 and will be pleased to arrange for members of the team to assist with urgent work. Please note this number is for the legal profession only. Enquiries from members of the public or enquiries relating to non-urgent work cannot be dealt with on this number. 

General enquiries from the legal profession can be dealt with by contacting the clerks on housingandpropertycl@gclaw.co.uk or call us on 020 7993 7600.

Enquiries from members of the public can be dealt with by emailing pa@gclaw.co.uk or calling 020 7993 7777.

 

Publications, Advice & Training

Our work extends beyond the courtroom. Our housing law barristers also spend time training, advising and writing on housing issues. Our members have written or co-authored some of the most important works currently available in housing law, including:

  • Against Landlords: How to solve the housing crisis (2024) by Nick Bano
  • Discrimination in Housing Law (1st edition, 2024) by David Renton
  • A Practical Guide to the Public Sector Equality Duty in Housing (1st edition, 2023) by Nick Bano
  • Migrant Support Handbook (2023) co-authored by Connor Johnston
  • Housing Allocation and Homelessness Law and Practice (6th edition, 2022) co-authored by HHJ Luba KC, Liz Davies KC, Connor Johnston and Tessa Buchanan.
  • Defending Possession Proceedings (9th edition, 2022) co-authored by HHJ Luba KC (and others)
  • Jobs and Homes: Stories of the Law in Lockdown (2021) by David Renton
  • Housing Law Handbook (2nd edition, 2020) by Stephen Cottle and other members of the Garden Court Chambers Housing Team, available from the Law Society
  • Housing Conditions: Tenants’ Rights (6th edition, 2019) co-authored by HHJ Luba KC, Catherine O’Donnell and Giles Peaker

We regularly contribute articles and case reports to professional publications such as Legal Action, Journal of Housing Law, Solicitors Journal, Landlord and Tenant Review and the New Law Journal.

Over many years, we have supported the Housing Law Practitioners’ Association (HLPA) as both ordinary and executive members, and by giving talks and attending meetings. We have also taken part in numerous training courses provided by, or in association with, Legal Action Group, The Law Society, Liberty and others.

If you would like the Housing Team to deliver a training session at your firm or organisation please contact the Housing Team clerks.

 

Useful Links & Materials

Useful Links

 

We are top ranked by independent legal directories and consistently win awards.

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