Harper Macleod LLP's extensive registered social landlord (RSL) portfolio is testimony to the team's substantial expertise in this sector, which is also regularly called upon by other players in the sector such as government bodies and local authorities alongside private developers. Following a multidisciplinary approach, the team is well placed to provide its clients with full-service advice, including assistance with private placement deals, mergers and group restructures, M&A, procurement and regulatory matters. While co-head James McMorrow focuses on corporate, commercial, regulatory and public procurement issues, co-head Derek Hogg puts particular emphasis on governance, regulatory and constitutional work. Collette Miller, who made partner in April 2019, is another key contact for social housing legislation and regulatory issues.
Social housing in Scotland
Harper Macleod LLP
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Testimonials
‘Personable, practical and down-to-earth legal advice. Naturally very considered and bespoke to our particular needs and issues.‘
‘The firm has an excellent reputation for delivering a high level of service and for the in-depth knowledge and experience they have of the Scottish housing sector and environment, over a range of areas from regulation and governance to funding and finance.‘
‘James McMorrow and his associates provided detailed advice and suggested wording for our response on a timeous basis.‘
‘Derek Hogg has considerable expertise and knowledge of the housing sector and is a recognised industry expert in the regulation of housing associations. Not only did he demonstrate a high level of skill in terms of the advice he gave but also he was very pragmatic in his assessment of the impact of various loan clauses. In this he exhibited a thorough understanding of our organisation and the sector.‘
Key clients
Scottish Government (Shared Equity Framework)
Link Group Limited
Port of Leith Housing Association Limited
Dunbritton Housing Association Limited
Scottish Borders Housing Association Limited
Kingdom Housing Association Limited
West of Scotland Housing Association Limited
Wheatley Housing Group Limited
Cunninghame Housing Association Limited
Hjaltland Housing Association Limited
Grampian Housing Association Limited
GB Social Housing PLC
Sanctuary Housing Association (including Sanctuary Scotland Housing Association and Sanctuary Homes (Scotland))
River Clyde Homes
Cairn Housing Association Limited
Caledonia Housing Association Limited
Govan Housing Association Limited
Queens Cross Housing Association Limited
Eildon Housing Association Limited
Work highlights
- Advising the Scottish Government’s More Homes division on all aspects of its affordable housing shared equity schemes, including the recently launched First Home Fund.
- Advising Queens Cross Housing Association Limited on a £40m private placement with M&G Investments.
- Advising Glasgow City Council on its procurement of an alliance contracting solution worth £187m to prevent and alleviate homelessness in Glasgow.
- Advising Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership (DGHP) on all governance, constitutional, regulatory and diligence matters arising from its integration into the Wheatley Group structure.
- Advising Hjaltland Housing Association Limited (HHA) on the procurement of the first phase of a masterplan to develop a significant housing development site at Staneyhill in Lerwick.
T C Young
T C Young draws on a wealth of experience advising registered social landlords (RSLs) on the full spectrum of social housing matters. Team head Alison Brynes has a focus on property and factoring work, while litigator Alastair McKendrick and managing partner Andrew Cowan frequently handle disputes, including eviction processes. Consultant Len Freedman provides assistance to funders and RSLs with credit facilities and bond financing agreements, while projects team head Lauren Little is a key contact for public procurement. Other work includes compliance and governance, transactional matters, transfers of engagements and anti-social behaviour actions.
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Andrew Cowan; Len Freedman; Alastair McKendrick; Lauren Little; Jim Bauld; Mark Ewing; Christine Stuart; Douglas Collingham
Testimonials
‘Extensive experience across the whole range of housing issues with knowledgeable staff, significant expertise and a positive reputation.‘
‘TC Young is a firm with a team of very knowledgeable and approachable staff from receptionist to partner nothing is too much to ask them.‘
‘The depth of knowledge is fantastic.‘
‘All in all one of the most positive things about TC Young is the availability of their team, you can usually get the support and assistance you need whenever it’s required.‘
‘Very good communication, if someone is unavailable someone else within the team will always try and help and give advice.‘
‘Their key component is their ability to provide clear, consistent and accurate advice often when dealing with complex issues. At TC Young, they have encountered most circumstances and issues previously, therefore you are confident in the information being provided.‘
‘Very approachable and will always take time to explain.‘
‘TC Young provides a full ‘wrap-round’ service for housing associations which simplifies matters by having a ‘go-to’ firm and within that, ‘go-to’ experts. A key feature is that the legal team is personable and down to earth while maintaining a high level of professionalism. Staff – including up to partner level, are easy to access with direct dial lines and quick response times when unavailable. They combine sound legal advice coupled with a pragmatic approach.‘
‘TC Young has friendly, approachable and positive partners and associates and you are able to develop meaningful relationships with them which often leads to better discussion and challenge on difficult points.‘
‘Lauren Little is very thorough and provides easy to understand advice.‘
‘Lauren Little is one of the partners within TC Young and like a lot of her colleagues you are confident in her knowledge and expertise, but perhaps more important is her positive personality, willingness to help and ability to remove a lot of the legal jargon from discussions.‘
‘Both Alison Brynes and Lauren Little are not only very experienced, but also very good at explaining legal language in a way that is more easily understandable to a layperson like me.‘
‘Alison Brynes is immensely knowledgeable on land acquisitions.‘
Key clients
Hanover (Scotland) Housing Association
Southside Housing Association
East Kilbride and District Housing Association
Scottish Federation of Housing Associations
Govanhill Housing Association
Forth Housing Association
Waverley Housing
Home Group
Glen Oaks Housing Association
Lochfield Park Housing Association
Work highlights
- Acted for Hanover (Scotland) HA on the transfer of engagements from Arklet HA.
- Acted for Southside HA in a £30m five year revolving credit loan facility from Handelsbanken.
- Instructed by Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) to roll out guidance and template documentation to assist SFHA members to comply with the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, which was extended to RSLs in November 2019.
- Assisted East Kilbride and District HA with the acquisition of a development site at Dundas Place, East Kilbride, on which the client plans to build 18 new flats; and with various associated issues.
- Advised Forth HA on a transaction involving the acquisition and lease work concerning the regeneration of a former NHS building.
Addleshaw Goddard
The team at Addleshaw Goddard is led by Heather Pearson, whose primary focus lies on advising RSL clients on new-build developments, including site acquisitions, and property finance, but the group also acts for funders and third parties within the sector and is well versed in handling commercial matters, such as data protection and Freedom of Information issues. Its capabilities also cover the contentious space with instructions regularly involving recovery of possession proceedings and anti-social behaviour orders.
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Key clients
Svenska Handelsbanken
Ayrshire Housing
Kingdom Housing Association
Campion Homes
Link Group
Linstone Housing Association
Ayrshire Housing
Grampian Housing Association
Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association
Shire Housing Association
Work highlights
- Advised Kingdom Housing Association on the acquisition and development of two phases of Bertha Park, Perth, for the delivery of 112 social rented new build properties.
- Advised a funder on their requested consent to the transfer of engagements of the business and assets of an RSL to the borrower RSL and the consolidated debt arrangements.
- Instructed by Svenksa Handelsbanken to put in place a new facility agreement for the client with Southside Housing Association Limited by way of a £25m revolving credit facility.
- Assisted Ayrshire Housing with the acquisition of a development site at Elba Street, Ayr, from CCG (Scotland) Limited with a linked building contract for the delivery of 27 flatted dwelling houses for social housing use.
- Advised Ayrshire Housing on the acquisition of a development site at South Harbour Street, Ayr, from Dalvergen Homes (Scotland) Limited for future residential development.
BTO Solicitors LLP
BTO Solicitors LLP has carved out a strong practice providing RSLs with financing and re-financing advice alongside assistance with site transactions, planning, procurement and regulatory matters. The team jointly led by commercial conveyancing expert Karen Brodie, employment lawyer Caroline Carr and litigator Grant Hunter also handles various commercial and property issues, including debt recovery and other contentious instructions. Patrice Fabien retired in May 2020.
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Key clients
Langstane Housing Association Ltd
Loreburn Housing Association Ltd
Govan Housing Association Ltd
Argyll Community Housing Association Ltd
Clyde Valley Housing Association Ltd
Partick Housing Association Ltd
Kingdom Housing Association Ltd
Berwickshire Housing Association Ltd
Grampian Housing Association Ltd
Queens Cross Housing Association Ltd
Hillhead Housing Association 2000
Lanarkshire Housing Association Ltd
ng homes (North Glasgow Housing Association)
Cathcart & District Housing Association Ltd
Tollcross Housing Association Ltd
Copperworks Housing Association Ltd
Blairtummock Housing Association Ltd
Craigdale Housing Association Ltd
Parkhead Housing Association Ltd
Provanhall Housing Association Ltd
Spire View Housing Association Ltd
Work highlights
- Acted for Partick Housing Association Ltd in a re-finance exercise, providing assistance with master facility and lending agreements.
- Assisted Clyde Valley Housing Association Ltd with multiple planning agreements for the release of planning permissions to support its development programme.
- Acting for Argyll Community Housing Association Ltd (ACHA) in volume tenancy recoveries and debt recovery litigation.
- Assisted Lanarkshire Housing Association with refinancing a loan with one of its existing lenders to enable it to initiate a number of building programmes.
- Advised Copperworks Housing Association Ltd on funding arrangements required for its community green space project.
Shoosmiths
Working in close conjunction with various other departments, Shoosmiths is well placed to assist developer RSL clients and government-backed property funds with social housing projects, most notably in the mid-market rent model. Recent instructions included acquisitions, planning, construction and tax matters. Commercial and residential development transactions specialist Janette Speed heads the practice, which was augmented with the addition of planning expert Fraser Mitchell from Shepherd and Wedderburn in June 2019.
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Testimonials
‘Very experienced rounded team. Good attention to detail.‘
‘Very approachable, friendly, explain what can sometimes be complicated transactions made easy, provide best advice.‘
‘Very approachable and able to communicate complex legal matters in a way which can help clients gain a better understanding.‘
‘Good communication and knowledge sharing within the team which allows other members to assist clients if their main point of contact is unavailable.‘
‘The Shoosmiths team understands the subtle differences that exist between the various HAs and their requirements, and is able to adapt contract styles and content to give us flexibility to conclude contracts in a way that works within the context of our group requirements.‘
Key clients
Port of Leith Housing Association
Kingdom Housing Association Limited
Persevere Developments Limited
PfP Capital Fund
Manor Estates Housing Association Limited
Bellway Homes
Mactaggart and Mickel
Balfour Beatty Homes
NATS
Robertson Partnership Homes
Work highlights
- Advised PfP (Places for People) Capital Fund (PFPC MMR 1LP) on the £25m development funding acquisition of 166 mid-market rent units in a brownfield site in Edinburgh, including planning, construction and tax advice.
- Advised Port of Leith Housing Association Limited on the acquisition of an affordable housing site via golden Brick structure at Ocean Drive Edinburgh, including VAT tax advice.
- Acting for Bellway Homes Limited in the disposal of affordable units at a site in Edinburgh to a registered social landlord.
- Acting for PFP Capital Fund in the forward fund of a development in Royston in the city centre of Glasgow for mid-market rent.
- Acting for PFP Capital Fund in the forward fund of a development at Millerhill Edinburgh for mid-market rent; part of a development of 4000 new homes, including 700 affordable houses.
Burness Paull LLP
Burness Paull LLP has been particularly active providing affordable housing providers and housing charities with advice on site acquisitions and developments, including planning, construction and funding matters. This focus is a reflection of team head Peter Chambers' key areas of expertise, namely property development and finance.
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Testimonials
‘The firm has an excellent reputation for delivering a high level of service and for the in-depth knowledge and experience they have of the Scottish housing sector and environment, over a range of areas from property acquisition to project assembly and security work to funding and finance.‘
‘Peter Chambers has considerable expertise and knowledge of the housing sector specifically and is a recognised industry expert in the property and land acquisition sector generally. Peter has extensive experience in complex land transactions and the construction sector making him ideally placed to advise on anything from more conventional property deals to innovative and specialist deals. His extensive experience means that he can apply knowledge and solutions to complex issues. He is a pleasure to work with because of his calm and confident manner.‘
Key clients
Sanctuary Housing Association
Scottish Futures Trust Investment Limited
Cruden Group
Springfield Properties plc
Hillcrest Housing Association Limited
Link Group Limited
Miller Homes Limited
Castlehill Housing Association Limited
First Endeavour LLP
Taylor Wimpey UK Limited
Work highlights
- Acting for Bertha Park Limited in the development of 3,000 new homes on the outskirts of Perth, including affordable housing.
- Advising Cruden Homes (East) Limited on the purchase, development and sale at foundation level of affordable housing at a number of sites across the East of Scotland.
- Advising hub West Scotland Limited on the delivery of hub West’s first affordable housing project, partnering with East Dunbartonshire Council to provide over 80 affordable homes on the site of the former Tom Johnston House council offices in Kirkintilloch.
- Advised Triple Point Social Housing REIT Plc on the purchase, lease and forward funding arrangements pertaining to the development of the 24 unit facility for adults with support needs at Bowling Green Street, Edinburgh.
- Acted for Sanctuary Scotland Housing Association Limited in the acquisition of 14 affordable housing units at Conglass, Inverurie.
Thorntons Law LLP
Thorntons Law LLP's team is led by Dundee-based property development specialist Graham Wilson and adept at handling site acquisitions and funding arrangements.
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