Social housing in West Midlands

Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP

Fielding one of the largest dedicated social housing practices in the region, Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP is consistently sought out by a litany of registered providers and local associations, both within the West Midlands and further afield, for assistance in major transactions and contentious proceedings. The practice is jointly led by senior partner Peter Hubbard, and Jonathan Cox, a seasoned advisor who splits his time between Birmingham and Manchester. Baljit Basra and Helen Tucker head up the housing litigation team, handling a sweep of possession claims, leaseholder disputes, and sensitive ASB matters before the courts. Victoria Jardine possesses key expertise regarding the implications of charitable status on social housing providers, ranging from applicable vires to funding concerns. Emma Hardman, who was promoted to partner in May 2021, runs the housing management and Right to Buy teams, and is especially noted for her knowledge of service charges and rent reviews. Stock transfer specialist Andrew Dudley recently joined the team from Wright Hassall LLP. All named lawyers are based in Birmingham unless stated otherwise.  

Practice head(s):

Peter Hubbard; Jonathan Cox

Other key lawyers:

Baljit Basra; Helen Tucker; Victoria Jardine; Emma Hardman; Andrew Dudley

Testimonials

‘Experienced in public sector procurement and relevant legislation. Experienced in technology procurement. Good at building and maintaining excellent working relationships. Able to communicate with stakeholders so that we all understand what they are saying. Support our business through surgeries and regular provision of training from lunch n learns to day long sessions.’

‘Excellent working relationships, knowledge, communication skills, use language we understand, always review options, and their recommended actions.’

Key clients

The Riverside Group

Citizen Housing Group

Platform Housing Group

Clarion Housing Group

The Hyde Group

Connexus

London & Quadrant Housing Trust

Livv Housing Group

Orbit Housing Group

Walsall Housing Group

Work highlights

  • Working with My Generation Asset Management on the Help to Own house purchase scheme, culminating in the letting of 100 new eco-friendly homes in Wolverhampton to persons who would not otherwise have any prospect of being homeowners.
  • Acted for Orbit Housing Group in the largest stock swap of properties in the Midlands.
  • Advised Prospect Housing Limited, an exempt accommodation provider, on its voluntary wind down – the first registered provider to do so.

Gowling WLG

Gowling WLG‘s sizeable social housing practice enjoys a stellar reputation on account of its transactional expertise, working with a diverse roster of registered providers, local authorities, investors, and developers on high-value projects within the sector. Practice head Jacqueline Knox is a ‘stand-out‘ advisor whose broad practice encompasses development, investment, and housing management. London-based Richard Beckingsale heads up the firm’s regeneration practice, working with a plethora of public bodies on procurement negotiations and institutional investment transactions. Legal director Sally Farrall , who runs the affordable housing investments desk, is frequently engaged by major REITs for assistance in big-ticket transactions. Principal associate Gemma Courtenay is recommended for her far-reaching capabilities in development work. All named lawyers are based in Birmingham unless stated otherwise.

Practice head(s):

Jacqueline Knox; Richard Beckingsale; Sally Farrall

Other key lawyers:

Gemma Courtenay

Testimonials

‘Jacqueline Knox’s knowledge and experience in the sector are stand-out. The ability of the team to enable negotiations to reach conclusions are very helpful.’

‘Jacqueline Knox boasts excellent knowledge and a pragmatic approach.’

‘Gemma Courtenay possesses excellent knowledge, strong attention to detail, and really fights her clients corner!’

‘My experience of working with Gowlings has been excellent, they managed to really get under the skin of our project, becoming a collaborative part of our wider team. They have draw upon a number of different specialisms whilst giving us a one stop service. Their advice is always clear and have a great way of providing detailed explanations on some more technical matters!’

Key clients

Sanctuary Housing Group

Metropolitan Thames Valley

Clarion Housing Group

London and Quadrant

Bournville Village Trust

TP Impact Housing

London Borough of Barnet

LaSalle Investment Management

BAE Systems Pension Funds Trustees Limited

Coal Pension Properties Ltd

KW Housing Limited

Northern Ireland Local Government Officers’ Superannuation Committee

Triple Point Investment Management LLP

Triple Point Social Housing REIT plc

Horizon Infrastructure Partnership

Universities Superannuation Scheme

Legal & General Affordable Homes

Hyde Housing

Fox Hound Capital

Symmetry Housing CIC

Vengrove

Work highlights

  • Acted for Legal & General Affordable Housing on its first deal with Lovell Partnerships – the acquisition of 114 affordable units at Oldbury, in the West Midlands.
  • Acted for Sanctuary Affordable Housing on its acquisition of a site at Green Gables Business Centre, Kings Road, in Evesham and procured the construction of 76 modular units by Ilke Homes in Sanctuary’s first major modular construction deal.
  • Acted for Triple Point Social Housing REIT Plc on the acquisition of 144 supported living/general needs affordable housing units let to Highstone Housing Association.

Trowers & Hamlins LLP

Helmed by experienced tenants’ rights expert Digby Morgan, Trowers & Hamlins LLP‘s affordable housing practice is frequently instructed by a sizeable roster of local authorities and registered providers – both on transactional and governance-led matters. Yetunde Dania spearheads the housing management team, regularly handling a mix of ASB issues, tenancy fraud, and disrepair issues. Projects and construction practice head Mark Robinson acts for various RPs across the region on procurement strategies and contractual exercises. Senior associate Natalie Owen works with RPs and lenders on the full scope of financing matters, while senior associate Kate Davies handles various stock rationalisation projects and joint ventures for new developments. All named lawyers are based in Birmingham.

Practice head(s):

Digby Morgan

Other key lawyers:

Yetunde Dania; Mark Robinson; Natalie Owen; Kate Davies

Key clients

A2Dominion

Midland Heart Limited

Citizen Housing Group Limited

Catalyst Housing Limited

Plus Dane Housing Ltd

Platform Housing Limited

Gateway Housing Association

Legal & General Affordable Homes

Cross Keys Homes Limited

First Garden Cities Homes Limited

Shropshire Rural Housing Association Ltd

Walsall Housing Group Limited trading as whg.

London Borough of Enfield

Flint Housing Limited

The Community Housing Group

ReSI Housing Group

Bournville Village Trust

Peabody

Brighter Places (formerly United Communities)

Work highlights

  • Acted for Legal & General Affordable Homes in relation to the large development site at Broadlands Fields, Norwich.
  • Walsall Housing Group in the deferred security for a Bond with bLEND, the Sector’s first aggregator deferred bond.
  • Acted for Clarion Housing Association Limited on a possession claim due to complaints of antisocial behaviour around the use of illegal drugs and other nuisance.

Bevan Brittan LLP

Bevan Brittan LLP‘s sizeable team routinely advises housing associations (HAs), local authorities, developers and funders operating at a local and national level. The cross-disciplinary practice is jointly headed up by Sarah Greenhalgh, a RP corporate governance specialist, and Rebecca Pendlebury, who focuses on public sector driven mixed-use regeneration schemes. Litigation department head Adam Kendall advises HAs on health and safety issues, and court proceedings that subsequently arise. Employment law specialist Ashley Norman is highly experienced in representing housing associations in cases before the Court of Appeal, while senior associate Cynyr Rhys is noted for his expertise in landlord and tenant disputes. Senior associate Jaspal Basra works with HAs on the potential implications of performance-related pay structures. All named lawyers are based in Birmingham. 

Practice head(s):

Sarah Greenhalgh; Rebecca Pendlebury

Other key lawyers:

Adam Kendall; Ashley Norman; Cynyr Rhys; Jaspal Basra

Testimonials

‘Their stakeholder management, project planning and flexibility have been exceptional. Their ability to collaborate with board members, officers, other consultants, lenders and other legal advisers has been very effective.’

‘Our lead partner Sarah Greenhalgh has felt like part of our internal team. Lawyers can sometimes be intimidating, but Sarah makes you feel like you can ask anything, which is critical. She has an ability to simplify complexity and see the bigger picture.’

Key clients

Sixty Bricks Limited

Bournemouth Christchurch & Poole Council

Milverton Homes

Oxford City Housing (Development) Limited

Sanctuary Housing Association

Peabody Trust

ForHousing Limited

GreenSquareAccord Limited

Work highlights

  • Advised Peabody Trust and Catalyst Housing Group on their merger to form the second largest registered provider group in England.
  • Advised ForHousing on the re-structure of its group and refinancing as part of its strategic business review.
  • Advised Milverton Homes, Warwick District Council’s Housing Company, on its joint venture (JV) with Vistry Linden Limited Group to acquire a 76 acre site in Kenilworth to deliver 620 eco-friendly homes over the next eight years.

Roythornes Solicitors

Roythornes Solicitors‘ ‘fantastic team of exceptional solicitors’ is a strong choice for a number of social housing sector operators seeking assistance on both strategic and transactional mandates. The practice is jointly led by national real estate head Bhavesh Amlani and Bukola Obadun-Craigs, an ‘exceptional’ residential property litigator whose broad practice encompasses the full scope of leasehold management and housing management disputes. Daniel Skinner, who joined the practice from Capsticks LLP in December 2021, is well-regarded by a mix of registered providers and local authorities for his expertise in housing management matters, particularly in relation to anti-social behaviour and leasehold issues. All named lawyers are based in Birmingham.

Practice head(s):

Bhavesh Amlani; Bukola Obadun-Craigs

Other key lawyers:

Daniel Skinner

Testimonials

‘Daniel Skinner is a superb lawyer and acknowledged expert in the social housing and property fields. His work is of a consistently high standard and he is very much a go-to lawyer. He is also a joy to work with and always willing to talk through issues.’

‘We have used the team for their planning, commercial property and construction expertise to date. So far, we have had excellent service. As an in-house legal team we really feel that Roythornes have acted as an extension of our own legal team which is of real benefit and not something we find with every firm. The collaboration is excellent. They are extremely responsive and offering a wide range of legal services mean that there is a very thorough review/approach to the work they do. They are also very good at finding solutions and moving things forward (and removing obstacles in the way of transactions).’

‘Where do I start! What a fantastic team of exceptional solicitors. Any social housing client will get the best service and knowledge base from Roythornes. Daniel Skinner and Bukola Obadun-Craigs know everything there is to know about social housing.’

‘Daniel Skinner is the godfather of social housing. What he doesn’t know, there isn’t to know. Tier one without doubt. Daniel is my favourite solicitor to work with not just because it’s so on the ball and knowledgeable but he is a genuine down to earth guy who just gets the job done but makes it fun at the same time.’

‘Bukola Obadun-Craigs is exceptional. She is thorough, knowledgable and very intelligent. She has her finger on the pulse of all recent case updates and is a joy to work with. She has extensive experience and if she is not already ranked that is a huge oversight.’

‘The team is proactive and responsive to our business’ needs when different specialist advice is required such as planning, acquisition, tax etc. matters.’

‘Roythornes is ambitious, agile, and approachable. It employs standout individuals who provide practiced and practical advice. As the complexity of our landlord responsibilities increases, it’s comforting to have on-hand advice from a knowledgeable and imperturbable team.’

‘Daniel Skinner is a proud housing law geek. His exceptional legal and sector knowledge keeps him pre-eminent. He is always available, always friendly and always honest; providing values-driven advice. Throughout Covid, he delivered fun and engaging training and legal updates. He is also a role model for enthusiastic and visible allyship.’

Key clients

Poplar HARCA

Regenda Homes

Walsall Housing Group

Longhurst Group

Platform Housing

Midland Heart

WM

Flagship Hosing Group

Onward Housing

Work highlights

  • Advising Flagship Housing Group Limited on the acquisition of a number of section 106 agreement plots from Collins and Clark Developments (Little Melton) Limited to be used by Flagship Housing Group Limited as affordable housing at Little Melton.
  • Advising Flagship Housing Group Limited by assisting to create its precedence form of Golden Brick Sale Agreement and Golden Brick Development Agreement in order to assist to standardise its internal processes.
  • Advising Walsall Housing Group Limited on collateral warranties in respect of a JCT Design and Build Contract 2016 with a bespoke schedule of amends it had entered into with Keepmoat Homes Limited for a residential development.

Shakespeare Martineau LLP

Working collaboratively across multiple sites throughout the region, Shakespeare Martineau LLP handles a wide range of projects and housing management matters for a number of registered providers, housing associations, and developers. The team is headed up by Rachel Gwynne , who is noted for her expertise in social housing regulation and governance. Louise Drew runs the building communities desk, where she focuses on sales and asset management issues – most notably for clients in the care and later living sectors. Emma Gamble helms the social housing sales team, where she is responsible for the ongoing delivery of volume transactions within the space. Paula Evans is recommended for her capabilities in major site acquisitions. All named lawyers are based in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Practice head(s):

Rachel Gwynne; Louise Drew

Other key lawyers:

Emma Gamble; Paula Evans

Testimonials

‘Very knowledgeable of the industry. Always willing to assist with enquiries and provide guidance and advice. Service is professional, smooth and consistent. Very friendly team with excellent levels of service to lease extension requests and changes to shared ownership legislation.’

‘I trust and respect them. They will always be my go to for professional advice as they do so in a timely and efficient manner.’

Key clients

Citizen

Stonewater Group

Wythenshawe Community Housing Group

Walsall Housing Group

Honeycomb Group

Platform Housing Limited

Nottingham Community Housing Association

Longhurst Group

Cottsway Housing Group

Orbit Group

Work highlights

  • Advised Walsall Housing Group on their first MMC (Modern Method of Construction) transaction involving the purchase of the site and the construction of 43 homes.
  • Assisting Honeycomb Group with the sale and leaseback of multiple multi-tenanted properties adjoining a hospital site to the NHS Trust owning the hospital.

Shoosmiths LLP

Drawing on its sizeable national footprint, Shoosmiths LLP’s interdisciplinary practice works collaboratively across multiple offices on the full gamut of contentious and non-contentious affordable housing matters. Practice chair David Perry is sought out by a number of registered providers for his expertise in multi-unit planning schemes, transactions, and asset management issues. Stuart Tym, who joined the practice from Irwin Mitchell in November 2021, maintains a broad focus that encompasses affordable housing and viability matters. All named lawyers are based in Birmingham.

Practice head(s):

David Perry

Other key lawyers:

Stuart Tym

Key clients

Platform Group

South Yorkshire Housing Association

ReSi Homes Limited

L&Q

Midland Heart Limited

Clarion

A2Dominion

Bromsgrove District Housing Trust

Muir Group Housing Association

Your Housing

Two Rivers Housing

Work highlights

  • Advising Midland Heart Limited on a 59-unit 100% affordable scheme in north Birmingham on a subject to planning basis.
  • Advising L&Q Estates on a successful response to a third party challenge to the adopted South Oxfordshire Local Plan.
  • Advising Northampton Partnerships Home on the acquisition of a significant former office block for redevelopment into more than 60 affordable rented units.

Wright Hassall LLP

Wright Hassall LLP ‘s cross-disciplinary practice is well regarded by a broad sweep of housing groups for its capabilities in affordable property transactions. Practice chair Claire Waring specialises in debt financings and development site acquisitions, while Emma Adams advises registered providers, developers, and landowners with respect to strategic land transactions. Carol Matthews left the firm. All named lawyers are based in Leamington Spa.

Practice head(s):

Claire Waring

Other key lawyers:

Emma Adams

Testimonials

‘Have a great can-do attitude which transfers into their work and nothing is too much to ask! We work on a wide variety of projects which are challenging and ever changing, The team in Leamington spa have been able to adapt to changes and the need of the client.’

‘Their team are really friendly and approachable which causes the contact to be faultless. They have also built good relationships with third parties to make difficulties worked through with ease.’

Key clients

Accent Group

Aspire Group

Bromford Group

Connexus Group

East Midlands Housing Group Limited

Grand Union Housing Group

Great Places Housing Group

GreenSquareAccord

London & Quadrant Housing Association

Longhurst Group

Mosscare St Vincent’s Housing Group

Stonewater

Orbit Group

Settle Group

Sovereign Housing Group

Two Rivers Housing Group

Warwickshire Rural Housing Association

Work highlights

    Pinsent Masons LLP

    A stellar roster of local authorities, developers, and housing associations turn to Pinsent Masons LLP for its capabilities in big-ticket public sector driven mixed-use projects. National public sector development head David Meecham works with civic bodies throughout the country on major housing-driven schemes, while Stephen Brown specialises in housing stock transfers and property charging matters. Edward Sunderland focuses on social housing financing, whereas associate Rebecca Rowley works exclusively on public sector promoted housing schemes. All named lawyers are based in Birmingham.

    Practice head(s):

    David Meecham

    Other key lawyers:

    Stephen Brown; Edward Sunderland; Rebecca Rowley; Louise Wager

    Key clients

    Clarion

    St Mungo’s Community Housing Association

    Ebbsfleet Development Corporation

    Homes England

    London Borough of Brent

    London Borough of Waltham Forest

    Basildon Borough Council

    Westminster City Council

    Wolverhampton City Council

    Southampton City Council

    Methodist Homes

    London Borough of Hounslow

    Crawley Borough Council

    London Borough of Hackney

    Birmingham City Council

    Coventry City Council

    Lichfield City Council

    Central Bedfordshire Borough Council

    Cambridgeshire County Council

    CBRE UK Affordable Housing Fund

    Work highlights

    • Advising Birmingham City Council on the competitive dialogue procurement of a joint venture/development partner for delivery of exemplar estate regeneration of its Ladywood Estate in Birmingham city centre.
    • Advising Homes England and numerous local authorities on the payment of, and receipt of, grant funding pursuant to the Housing Infrastructure Fund (forward fund) for the strategically important unlocking of significant housing sites for delivery through the payment of significant funding for delivery of (otherwise unviable) infrastructure.
    • Advising the London Borough of Haringey for over 5 years in relation to their High Road West Estate Regeneration project to deliver high quality replacement and additional affordable housing, community, industrial and retail space, a new library and learning centre and connected public open space.