My role
I am a housing partner and lead the housing management and right to buy teams here at Anthony Collins Solicitors.
I advise landlords, primarily housing associations, on all housing management issues providing practical solutions to often complex scenarios. The work I do involves providing client training, including bespoke training, as well as speaking on the sector seminar circuit.
I also advise on the interpretation of leases in respect of obligations and rights in relation to fire safety, including replacement of front doors; and service charge recovery options, including issues relating to consultation and first-tier tribunal applications.
My experience
I am the co-author of the National Housing Federation ‘Service charges and rent charges: a guide for social housing landlords’ book. I was shortlisted for the Birmingham Law Society Pro Bono Awards in 2020/2021 for the pro bono work I delivered for West Midlands taskforce on homelessness.
‘Peter Hubbard, Baljit Basra and Emma Hardman stand out because they care and they go the extra mile.’ – Legal 500, 2022
My specialisms
- Rents and service charges
- Drafting, reviewing and enforcement of occupancy agreements
- Management and service level agreements
- Housing management policies and procedures
- Supported housing
Blog
My latest articles
Why, when interpreting tenancy agreements, the wording is all important
On 1 December 2020 the Court of Appeal handed down judgment in Pimlett v Curo Places Limited EWCA Civ 1621 where prior judgments in the First-tier Tribunal and the Upper Tribunal were overturned.
The Building Safety Bill: Charges to leaseholders
Although the Government is providing funding to landlords to reimburse costs for replacement cladding works, charging for other fire safety works has raised a number of questions for landlords
Discriminatory ‘Right to Rent’ scheme is justified, rules Court of Appeal
The Court of Appeal has delivered its verdict on a High Court decision that the Right to Rent scheme was discriminatory and in breach of the ECHR.
The importance of data returns – updated deadline
Many housing providers are now re-thinking about gathering information to complete their data return to the Regulator of Social Housing, with the initial exercise having been delayed by Covid-19.
Rents for private registered providers (PRPs) from April 2020
Following their consultation earlier this year, the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has now published the final form of the new Rent Standard.
Rents for local authorities from April 2020
Following a consultation earlier this year, the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has now published the final form of the new Rent Standard.
Section 20 consultation: unsigned contracts and qualifying long-term agreements (QLTAs)
The case provides a useful reminder to be cautious and check whether agreements your organisation is entering into meet the QLTA definition and trigger Section 20 consultation.
Home loss payment increases
The amount landlords will have to pay occupants entitled to home loss payments is increasing from 1 October 2019.
Tribunal Changes: Important Consequences for Rent and Service Charges
The Legal Background The changes are introduced through The Transfer of Tribunal Functions Order 2013. The Property Chamber is comprised of a First-Tier Tribunal and an Upper Tribunal. The Tribunals […]
Rents: Proposals for the future
The key proposals set out in the Government’s consultation paper, ‘Rents for social housing 2015 – 2016’, are: Moving from annual increases in weekly rents of RPI + 0.5 percentage […]