Led by Michael Owen and Spencer Vella Sultana, the practice at Capsticks LLP advises registered providers and local authorities on a range of housing matters. Owen advises on tenancy reviews, future-proofing occupation agreements in light of the Renters’ Rights Act and Awaab’s Law, and rent policy. Sultana focuses on land and building acquisitions and judicial review risk. Suzanne Smith negotiates and drafts section 106 and planning performance agreements. Sarah Christy handles anti-social behaviour injunctions, closure orders and possession proceedings, including Equality Act 2010 defences. Rita Saadeh is also recommended to assist with agricultural land acquisitions.

Operating across the South East UK, the social housing team at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP advises registered providers and local authorities on transactions, funding and asset management throughout the lifecycle of affordable housing stock. Led by Linda Storey, the practice handles shared-ownership disposals, multi-site acquisitions, and development contract negotiations. Charlotte D’Avola advises on property charging in connection with loans under the Affordable Homes Programme, grant funding, nomination agreements and portfolio restructurings and disposals. Catherine Bradshaw assists with funding agreements, collateral warranties and site acquisitions for residential development, reflecting a strong emphasis on delivery and regeneration within the sector.

At Duncan Lewis Solicitors, the housing team is headed by experienced practitioners including Manjinder Kaur Atwal, Dianne Cowie and Bernadette Chikwe. Atwal represents clients in judicial reviews challenging local authority refusals to accept new homelessness applications and advises on succession and anti-social behaviour possession claims. Cowie acts for tenants in possession and committal proceedings following breaches of anti-social behaviour injunctions obtained by landlords, including cases involving significant nuisance and disabled tenants. Chikwe handles section 21 claims, negotiated settlements, suspension of possession orders and unlawful eviction claims.

The practice at Foot Anstey is led by Lara Borrett-Lynch, who advises on the disposal of affordable housing units, turnkey acquisitions, and conditional land-and-build agreements, including site-related considerations. Georgina Massey assists with the transfer of units from developer entities to registered providers and advises clients on conditional planning acquisitions and development agreements for the construction of affordable housing. The team’s work centres on development-led transactions and delivery structures within the social housing sector.

Lucy Richardson and Adele Scrivens lead the social housing practice at Freeths LLP, advising on complex multi-party transactions for the supply of affordable housing units involving developers and private landowners. The team assists with negotiating turnkey arrangements, land-and-build contracts, and development agreements, including the upfront sale of land to housing associations. It also supports larger-scale acquisitions of affordable homes. Their work is focused on development-led transactions and delivery structures, particularly in high-value deals across the sector.

Co-led by Jonathan Jennings and Simon Braun, the team at Perrin Myddelton advises registered providers and managing agents across development, asset management and housing management matters in the South East. Jennings has led on phased land transfers for housing schemes, site acquisitions and the negotiation of facilities management agreements. Sylvia Goulding drafts golden brick sale and purchase agreements and development agreements. David Kemp advises on licenses to assign and alter, lease surrenders, new leases, rent deposit deeds and rent arrears. The team also advises on injunctions for access for inspection, possession proceedings and anti-social behaviour injunctions within the sector.

At Judge & Priestley LLP, the practice advises registered providers and local authorities on contentious housing management matters. Practice heads Nitika Singh and Andrew Barron lead on possession proceedings, including anti-social behaviour, rent arrears and failed succession, and defend claims under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The team also manages disrepair group litigation, injunction challenges and recovery of substantial service charge arrears.

At Turpin & Miller LLP, the team advises on housing management disputes and statutory homelessness challenges. Practice head Laura Coyle acts for defendants in possession claims, including those involving shared-ownership properties. Abigail Humphries-Robertson defends possession proceedings involving anti-social behaviour and property damage, and advises on section 202 reviews and section 204 appeals concerning intentional homelessness decisions.