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Discrimination & Housing Rights

Discrimination & Housing Rights

Jayesh Kunwardia
Jayesh Kunwardia
Partner
Farzana Chowdhury
Farzana Chowdhury
Partner
Sophie Bell
Sophie Bell
Partner
Ailsa McNeil
Ailsa McNeil
Trainee
Aneela Samrai
Aneela Samrai
Solicitor
Anita Barylska
Anita Barylska
Solicitor
Edward Sharp
Edward Sharp
Senior Associate
Ellen Biney
Ellen Biney
Solicitor
Hannah Buchalter
Hannah Buchalter
Trainee
Imran Sarfraz
Imran Sarfraz
Solicitor
Jacob Bartholomew-Smith
Jacob Bartholomew-Smith
Paralegal
Kit Gamble
Kit Gamble
Paralegal
Nivashinie Sivalokanathan
Solicitor
Oliver Edwards
Oliver Edwards
Paralegal
Olivia Pattison
Olivia Pattison
Solicitor
Robyn Brett
Robyn Brett
Solicitor
Tess Baker
Tess Baker
Paralegal

Our specialist and dedicated team of Housing & Property solicitors are passionate about defending the rights of those with housing and property issues.

They will assist and fight against discrimination, disrepair, disputes – all housing rights matters. Our property dispute solicitors also deal with boundary disputes, planning appeals, leasehold disputes, injunctions, rights of way, possession claims and compulsory purchase orders.

Our solicitors will deal with your case sympathetically and will fight on your behalf to get you the best outcome possible for you.

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Housing solicitors in London

We have a dedicated team of specialist housing and property solicitors in London who can assist with matters nationwide. We’re independently ranked as some of the best housing solicitors in the UK due to the quality of our work.

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Our Housing team has been ranked in Band 1 in the Chambers & Partners 2024 legal directory. In the 2023 directory, the team was described as “progressive and robust in defending the rights of vulnerable tenants and homeless applicants.”

“Hodge Jones & Allen is one of the leading firms for social housing representing tenants. They cover the whole range of social housing law areas. This is a formidable team with a depth of experience, commitment to the area and skill.” – Legal 500, 2024

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Why choose Hodge Jones & Allen?

Outstanding Reputation

We’re one of only three firms in the UK to be listed as a Tier 1 firm for this area of law in the Legal 500 guide. We’re also independently ranked as a Band 1 firm for housing law by Chambers & Partners UK.

Passionate

Our solicitors are entirely committed to achieving the best result for all our clients, supporting them through the process and working very hard to get justice for you.

Excellent track record

Our expert solicitors have an excellent track record for successfully challenging authorities and resolving claims quickly. They have a vast experience dealing with a ray of housing claims.

Call our expert lawyers on
0808 271 9413
or request a call back.
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No win no fee housing solicitors

One funding option we can discuss with you is a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), more commonly known as ‘No Win No Fee’. This allows you to bring a disrepair claim, with no financial risks to you and without the need to pay any solicitors’ fees upfront and we will cover you for any adverse costs including expert witnesses and barrister’s fees.

Our solicitors will assess your claim and check if you’re eligible for this funding option. If you would like to know more about funding your housing case with a No Win No Fee Agreement please speak with one of our specialist housing solicitors.

"THE LAWYERS ARE VERY FRIENDLY AND QUICK TO REPLY. THEY SOLVED MY CASE REALLY QUICKLY AND KEPT ME INFORMED OF EVERYTHING ALONG THE WAY."

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Contact our specialist housing law team

Free initial assessment

If you’ve been unable to deal with a housing issue yourself we provide  a free initial assessment and discussion regarding  your funding options.

Expert representation

We’ll assess your case for legal merits and then if there is a legal case we will allocate to the most appropriate team to deal with your matter.

Positive solution

Once you’ve been taken on by our solicitors we’ll then talk through your options and provide you with the best approach for a successful solution.

Call our expert lawyers on
0808 271 9413
or request a call back.
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Featured cases

Client wins case to have landlord pay compensation and costs for broken intercom needed for medical reasons 

The client suffered from numerous, life-threatening medical conditions. He moved into a flat in a tower block where the door entry intercom had been removed, following a fire. The landlord had told the client that the door entry intercom was an obsolete system and could not be replaced, and that they were in the process of getting a new system. This had been the response for over a year and a half.

This meant that the client was unable to open the door to the block from his flat. In this particular case that had severe consequences, as it meant that the client was unable to open the door to the block to let emergency medical services in. He suffered a number of heart attacks and was at risk of death if unable to get emergency medical attention. He was reliant on passers-by to open the door to the block to let paramedics in.

Using the disrepair pre-action protocol we wrote to the landlord and arranged an urgent expert inspection of the intercom and wiring. Following this, the landlord managed to source a new handset and repair the electrical wiring which had been damaged by a fire before our client moved in. The client now has a working intercom and is able to let the paramedics in himself when he needs urgent medical attention. The landlord also agreed to pay compensation and costs.

"MY SOLICITOR WAS VERY HELPFUL, ALWAYS PROVIDED A PROMPT RESPONSE TO EMAIL OR TELEPHONE CALLS. I WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND TO ANYONE WHO NEEDS SUPPORT."

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Featured client cases

Housing Discrimination

We represented a tenant who was deaf and her son who was blind. We sought for there to be two different type of doorbells fitted to the property - one audio and one visual - to make it easier for them to live in the property.

Adaptations to property
Result
Suitable adaptations fitted to property
Housing Discrimination

We settled a claim, pre-issue, on behalf of a mother whose children have significant disabilities, mental health conditions and learning difficulties and were in unsuitable housing. The mother had submitted a wealth of medical evidence supporting the urgent need for her children to be moved for their health and welfare, but was consistently placed in incorrect banding under the allocations policy, meaning she didn’t have enough priority to be allocated a new, suitable home. We threatened a discrimination claim and negotiated with the other side, as a result the client was placed into the top band and moved into a new home, which she and the children are very happy with, within 2 months.

Incorrect Banding
Result
Suitable home and compensation
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Frequently asked questions

Will I be evicted if my landlord takes me to court?

This will depend on the type of your tenancy agreement and the reason that the landlord is seeking possession. If you have an assured or secure tenancy, the court will not order possession unless grounds to do so have been proved and in many cases, only if it reasonable to do so.

There are many arguments that could be put forward and defence to any such claim.  Although, private tenants have less secure tenancies, there are often valid defences which can be put forward to avoid being evicted. We can advise you further in this regard.

Do you handle planning / boundary disputes?

We have specialist solicitors who understand that the boundary of your property is more than just a line on a map. It determines the value of your property, how it can be enjoyed and how it can be protected. Rights of way or views can be influenced by boundaries and they allow you to develop your land in a particular way.

Our specialist advisers have an intimate understanding of property law and can provide the legal protection you need, whatever the dispute might be, for example:

  • Positioning of boundaries
  • Trespass
  • Overhanging trees
  • Repairs and maintenance
  • Encroachment from neighbouring buildings
  • Overlooking windows
  • Use of utilities
  • Rights of way
  • Adverse possession

The boundary lines on your land registry plan do not always reflect the true situation on the ground, as the boundary can be determined by a number of factors, such as new agreements, which can change over time.

What can I do about poor conditions in a property?

All landlords, including local authorities, housing associations and private landlords, have a legal duty to maintain their property in an adequate state of repair and to ensure these are fit for human habitation.

They must also ensure that any defects in the property don’t pose a threat to the safety of tenants. If the property’s condition is unacceptable then we can help advise you on the best course of action.

This might include applying for a court order requiring the council or landlord to put things right. The court can also award you compensation where repairs have been delayed for no good reason and impose fines on landlords who don’t maintain their property in good condition.

My landlord has been threatening court action unless I pay off my rent arrears within the next few weeks. If he starts court proceedings will I be evicted?

This will depend on the type of your tenancy agreement and the amount of rent arrears. Most council tenants are secure tenants. Under this type of tenancy, it is unlikely that the Court will make an outright possession order if there are compelling circumstances, which led to the rent arrears, for example housing benefit problems. You may even be able to claim backdated housing benefit and it may be possible to seek a postponed possession order, which means you will not have to leave your home providing you pay a specified amount as ordered by the court.

I rent from a private landlord and I came home to find he was in my flat. He said he was getting some work done and needed access to the flat but I don’t like the idea of him being able to let himself into my home. Is he allowed to do this?

Your landlord should have asked your permission before letting himself into your flat. Landlords are allowed to enter rented property to check its condition or carry out repairs but they are required by law to give you at least 24-hours written notice. You can object to the specific proposed visit if there is a good reason, although you will be in breach of contract if you refuse to allow the landlord access to the property at all. If this wasn’t just a one off then it may count as harassment, which is a criminal offence. If you would like to discuss your concerns then you should contact one of our experienced housing lawyers who can advise you on the best course of action.

Since my divorce a year ago I’ve been living in a bedsit. There is damp everywhere and the ceiling has started to fall down. I’ve complained so many times but nothing is ever done about it. Is there anything else I can do?

All landlords, including local authorities, housing associations and private landlords, have a legal duty to maintain their property in an adequate state of repair. They must also ensure that any defects in the property don’t pose a threat to the safety of tenants. If the property’s condition is unacceptable then we can help advise you on the best course of action. This might include applying for a court order requiring the council or landlord to put things right. The court can also award you compensation where repairs have been delayed for no good reason and impose fines on landlords who don’t maintain their property in good condition.

I have applied for council housing but think that I’ve been treated unfairly. Do I just have to accept the decision or can I challenge it?

If you are unhappy with the decision that’s been made about your case then you may be able to challenge it. Initially, you can complain to your council or housing association. If this is unsatisfactory then in some cases it may be appropriate for you to apply for a judicial review of the decision. A judicial review can’t impose a new decision on the council but it can overturn the decision that has already been made and require that your case is looked at again.

What is the cost for a housing claim?

Housing claims can differ in cost, therefore, our expert solicitors will clearly set out all your funding options as soon as we know the details of your case. We want to give you every assurance that we would never incur costs on your behalf without your full agreement and knowledge.

If you are not entitled to public funding, we can discuss other ways of funding your case, including private arrangements, a ‘conditional fee arrangement’, (often described as ‘no win, no fee’).

Further Reading
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"ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT, WORDS CAN'T EXPRESS HOW HAPPY AND GLAD I AM TO HAVE YOU ON MY SIDE. BRILLIANT COMPANY AND AMAZING STAFF. I WILL RECOMMEND HJA TO EVERYONE I KNOW, ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU SO MUCH."

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