Cornerstone Barristers

Public Law, Property, Housing, Commercial

Matthew Feldman has extensive experience in housing law representing local authorities, registered social providers and tenants in statutory homelessness appeals, possession claims, human rights, discrimination and Equality Act 2010 challenges, statutory succession and right to buy proceedings, claims and injunctions based on anti-social behaviour, unlawful eviction and harassment claims, disrepair, succession and Environmental Protection Act 1990 cases.

Recent work

Matthew Feldman has acted in several influential social housing cases, including:

• R (on the application of Nolson) v Stevenage BC - The Court of Appeal considered the procedure for reviewing an application for the provision of relief in the form of interim accommodation in a homelessness judicial review case, following a refusal of interim relief on the papers.
• Yemshaw v Hounslow LBC - The Supreme Court held that the term 'domestic violence' in section 177(1) of the Housing Act 1996 included physical violence, threatening or intimidating behaviour and any other form of abuse which, directly or indirectly, might give rise to the risk of harm.
• R (McGarrett) v Kingston Crown Court - The Divisional Court held that the purpose of an ASBO was not to punish, and the terms of the order had to be proportionate to the risk to be guarded against. Further, the order had to be both necessary and justified.
• London & Quadrant Housing Trust v Ansell – Part of the ‘tolerated trespasser’ litigation for which leave to appeal to the House of Lords was granted, and the case settled on favourable terms shortly before the final hearing.