Housing

We provide expert advice and guidance in the field of housing law

We offer both landlords and tenants Legal support on a wide range of housing matters and disputes. The landlord and tenant team located at our Acre Lane offices in Brixton will take a thorough and sympathetic approach in helping landlords, tenants, and residential occupiers with a wide range of housing issues such as:

• Repossession,
• Unlawful eviction,
• Disrepair,
• Environmental protection,
• Homelessness,
• and General tenancy advice.

We also work closely with expert barristers to ensure that our clients receive the best possible representation throughout their case. We have significant experience conducting litigation in the County Court, High Court and Court of Appeal.

However there have been a number of changes to the running of the Housing department and the way operate from day-to-day. This in turn has seen a shift in the members of staff and how we will continue to manage our workload. Thus to ensure the highest standard work we have had to focus on only a few areas inside the housing law field.

Unfortunately this means that we will no longer be taking new enquires that deal with matters involving:

• Neighbour disputes,
• Nuisance issues,
• Allocation of a tenancy,
• Transfer of a tenancy

Outside of theses issues we invite you to give us a call and book a appointment with a experienced landlord and tenant lawyers on 0207 737 9335 or make an enquiry.

Legal Advice for Landlords

Renting property is complicated and it is important for landlords to understand the law so that they are fully aware of their obligations and duties to their tenants, and of the correct procedures regarding the beginning and ending of tenancies. This way landlords may avoid unnecessary costs and delays, or any actions being taken against them by their tenants.

Our expert landlord lawyers advise and assist landlords with a wide number of issues including:

• Drafting tenancies.
• Tenancy deposit schemes and related issues.
• Bringing possession proceedings and evicting tenants.
• Disrepair and Environmental Protection Act issues.
• Injunction and committal proceedings.

Our focus will always be to find a solution that is in your best interest and to resolve your dispute. Our preference is always to try and resolve matters without litigation, guiding you through the different forms of alternative dispute resolution available. However, should litigation be necessary for your housing dispute, we have the specialist litigation expertise to assist you.  

Legal Advice for Tenants

We have a great deal of experience assisting tenants of local authorities, housing associations, and private landlords with a variety of issues relating to their tenancy. Our team advise and assist tenants with

• Possession including applications to set aside possession orders and suspend warrants for eviction.
• Disrepair actions in the County Court against local authorities, housing associations and private landlords.
• Prosecutions under the Environmental Protection Act in the Magistrates Court.
• Homelessness including applications as homeless, reviews and appeals of local authority decisions, reviews, and appeals regarding the suitability of temporary accommodation.
• Unlawful eviction and harassment including injunctions for re-entry and to prevent harassment and damages claims.
• Advice to Council tenants on assignments and succession rights.
• ASBOs (Anti-Social Behaviour Orders), injunctions and committals.

Housing Law Solicitors Brixton

Wainwright & Cummins LLP is an established London law firm of housing lawyers in Brixton, and our experienced housing team is headed up by Sebastian Peattie who is a member of HLPA  (Housing Law Practitioners Association).  

You can feel confident in our expertise and dedication to providing a high level of service.  We have gained that reputation through a combination of our legal skills and human empathy and take great pride in building strong client relationships during what can often be a stressful time.

Funding and Fees

We help clients who are eligible for Legal Aid under the Legal Help Scheme or under a Public Funding certificate. We can advise potential clients regarding their eligibility for Legal Aid and assist clients in making applications for funding. Where Legal Aid is not available, we also help clients on a private fee basis, either with a fixed fee or by charging at an hourly rate. Alternatively, we can assist clients under a Conditional-Fee Agreement (depending on the nature of the matter).
 

Our Housing Law Experience and Expertise

Our team has been involved in pro-bono projects such as the London South Bank University Advice Clinic in conjunction with Philcox Gray Solicitors and supply advice to members of the public. We also work closely with Domestic Violence Agencies assisting victims of domestic violence with housing issues.

The Legal 500 Series, is widely acknowledged as the world's largest legal referral guide. Each year, more than 180,000 in-house counsel and lawyers are surveyed and interviewed globally. Wainwright & Cummins housing department has been a Legal 500 firm since 2013. The Legal 500 is an independent guide and firms and individuals are recommended purely on merit.

This is what is said about us:

"The 'highly professional' Wainwright & Cummins successfully challenged the council's decision in the homelessness case Woldeab v Southwark LBC." “client- focused, hardworking & extremely competent”. (Legal 500, 2014 edition).