Housing Ombudsman identifies the meaning of 'vulnerability'
26/02/2024
Spotlight report - Relationship of Equals
-
I am a housing management lawyer, specialising in non-contentious advice. I deal with all aspects relating to tenancy/licence agreement drafting and reviews (ensuring they comply with both regulatory and legal requirements), advising on rent reviews, reviewing and amending housing policies and procedures. I also have experience of advising on organisational wide CCTV policy advice, complaint handling (including to the Housing Ombudsman) and reviewing and advising on allocation, nomination, and management agreements.
Prior to my current role, I assisted Registered Providers with housing management litigation ranging from anti-social behaviour, breach of tenancy terms, advice regarding succession (and subsequent legal action) and unlawful eviction. I have also dealt with cases in the Court of Protection (based on hoarding), coroners inquests, tenancy fraud, unlawful eviction and committal proceedings (including in the High Court), Domestic Homicide Review advice (including liability and regulatory advice) and complex discrimination Equality Act proceedings, including alleged breach of the Public Sector Equality Duty.
I have worked within the Social Housing Sector for many years, including for tenants under a legal aid contract. I therefore bring a breadth of experience and awareness of challenges and concerns within the wider sector.
I was named as a Rising Star in Legal 500 in 2023 and 2024, and also as an Associate to watch in Chambers 2024.
-
- Assisting with a review and advice of an organisational wide CCTV policy, including the responsibilities and duties of the RP in terms of the ICO’s involvement.
- Assisting to consider the potential liability and regulatory concerns following a Domestic Homicide Review.
- Advised and assisted with a coroner’s inquest, where there were significant concerns regarding the condition of the dwelling and concerns that this may have attributed to the death of the tenant.
- Providing suites of training on all aspects of fundamentals of housing management, succession, witness statements and Equality Act advice. I have also provided bespoke training to upskill officers with a view of them reducing legal spend by doing more tasks internally.
- Obtaining injunctions against vexatious tenants, including reviewing and assisting with implementing challenging tenant policies and procedures, alongside training to staff.
- Significant experience of obtaining urgent anti-social behaviour injunctions, including exclusion orders, where threats to kill have been made, and/or other violent behaviour – including arson with intent to endanger life.
- Assisting on a vast number of cases to successfully defend complex disability discrimination defences, including where the tenant lacked mental capacity, resulting in obtaining outright possession orders.
- Assisting to discharge a high court injunction order, fraudulently obtained on the basis of alleged unlawful eviction, and subsequently obtaining an outright possession order and a maximum custodial sentence following committal proceedings.
- Assisted a RP to recover possession of a property and obtain an Unlawful Profit Order in excess of £45,000
- Defending damages claims against RP’s for alleged breach of policies, including obtaining Civil Restraint Orders against vexatious litigants.
-
Social Housing landlords – are you ready for what’s happening?
22/02/2024
Consultations and policy deadline dates
