Next Generation Partners

Social housing in Wales

Blake Morgan LLP

The ‘skilled and highly knowledgeable’ team at Blake Morgan LLP provides a ‘prompt and efficient service’ to Wales and England-based housing associations across a myriad contentious and non-contentious issues affecting their operations. Team head Sian Jones is ‘highly knowledgeable in housing law’, and as well as her conventional housing management work  – which includes anti-social behaviour cases – she has also been very active advising individual and consortia of housing associations on the implications of the recently enacted Renting Homes Wales Act. The ‘extremely knowledgeable and gifted’ Louise Howells takes the lead on real estate-related work in the space, including on complex funding issues, acquisitions and onward sales.

Practice head(s):

Siân Jones


Other key lawyers:

Louise Howells; Paula Kathrens; Eve Piffaretti; Penri Desscan; Kate Howell; Tanya Barrett


Testimonials

‘The team is skilled and highly knowledgeable, and provides excellent customer service. They have also ensured that the clients receive a prompt and efficient service while also ensuring value for money.’

‘They are straight talking and address matters head on to ensure we obtain the base possible results.’

‘This is a top-class practice. Where cases have been complex, there is a wealth of knowledge and resource working collaboratively in order to meet deadlines.’

‘Sian Jones has been fantastic to work with, she is highly knowledgeable in housing law and has explained complex legal matters relating to the Renting Homes Wales Act in simple terms and managed risk for us as a Consortium of registered social landlords.’

‘Louise Howells is an extremely knowledgeable and gifted lawyer.’  

‘The exceptionally gifted Louise Howells is solutions-focused and provides an exceptional service.’ 

Key clients

ClwydAlyn Housing


Newport City Homes


Bron Afon Housing Association


Melin Homes


Trivallis


Linc-Cymru Housing


Midland Heart


Sovereign


Melin Homes


Tai Tarian


Fairhive


Wales & West Housing


Work highlights


  • Advice for various housing associations on the implementation of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 which sees a major change in how residential properties are let in Wales bring operational changes for housing associations.
  • Advising various social housing clients in respect of high volume residential disrepair claims including advice in respect of policies and procedures in respect of addressing damp and mould.
  • Acting on the £23.94m acquisition of 143 much needed affordable housing units at Camborne which was time critical to fall within bpha’s financial years and to ensure a continued good working relationship with Taylor Wimpey.

Hugh James

Drawing upon an 'excellent understanding of the Welsh landscape, the funding regime and the regulatory environment', Hugh James is a very popular choice among domestic housing associations to provide advice across the panoply of their legal requirements, from core management and real estate matters, as well as across other complementary areas of law including employment and corporate. The firm has also been at the forefront of the Renting Homes Act, taking a key role in ensuring RSLs were equipped and fully aware of the huge changes in Welsh landlord and tenant law ahead of the implementation date. Bethan Gladwyn  has been pivotal to the training provided with the regard to the legislation and is also noted for her 'clear and concise advice' as it relates to anti-social behaviour issues. As well as her strategic advice to Wales-based RSLs, including on large-scale regeneration schemes, Caroline O’Flaherty has been central to the firm picking up an increasing volume of mandates for English clients in the sector. The team is headed by Richard Macphail , who excels at development work in the sector.

Practice head(s):

Richard Macphail


Other key lawyers:

Caroline O’Flaherty; Bethan Gladwyn; Iwan Jenkins; Yvonne Davies; Matthew Stevens


Testimonials

‘It is a great team with lots of knowledge and expertise.’

‘They provide a top quality service and it is a pleasure to be instructed and work with people as passionate as I am about housing.’

‘The benefit of working with Hugh James is the depth of sector knowledge they have. They have an excellent understanding of the Welsh landscape, the funding regime and the regulatory environment.’

‘Bethan Gladwyn provides clear and concise advice and has an impressive depth of knowledge of the sector.’ 

 

Key clients

POBL GROUP


LINC CYMRU


CURO GROUP


NEWYDD


GRWP CYNEFIN


MELIN


ADRA


OPTIVO


BARCUD


HAFOD HOUSING


Work highlights


  • Advising Pobl Group on its £15m pioneering mixed use development “Biophillic Living” in Swansea which uses innovative approaches to sustainability and complex funding measures.
  • Advising Optivo on a £25m package deal delivering a blend of social rented and affordable rented housing in London involving the development of 81 apartments which are environmentally sustainable.
  • Advising a large number of housing associations, local authorities and Community Housing Cymru on a landmark piece of legislation (Renting Homes Wales Act 2016) bringing together a collaborative training forum and sense of “shared endeavour” to save clients cost and sharing best practice in implementing the biggest change to housing law in a generation.

Acuity Law

Leveraging its market-leading commercial property reputation, Acuity Law has effectively broadened the scope of its work to include a growing number of mandates in the social housing sector. Team head Liz Gibbons takes the lead on the transactional property aspects of the practice, including work on site acquisitions. Swansea-based consultant partner Neil Morgan is the main contact for housing management work and has deep experience handling anti-social behaviour issues and property litigation work in the sector.

Practice head(s):

Liz Gibbons


Other key lawyers:

Neil Morgan; Jennifer Butcher; Richard Voke


Key clients

Valleys to Coast Housing Limited


Trivallis Limited


Coastal Housing Group


Cadwyn Housing Association Limited


Barcud Group


Ateb


Melin Homes


Bro Myrddin


Merthyr HA


Principality Building Society


Work highlights


  • Representing Coastal Housing in relation to any property-related disputes across its residential, leasehold, and commercial portfolio.
  • Acting for Valleys to Coast in connection with their housing disrepair claims.
  • Acting for Wales’ largest building society, The Principality, in connection with its funding the development, The Mill, Cardiff.

Clarke Willmott LLP

The 'brilliant' team at Clarke Willmott LLP provides a 'very efficient' service to a range of stakeholders on housing management, property and development matters, as well as its core specialism in relation to social housing finance. Drawing upon a 'great deal of knowledge of lender requirements', team head Vicky Kells  is effectively able to advise housing associations on the relevant due diligence required for securing loan facilities, as well as in the context of private placements. Drawing upon his expertise of acting for both lenders and borrowers, the 'very knowledgeable and personable' Fraser MacRae has an excellent perspective of what is acceptable to both parties when negotiating loan facilities (bilateral and syndicated) and bond issuances. Outside of the financing arena, commercial property partner Clare Gregory handles a considerable volume of transactional property work in the space, including on acquisitions and disposals, as well as development work.

Practice head(s):

Vicky Kells


Other key lawyers:

Fraser MacRae; Bethan Evans; Clare Gregory; Charlotte Lord


Testimonials

‘The team at Clarke Willmott are brilliant. They are reliable, knowledgeable and very efficient.’

‘I find the team at Clarke Willmott just fantastic. It is so comforting that a professional services firm delivers what it says it will, on time and charges the agreed fee.’

‘Vicky Kells is very experienced in acting for housing associations in mortgaging properties and has a great deal of knowledge of lender requirements.’

‘Fraser McCrae is very knowledgeable and personable.’

‘Charlotte Lord has a great attention to detail and is very organised and efficient.’

Key clients

RHA Wales Group Limited


United Welsh Housing Association Limited


Melin Homes Limited


Caredig


Taff Housing Association Limited


Principality Building Society


Silva Homes Limited


Orbit Group Limited


Southern Housing


Hafod Housing Association Limited


Tai Tarian


Work highlights


  • Provided wide-ranging advice to RHA Wales Group – including in relation to the acquisition of 272 homes from Wales & West; a new loan facility from Barclays; auctioning disposals of empty properties; grant and surrender of commercial leases; and dealing with anti-social behaviour claims.
  • Advised national Registered Provider, Orbit Group, on £21m transfer of a nationwide shared ownership portfolio (196 homes) to a for-profit registered provider (ReSI Housing) – this was the second disposal and the team is currently working on a third tranche.
  • Advised Principality Building Society on a new £50m facility agreement for Pobl Homes and Communities Limited and accompanying security over more than 900 properties within tight time-scales.

Geldards LLP

Led by Susanne Bradley, the multidisciplinary team at Geldards LLP provides a 'professional and responsive' service to a sizeable roster of Wales-based housing associations across a broad swathe of their legal requirements, including as it relates to property, construction employment and commercial contracts. Harriet Morgan is able to leverage her broader charities law advice, ensuring that she is well-placed to advise on governance matters and charity specific legislation, including in the context of property development advice.


Practice head(s):

Susanne Bradley


Other key lawyers:

Harriet Morgan; Liz Ganderton; Lowri Philips; Tony Norris; Chris Williams


Testimonials

‘They provide professional and responsive advice.’

‘Harriet Morgan is extremely knowledgeable.’

Key clients

United Welsh


Westmoreland Housing Association


Adra


The Pobl Group


Newydd Housing Association (1974) Limited


Chrysalis Supported Association Limited


The Curo Group


Coastal Housing Group


Wales and West Housing Association


Work highlights


  • Advised Westmoreland Supported Housing Limited on multiple lease acquisitions to grow its property base.
  • Advised Newydd Housing Association (1974) Limited on the development of residential sites for general use needs.
  • Advised ADRA (Tai) Cyfyngedig on standardising construction documentation and on bespoke construction issues.

Capital Law Limited

While it lacks a standalone social housing offering, Capital Law Limited regularly advises Wales-based RSLs across a range of practice areas, including a considerable amount flowing the firm’s commercial property and construction offerings. Senior associate David Sheppard is the de-facto head of the team and regularly advises housing associations on employment matters.


Practice head(s):

David Sheppard


Key clients

Pobl Group


Tai Calon Community Housing


Valleys to Coast Housing Limited


Adra (Tai) Cyfyngedig


Bron Afon Community Housing


Trivallis Limited


Newydd Housing Association Limited


Cadwyn Housing Association


Southern Housing Group


Yr Hadau Limited


Cartrefi Conway Cyfyngedig


Hendre Limited


Welsh Government


Work highlights


  • Advised The Hendre Group under an ongoing employment law retainer concerning all aspects of employment and HR matters, assisting one of the largest housing associations in Wales, with properties across Cardiff and South Wales.
  • Advising Newydd Housing Association on all disrepair claims they receive from tenants across their portfolio.
  • Assisting Valleys2Coast with its legal requirements in connection with the proposed development comprising of 10 residential units at a locally significant site in Porthcawl.

Morgan LaRoche

At Morgan LaRoche, Ann Thomas is the primary contact for core social housing work, and has particularly deep knowledge of the funding requirements for RSLs, including in relation to securitisation transactions. The firm's full-service offering is also regularly utilised by clients in the space, most commonly as it pertains to employment and property litigation matters.

Practice head(s):

Ann Thomas (Real Estate – Social Housing); Jason Williams (Litigation – Social Housing); Ashley Davies (Litigation – Social Housing); Hannah Belton (Employment – Social Housing)


Other key lawyers:

William Barletta