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.”
“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
"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."
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.
"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."
"William Ford - A good technical lawyer with a strong commitment to his clients"
"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."
"He goes the extra mile for his clients."
"He is an excellent lawyer with exceptional attention to detail. He leaves no stone unturned in finding the right solution for his clients."
"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."
“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.”
William Ford is "highly committed to his clients and leaves no stone unturned in seeking to assist them with their problems"
William Ford "is an astute litigator, and his breadth of knowledge allows him to take a holistic approach to clients’ situations."
"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."
"William Ford frequently represents tenants in possession proceedings, homelessness appeals and disrepair claims... and is praised for his dynamic and hard-working approach."
"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 absolutely brilliant William Ford."
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.
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.
The social housing department provides an excellent service and is able to react quickly in critical situations.
Thanks for all your support during this very difficult time for my family.
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."
The team understand vulnerable clients and young people, and on the front line they are prompt and efficient.
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.
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.
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.
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.
'First-class lawyer' William Ford is 'completely dedicated to making a positive difference', and is acting in cases challenging the 'bedroom tax'.
Osbornes is commended for its 'rare level of commitment'.
William acts on possession, disrepair and homelessness cases, and has particular expertise in the protection of tenancy deposits under the Housing Act 2004
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.
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.
Housing and Community Care InsightsVIEW ALL
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20.1.2023High Court finds Westminster Council’s Housing Scheme...
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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....
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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...
Read more - 19.8.2021
Housing Disrepair Mitcham, South London
Awful housing conditions Following an investigation by ITV nearly 500 homes in the Eastfields Estate in Mitcham, south London, owned by...
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Council to amend unlawful housing allocation banding process
For the last 8 years Brent Council has stopped the majority of homeless applicants from bidding for rehousing, treating them as ‘...
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25.1.2021Hackney Council ignore vulnerable resident’s request
Paranoid schizophrenic ignored by Hackney Council for four years wins legal battle over unsafe front door A man who suffers...
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Teenage asylum seeker wins legal battle against Council...
Vulnerable teenage asylum seeker wins age case against the council which unlawfully assessed him A vulnerable teenager who sought asylum...
Read more - 23.12.2020
EU Nationals with Pre-Settled Status entitled to benefits...
Court Judgment means EU Nationals with Pre-Settled Status can access benefits and housing On 18 December 2020 the Court of Appeal handed...
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22.12.2020Housing Disrepair Claim for Disabled Tenant
Background to the Case Osbornes Law were instructed by a disabled tenant who had been decanted from her temporary accommodation...
Read more- 2.12.2020
Education provision to age disputed migrants
The thorny issue of education provision to age disputed migrants There was an interesting article in The Guardian last week...
Read more - 20.11.2020
You are homeless because you are in shared...
It is well established that shared facilities are not suitable for families with children as long term accommodation. The client...
Read more - 13.8.2020
Judicial review – friend or foe?
The Government announced on 31st July 2020 that an independent panel has been asked to look at judicial review to consider...
Read more - 24.7.2020
Rejecting tenants on housing benefit deemed indirect discrimination
In a recent decision in the County Court at York it was held that a letting agent’s policy of...
Read more - 27.5.2020
I am vulnerable and homeless but the Council...
Homelessness law and procedure can be very complicated. We hope this blog gives you some helpful pointers but it is...
Read more - 5.5.2020
I have lost my job and I have...
The impact of the current pandemic is being felt by many, but the prospect of losing your job or not...
Read more - 4.5.2020
I am renting from a private landlord and...
The ONS reported in 2019 that between 2007 and 2017 the number of households in the private rented sector in the UK increased...
Read more - 28.4.2020
When does a Local Authority have to provide...
Absolutely anyone can be struck down by misfortune and find themselves in a situation where they are homeless. Though many...
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I have a disrepair issue can I withhold...
Withholding rent is not your best course of action I see the logic in using the non-payment of rent as...
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21.2.2020Fitness for Human Habitation Act 2018
Understanding the Fitness for Human Habitation Act 2018: Your Rights as a Tenant “Home is a safe haven and a comfort...
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Universal Credit Claims and Personal Injury Compensation
The general rule on entitlement to Universal Credit is that a person is not entitled if they have capital of...
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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
