Next Generation Partners

Social housing in North

Swinburne Maddison LLP

The social housing offering at Swinburne Maddison LLP runs the gamut of contentious and non-contentious matters, spanning the full range of developments, housing purchases, anti-social behaviour issues, and disrepair claims. Practice head David Low is a seasoned litigator with particular experience handling tenancy problems, injunction orders, and various other disputes for registered providers. Kate Stephenson acts for developers and landlords and is a key name for portfolio management and grant funding issues, while Chris Ross handles the sale and disposal of development sites. The core team also includes Lewis Brown, who handles housing disrepair claims.

Responsables de la pratique:

David Low


Autres avocats clés:

Kate Stephenson; Chris Ross; Lewis Brown


Les références

‘David Low has provided responsive and professional advice on a litigation matter, demonstrating great communication skills and a firm guiding hand.

‘Kate Stephenson continues to provide fantastic and responsive contract advice, achieving completion on a number of significant deals within tight timeframes and receiving compliment from another law firm.’

‘We are really pleased with the relationship we have with the team at Swinburne Maddison, we consider them part of our in house team as they are always available on the end of the phone to discuss any issues or concerns we raise.’

Principaux clients

Beyond Housing Limited


Karbon Homes Limited


Livin Housing


Leeds City Council


Believe Housing


Moving On (Durham) Ltd


My Space Housing Solutions


Broadacres


Mulberry Homes Limited


Principaux dossiers


  • Acting on behalf of Beyond Housing Limited and other Registered Providers buying houses using funds provided by Homes England in the acquisition of over 400 affordable homes.
  • Acting for a large Local Authority in connection with ongoing housing disrepair claims.
  • Acting for Registered Providers across the North East and beyond in connection with a range of enforcement matters, primarily relating to possession cases based on anti-social behaviour and applications for injunctions.

Ward Hadaway LLP

The multidisciplinary social housing team at Ward Hadaway LLP acts for leading registered social  providers and developers across the region and on a national level, leveraging the strength of its network of offices. The group has recently seen an increase in instructions related to housing disrepair, development acquisitions, and the disposal of affordable housing. Key names in Newcastle include Neil Williamson, who handles the construction aspects of developments, and Kamran Hyder, a key contact for planning issues. The firm further strengthened its offering with the arrival of Kelly Pearson from DWF in February 2024; Pearson has extensive experience across the full range of social housing issues including s106 agreements, disposals, option agreements, and refinancings. Julia Thomson left the team in April 2024.

Autres avocats clés:

Kelly Pearson; Neil Williamson; Kamran Hyder


Les références

‘Very experienced individuals, great links to its busy house builder practice, comprehensive service with planning, construction, specialist housing litigation, unique plans service, good resource for major projects. Recent arrivals of Robert Emson and Kelly Pearson will make this a national team standard.’

‘Jen Robinson is technically very strong and very hard-working. Kam Hyder and Carolyn Akerman are very knowledgeable and supportive Neil Williamson very unflappable and commercial for construction work Robert Emson calm and assured for housing litigation Kelly Pearson technically strong and experienced in the sector.’

‘The team are highly knowledgeable about the law in respect of the matters we refer to them. This extensive knowledge is invaluable in determining the best way to handle particular claims, in order to both successfully resist unmeritorious claims, but also to discourage more of the same. ’

Principaux clients

Karbon Homes Limited


Together Housing Association Limited


Yorkshire Housing Limited


Places for People Group


54 North Homes


Livin Housing Limited


Leeds Federated Housing Association Limited


Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust


South Lakes Housing


Gentoo Group


Inclusion Housing


Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP

Finance and investment specialist John Ralph and residential property specialist Nigel Emmerson jointly lead the cross-disciplinary social housing team at Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP, which advises national and regional providers, housing associations, and local authorities on the full spectrum of relevant matters. Non-contentious mandates, including development and regeneration projects, feature prominently in the group’s workload; housing disrepair disputes, tenancy management, and anti-social behaviour injunctions are other areas of expertise. The group further strengthened its Newcastle offering with the April 2024 arrival of Julia Thomson, formerly at Ward Hadaway LLP.

Responsables de la pratique:

John Ralph; Nigel Emmerson


Autres avocats clés:

Julia Thomson


Principaux clients

Bernicia Group


Home Group Limited


Royal Masonic Benevolent Institute


Rentplus UK Limited


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised Bernicia on a dispute relating to the maintenance of water supply installations and a septic tank arising from a Large Scale Voluntary Transfer from Northumberland County Council.
  • Acting as the main advisers for Rentplus UK Limited, which works in partnership with national government, housing associations, local authorities, local enterprise partnerships, developers, house builders and private investors, on funding and building new homes across the country.
  • Advising Royal Masonic Benevolent Institute – Development Programme on dealing with the appointment of project management and design consultants and the procuring of development partners/specialist contractors to upgrades its care home and build out the extra care facilities.