Housing and Social Care
Housing Solicitors and Community Care Lawyers London
Experiencing problems when it comes to your home and welfare can have a devastating effect on your life and the lives of your family. Read on to find out how our specialist housing and community lawyers can help you. Find out about their experience and hear from clients they have already assisted.
“The housing team at Osbornes is the best in England.”
“Osbornes Law are a very highly regarded firm who are at the coalface. They are very on top of their cases.”
Expert housing and community care lawyers fighting for you
Osbornes Law has one of the largest and most specialised Housing and Social Care legal teams in London. The department is made up of some of the most experienced and outstanding housing solicitors in their field who undertake cases involving housing, disrepair, community care issues and also welfare benefits.
Why choose Osbornes Law for housing solicitors and social care issues:
- You will be represented by a member of the Housing and Social Care department, which has been recognised and recommended by the independent legal directories the Legal 500 and Chambers UK.
- Throughout your matter you will deal with the same legal team who will keep you updated on the progress of your case and any decisions made.
- Our impressive track record and reputation in providing advice in housing, housing disrepair, community care, public law and welfare benefits to the most vulnerable members of the community, including those who suffer from mental health issues, the disabled, the elderly, and those with language difficulties.
- Our housing lawyers have expertise in dealing with Housing matters such as defending possession proceedings, warrants for eviction, homelessness, challenging suitability of accommodation, unlawful evictions, disrepair and many other issues
- Our team’s knowledge and skill in conducting Community Care cases such as challenging Care Act assessments, Children’s Act needs assessments, care leaver status, age assessments by local authorities, adaptations to the home, and Judicial Review proceedings amongst many others
Osbornes Law represents tenants in the full variety of housing law matters,
Osbornes Law are a very highly regarded firm who are at the coalface. They are very on top of their cases.
The Osbornes team is capable and responsive.
William Ford is the best housing and public law solicitor of his generation.
Osbornes are a fantastic team who really stand out in the market in the fields of housing and social care.
Their mix of private client work and legal aid means that legally aided clients are (unusually) able to access a professional and top-flight law firm and get treated with real respect
The social housing team at Osbornes is exceptional. The solicitors are highly competent, professional, and committed.
A large, experienced, and capable team with in-depth knowledge covering the entirety of housing and homelessness law
The group has developed expertise in several specialist areas, such as advising EU nationals on their legal status and bringing challenges in asylum age assessment cases.
The team has demonstrable experience in advising clients on issues involving vulnerable clients who have claims against local authorities and housing associations.
"The team explains things clearly, is very responsive and goes the extra step to help those who need it."
"I was impressed and grateful from the very beginning - the team are extremely detailed, very thorough, helpful and reassuring at the same time. I would absolutely recommend Osbornes Law."
"Osbornes Law is efficient and focused, and clearly prioritises the client's interests."
‘Osbornes are very approachable; in a time where many firms are unwilling to take on cases that do not look promising, they are prepared to look at difficult situations and find a way to assist their clients.
"Osbornes is one of the firms that I consistently recommend. Excellent service, and thorough and knowledgable lawyers."
‘From the very first moment, I was aware and grateful to have been put in touch with Osbornes. The expertise, advice, leaving no stone unturned right from the first minute until the very last, I would most certainly recommend every single time.’
"The associates have a thorough knowledge of the area of law, communicate effectively and are incredibly easy to work with."
"They are a firm that likes a challenge and are prepared to do the groundwork to develop cases, even if it means much preparation without remuneration."
"It is clear the firm put the interests of the client first at all times."
"There’s a real sense of team ethic. It’s clear that internal communication and case recording are strong because if a solicitor handling a case is away the person covering is fully up to speed, has the necessary documents available to them and nothing falls through the cracks."
"If a short deadline comes up on an urgent case, solicitors are active in collaborating to ensure it can be met."
"The practice is ‘undoubtedly one of the best in the business‘ and has a strong reputation for complex disrepair cases and possession claims against local authorities and housing associations."
"Osbornes are an exceptional team. They have a wealth of housing experience and knowledge that is ‘top notch’. Clients are safe in their hands. As colleagues, they have a fantastic working relationship with each other and, feeding off of each other’s expert knowledge, their solicitors work to ensure that no stone is unturned."
"The team at Osbornes is inspired by its leader Will Ford, a truly first-rate, modern lawyer’s lawyer. The team have blossomed under his Will and are now packed with conscientious, dedicated and excellent lawyers who always give their clients 100%."
"Alex McMahon – thorough and committed. Very easy to work with."
"A committed and well-organised team with a good knowledge of the law and who work hard to secure a good outcome for their clients"
"Osbornes has an impressive social housing team and the quality of their work that I have seen is very high. Will Ford is a very well-regarded figure in the housing law world and leads a team of high quality and committed lawyers."
"Osbornes provide an incredibly high-quality service to their clients. The firm treats its legal aid clients with the same respect and commitment as if they were important private clients, which is rare and admirable. Their housing solicitors are also highly skilled and knowledgable."
"This is an outstanding firm with great attention to detail. They work tirelessly to achieve the best possible outcome for their clients. They have excellent client care skills and are extremely organised."
"They are at the forefront of legal developments in the field of social housing and community care. They are committed to using their multidisciplinary expertise to achieve the best possible outcomes for clients."
"This a great team - the quality of their work is amazing and they are very professional"
"An exceptional outfit. They take on difficult cases, fight hard and win."
"Osbornes team is noted for cross-practice expertise in areas such as housing and community care, which it brings to bear in disrepair, possession and homelessness cases involving vulnerable adults, individuals with language difficulties, the elderly and those with no recourse to public funds."
The social housing team is friendly, approachable and genuinely care about its clients.
A broad knowledge places the social housing department one step ahead of others when it comes to community care knowledge.
The social housing department always go the extra mile.
The social housing team has a strong track record in representing tenants in claims against local authorities and housing associations, with particular expertise in complex disrepair and possession cases.
Osbornes is commended for its 'rare level of commitment'.
Our housing lawyers have particular expertise in:
- Helping individuals and families who are experiencing housing problems with their local authority.
- Acting for housing association tenants, leaseholders, private tenants and the homeless to resolve all manner of housing issues.
We are proud to be able to assist people with a wide range of needs, circumstances and from all backgrounds. Our aim – to achieve the best possible results for our clients.
Our housing solicitors have gained a reputation for being among the leading specialists in challenging age assessments of asylum seeking children, as well as challenging the lawfulness of local authority’s housing and community care policies.
Our specialist housing solicitors also undertake challenges to Care Assessments, for both young people and adults, undertaken by the local authority and also securing assessments where the local authority has failed to carry out one according to their duties.
The team is highly successful in making Judicial Review applications across these areas in order to get results for our clients, with a fantastic track record of success leading to a number of reported cases.
We are able to pursue Judicial Review proceedings in a wide range of cases under our Public Law legal aid contract.
How will my case be dealt when I contact Osbornes Law?
You can submit details of your query using our online enquiry form or by ringing our offices and asking to speak to a member of the Housing and Social Care Team.
Your query will initially be considered by one of our experienced and knowledgeable legal response team, who will take down the salient details of your matter and then discuss your case with an appropriate specialist solicitors in the department.
An assessment will be made as to whether your case falls within an area of expertise, the legal merits of your case, and the capacity of our housing lawyers to take on your matter. In cases where legal aid funding is available, you will be asked about the details of your financial circumstances to carry out an initial assessment of your eligibility. Regardless of our ability to take on your case we aim to respond to every enquiry in a timely manner.
Housing and Community Care InsightsVIEW ALL
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Single Mother Wins in High Court Homelessness Challenge
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15.7.2024How To Deal With Rent Arrears
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When can you challenge public body decisions about...
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16.4.2024Short-Form Assessments of Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children
Age is just a number? Shining a light on Local Authorities’ Short-Form Assessments of Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children A recent report...
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DWP Exposed for £32,000 Underpayment of Disability Benefits
Osbornes Law has assisted a vulnerable client to recover underpaid disability benefits totalling over £32,000. Our client, a disabled young man,...
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Case Reiterates Local Authorities should follow Allocation Scheme
R (on the application of Kukhtyak) -v- London Borough of Hounslow [2023] EWHC 2914 (Admin) This sad case concerned an elderly couple...
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Supreme Court sets High Threshold for Local Authorities...
Judgment was handed down on 28 November 2023 by the Supreme Court in an important case regarding the main housing duty. The...
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Gatekept homeless teenager accommodated by local housing authority
Miss X, a 17 year old whose details are anonymised to protect her privacy, left her family home in March 2022 following...
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Homelessness case successfully settled for elderly disabled lady
Ms X, whose details are anonymised to protect her privacy, had been living in a privately rented one-bedroom flat for...
Read more - 28.9.2023
Disrepair case against Landlord and Freeholder successfully settled
Background to the Case Osbornes Law represented a private tenant who lived with his young son. The property suffered from...
Read more - 28.9.2023
Client successfully rehoused following refusal by local authority
Osbornes Law represented a client who had been found intentionally homeless by his local authority. He was extremely vulnerable and...
Read more - 28.9.2023
Client rehoused and £16,000 arrears cleared
Osbornes Law were instructed to assist a client to suspend a warrant for possession. The client had fallen into arrears...
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Victory for Homeless Victim
Mr X, whose details are anonymised to protect his privacy, fled his home country due to severe persecution from the...
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13.9.2023Successful homelessness judicial review case against Redbridge Council
This matter involved a claim in the High Court for judicial review against Redbridge Council for failure to comply with...
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13.7.2023Family Unlawfully Evicted Receives Damages of £22,000
This matter involved an unlawful eviction claim brought by our clients against their private landlord (“the Landlord”). Our clients were...
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21.4.2023Success in Court of Appeal in child disability...
The Court of Appeal has today handed judgment in the case of Harrington v Secretary of State for Work and...
Read more- 20.1.2023
High Court finds Westminster Council’s Housing Scheme...
Westminster City Council’s housing allocation scheme found to be unlawful The High Court has today handed down judgment finding...
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14.11.2022Housing allocation case questions lawfulness of council’s...
Until February 2022, the social housing allocation scheme for the London Borough of Newham allowed people who lived outside the borough...
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Immediate, Non-Deferrable and Unqualified
Judgment was handed down on 04 May 2022 in the Court of Appeal in an important case regarding the main housing duty....
Read more - 12.4.2022
Vulnerable child wrongly assessed to be an adult
Upper Tribunal finds a vulnerable child to be 17 years old despite two flawed local authority age assessments which led to...
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5.11.2021Council overturns unlawful housing policy
Homeless teenager claims victory for more than 1,200 homeless people after forcing council to overturn unlawful housing policy A homeless teenager...
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Homeless Teenager takes London Council to High Court
A homeless teenager is taking a London council to the High Court for ‘unlawfully’ banning hundreds of homeless people from...
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Funding
The department has legal aid contracts in Housing, Community Care, Welfare Benefits and Public Law, and is able to offer advice to those clients who qualify for Legal Aid where it is available. We also offer clients alternative funding methods for those who do not qualify for public funding at competitive rates.
In cases of Housing Disrepair we assess each matter on a case by case basis and in some instances may be able to offer a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) or “No Win No Fee” where it is considered appropriate to do so.
Since April 2013 public funding is no longer available for welfare benefit appeals before the First Tier Tribunal. We may be able to offer advice on a private fee paying basis in relation to welfare benefits appeals.
However, we are able to assist with welfare benefits appeals to the Upper Tribunal under the terms of our legal aid contract, assuming you meet the legal aid eligibility criteria, and we are able to take on your case. To speak with us on a confidential basis about your housing and social care issue contact us now by telephone or by filling in our online enquiry form
