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.

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  • “The housing team at Osbornes is the best in England.”

  • “The lawyers at Osbornes Law work with passion, putting in all their best.”

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, housing 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 have a strong team with some truly excellent individuals.

    Legal 500 2025

  • They are tenacious, approachable, and extremely effective in representing the interests of their clients including in highly complex cases.

    Legal 500 2025

  • Osbornes Law are a truly excellent team. They cover a range of immigration, housing, and social care matters with a core commitment to representing vulnerable clients.

    Legal 500 2025

  • Osbornes has a particular strength in handling social housing challenges with a focus on homelessness and assisting children with disabilities.

    Legal 500 2025

  • William Ford has a forensic knowledge of housing law and is extremely intelligent, very thorough, and excellent with clients

    Legal 500 2025

  • Excellent communication at all stages of a claim and an emphasis on the needs of the client.

    Legal 500 2025

  • A thoroughly professional firm who have specialist knowledge of their areas of law.

    Legal 500 2025

  • Outstanding lawyers providing outstanding quality advice. They are one of the leaders in the field.

    Legal 500 2025

  • Alex McMahon is an extremely safe pair of hands for any housing issues.

    Legal 500 2025

  • William Ford has long been a leading individual in the housing law world.

    Legal 500 2025

  • Osbornes' social housing law team is very good and very well regarded within the field, with great solicitors across the full range of seniority.

    Legal 500 2025

  • The housing team at Osbornes is the best in England.

    Legal 500 2025

  • Alex McMahon is another notable team member who practices across housing law, public law, and community care.

    Legal 500 2025

  • Practice head William Ford is praised as ‘the best housing and social security lawyer in the sector.

    Legal 500 2025

  • Excellent work as usual Team Osbornes Law. Our service users have experienced some of the exceptional outcomes yourselves have achieved as outcomes for their housing and social issues.

    Keep up the excellent work.

    Options4change

  • Osbornes Law represents tenants in the full variety of housing law matters,

    Chambers UK 2024

  • Osbornes Law are a very highly regarded firm who are at the coalface. They are very on top of their cases.

    Chambers UK 2024

  • The Osbornes team is capable and responsive.

    Chambers UK 2024

  • William Ford is the best housing and public law solicitor of his generation.

    Legal 500 2024

  • Osbornes are a fantastic team who really stand out in the market in the fields of housing and social care.

    Legal 500 2024

  • 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

    Legal 500 2024

  • The social housing team at Osbornes is exceptional. The solicitors are highly competent, professional, and committed.

    Legal 500 2024

  • A large, experienced, and capable team with in-depth knowledge covering the entirety of housing and homelessness law

    Legal 500 2024

  • 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.

    Legal 500 2024

  • The team has demonstrable experience in advising clients on issues involving vulnerable clients who have claims against local authorities and housing associations.

    Legal 500 2024

  • "The team explains things clearly, is very responsive and goes the extra step to help those who need it."

    Chambers UK 2023

  • "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."

    Chambers UK 2023

  • "Osbornes Law is efficient and focused, and clearly prioritises the client's interests."

    Chambers UK 2023

  • ‘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.

    Legal 500 2023

  • "Osbornes is one of the firms that I consistently recommend. Excellent service, and thorough and knowledgable lawyers."

    Legal 500 2023

  • ‘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.’

    Legal 500 2023

  • "The associates have a thorough knowledge of the area of law, communicate effectively and are incredibly easy to work with."

    Legal 500 2023

  • "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."

    Legal 500 2023

  • "It is clear the firm put the interests of the client first at all times."

    Legal 500 2023

  • "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."

    Legal 500 2023

  • "If a short deadline comes up on an urgent case, solicitors are active in collaborating to ensure it can be met."

    Legal 500 2023

  • "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."

    Legal 500 2023

  • Very strong team – incredibly knowledgable with good cross-over knowledge in mental capacity and community care. Thorough, dedicated and very professional. Clients will feel they are getting a gold standard service.

    Legal 500 2022

  • "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."

    Legal 500 2021

  • "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%."

    Legal 500 2021

  • "Alex McMahon – thorough and committed. Very easy to work with."

    Legal 500 2021

  • "William Ford - A good technical lawyer with a strong commitment to his clients"

    Legal 500 2021

  • "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."

    Legal 500 2021

  • "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."

    Legal 500 2021

  • "He goes the extra mile for his clients."

    Chambers UK 2021

  • "He is an excellent lawyer with exceptional attention to detail. He leaves no stone unturned in finding the right solution for his clients."

    Chambers UK 2021

  • "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."

    Chambers UK 2021

  • “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. The existence of family and property law teams at the firm, amongst others, means that they are able to offer a holistic and expert approach to their clients.”

    Legal 500 2021 - William Ford

  • William Ford is "highly committed to his clients and leaves no stone unturned in seeking to assist them with their problems"

    Chambers & Partners Directory 2020, William Ford

  • William Ford "is an astute litigator, and his breadth of knowledge allows him to take a holistic approach to clients’ situations."

    Chambers & Partners Directory 2020, William Ford

  • "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."

    Chambers & Partners Directory 2020, Social Welfare

  • "This a great team - the quality of their work is amazing and they are very professional"

    Chambers & Partners Directory 2020, Social Welfare

  • "An exceptional outfit. They take on difficult cases, fight hard and win."

    Chambers UK

  • "William Ford frequently represents tenants in possession proceedings, homelessness appeals and disrepair claims... and is praised for his dynamic and hard-working approach."

    Chambers UK

  • "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 Legal 500

  • "The absolutely brilliant William Ford."

    The Legal 500

  • I was very happy with the excellent service from Osbornes in my disrepair case. They obtained a great result in my case and always pushed hard for my rights.

    Disrepair Client

  • The social housing team is friendly, approachable and genuinely care about its clients.

    Chambers UK

  • A broad knowledge places the social housing department one step ahead of others when it comes to community care knowledge.

    Chambers UK

  • The social housing department always go the extra mile.

    Chambers UK

  • 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.

    Legal 500

  • The social housing department provides an excellent service and is able to react quickly in critical situations.

    Legal 500

  • Thanks for all your support during this very difficult time for my family.

    Housing and Social Care Client

  • William Ford receives effusive praise for his dedication and commitment to social housing. Interviewees highlight his technical understanding and background in housing law, and describe him as highly impressive."

    Chambers UK

  • The team understand vulnerable clients and young people, and on the front line they are prompt and efficient.

    Housing and Social Care client

  • Edward Taylor undertook my case from an almost unwinnable position. From our first meeting, Edward's enthusiasm was apparent. He was determined, diligent and most professional when dealing with my case, keeping me informed at every stage. I wholeheartedly thank Edward for his endeavours and would not hesitate in recommending him and Osbornes Solicitors to others.

    Housing and Social Care Department Client

  • Osbornes Solicitors give us the confidence and strength to continue and input the belief that the case would turn in our favour … What was most important was the transparency in communication that Osbornes provided.

    Housing and Social Care Department Client

  • Osbornes Solicitors are the pinnacle of professionalism and have gone beyond to assist with this case … I felt that I wasn't only dealing with just one dedicated solicitor but I had a good knowledgeable team behind me at all times.

    Housing and Social Care Department Client

  • I have been extremely impressed with the level of patience and guidance provided in the case … I would like to thank you for your sympathetic approach and understanding towards my mother’s case and I would strongly recommend Osbornes Solicitors to anybody.

    Housing and Social Care Department Client

  • 'First-class lawyer' William Ford is 'completely dedicated to making a positive difference', and is acting in cases challenging the 'bedroom tax'.

    Legal 500

  • Osbornes is commended for its 'rare level of commitment'.

    Legal 500

  • William acts on possession, disrepair and homelessness cases, and has particular expertise in the protection of tenancy deposits under the Housing Act 2004

    Chambers UK

Find out if we can help

Enquiry Assessment Form

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 the following online enquiry form.

Enquiry Assessment Form

Your query will then be considered by our team. We will do our best to get back to you on the same or next working day, to let you know if someone in our team is able to take on your case. We might need to contact you to ask for some more information before we can confirm this.

We will assess whether your case falls within our areas of expertise, the legal merits of your case, and the capacity of our lawyers to take on your matter.

If you require legal aid, please be aware that there is a shortage of lawyers who work in the areas covered by legal aid and we have a very high demand for these services. Whilst we aim to get back to everyone, if we have not been able to reach you within 7 days this means that unfortunately the solicitors who deal with this type of work are not currently able to take on new cases, due to their existing caseload. Wherever possible we will signpost you to alternative providers who can assist.

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Tell us more about your case

For a free initial conversation call 020 7485 8811

Email us Send us an email and we’ll get back to you






    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

    Accreditations

    • Times best law firm 2024
    • Legal 500 2025 - leading firm