Who we help
Our commitment to social housing stems from our desire to improve peoples' lives and, health aside, a place to live is as important as it gets.
Starting with helping tenants to make their own estate transfers a success, over the past 25 years we have grown to be one of the leading social housing law firms in the country and are ranked as Band 1 by Chambers. We have done this by never forgetting we are part of a sector making a difference to peoples' lives.
With recent population booms, economic recessions, and political unrest there is a greater demand than ever before for our range of legal services for social housing providers.
Our expertise ranges from major projects such as stock transfers, innovative structures and joint ventures, to the day-to-day nuts and bolts of making housing work. We have teams of housing solicitors specialising in: housing litigation, housing management, employment matters, housing corporate services and property.
Whether you are a registered provider, a local authority, or an organisation that is working in the social housing sector, our housing solicitors have the knowledge and expertise to help you further your purpose.
Affordable Housing is at the forefront of public policy...
Lack of quality affordable housing, be it rented, low-cost home ownership or for market sale, is at the forefront of public policy. The tragic event of Grenfell Tower, the Government’s U-turn on LHA, Brexit and the impact on interest rates/sources of funding all combine to make the picture more complicated than ever before.
What isn’t complicated is that right across the spectrum the need is acute, and registered providers are best-placed to meet that need; their long history of flexibility, inventiveness, social purpose and (at least for the time being) the low cost of finance mean that now is the time for providers to deliver.
Organisations navigating these waters need advisers who are experts in housing law and who work collaboratively with colleagues and clients to create solutions that are robust to last in the years ahead. We believe our model of having only one office, colleagues who are focused on “beginning with the end in mind”, and wanting to make a real difference with their skills means we are ideally placed to do just that.
For further information
To find out more about how we can help you, and how we've helped others, please contact Jonathan Cox.
[Anthony Collins Solicitors is] a highly regarded niche practice, known for its focus on the social housing and local authority sectors.Chambers
Find out more about the services we provide to housing providers...
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Funding
Expert advice on funding and social investment.
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Commercial
Supporting housing providers with legal advice on contractual issues.
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Governance
Providing legal expertise on compliance, policies and procedures.
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Housing management
Legal advice on housing management issues.
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Corporate
Legal support to housing providers with structures and mergers.
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Employment
Providing legal employment support and advice to housing organisations.
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Procurement
Addressing the legal challenges with social housing providers, regarding procurement and state aid.
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Property and construction
Advising on repairs and regeneration projects, and Right To Buy.
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Resolving disputes
Advice and support for dispute resolution within the housing sector.
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Regulatory
Assistance with regulatory issues.
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Fire safety
Supporting housing associations with fire safety issues.
Download resources
We have been recognised for the work we do
Right to shared ownership – help or hinder?
The Government first announced plans for a shared ownership right to buy in October 2019. At the time the sector raised concerns about the impact the plans would have on housing associations ability to borrow. An election and a pandemic later the Government announced, during the CIH Housing Festival last week, the return of the right to shared ownership as part of its Affordable Homes Programme (AHP).
End of possession stay - new working group guidance
Two final pieces of the possession jigsaw have been published on 15 September 2020. Mr Justice Knowles’ working group on possession proceedings has issued its guidance on the “overall arrangements” for possession proceedings.
The Building Safety Bill: Duty holders
One change proposed by the Building Safety Bill is the introduction of a duty holder regime, which will see statutory responsibility for the safety of higher risk buildings placed on key individuals
Contracts, cancellations and refunds – CMA guidance on consumer rights
Throughout this pandemic, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has been publishing various “Statements on Coronavirus” (Statements) which provide guidance on consumer rights during this time.
Can you see the future yet?
Sometimes half an hour at a conference gives you the reality that has been staring you in the face all along. That was my experience watching “Change is on the Horizon”
PODCAST: Possession update
Following our recent e-briefing on Possession Notices, Helen Tucker and Emilie Pownall from our housing litigation team discuss the impact of the changes on social landlords.
Possession Notices – all change once more!
Not only has the possession stay been extended until 20 September, the notice periods to be given to tenants has been extended in certain circumstances with some important exceptions.
Reasonably withholding consent – can you attach conditions to a requested variation?
The Court has confirmed that a party cannot withhold its consent in order to re-write the original bargain.
Prioritising building safety: The Building Safety Bill
Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, building safety continues to be a key concern for social housing providers and their residents.
Splitting employment contracts post TUPE: an explosive concept?
It is almost a matter of relief that “normal” might be on the horizon when we return to the machinations of TUPE and its protections for employees!
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